NATIONAL LEAGUE SOCCER Brighton scores only goal, beats United

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33532, 13 May 1974, Page 11

NATIONAL LEAGUE SOCCER Brighton scores only goal, beats United

(By

D. P. MANSBRIDGE)

• e j- oa L scor . e d’ one great chance missed; one goal marginally disallowed: those were the bare facts of 90 minutes of intensely-exciting soccer a record crowd of 7200 for a Rothmans Aational League m Christchurch saw at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday before New Brighton emerged a one goal to nil MCtor in its local derby ’ clash with Christchurch United.

If the result did less than full justice to United’s control of the mid-field play, it adequately affirmed the difference between the two teams on the day — and for most of this season so far. Brighton needed only two clear-cut chances from which to score once: United had 65 per cent of the ball, had equally good openings. — and others less clear-cut — and failed to find the net except when F. Madrussan’s header was disallowed. The first half, in particular, was one long period of United pressure, in which Brighton was outplayed in mid-field and its feared trio of strikers were held in a vice-like grip by the United’s defence. NOT EFFECTIVE It was in this half that United largely sealed its ultimate fate. A goal or two would not have flattered its dominance on the game but it was unable to turn a feast of ball into a positive result. Jt was too much like a prettily presented box of chocolates — with only hard centres inside it. It was, in fact, when the exchanges levelled out in the second half, and when Brighton belatedly setUed down, that United threatened most to score. And before Brighton got the all important goal. United should have struck first.

The Brighton goal-keeper, 0. Nuttridge, almost gave it to United in the sixth minute, when the ball slipped out of his hands and was spuming into the net. But R. Almond was where he should have been and he cleared upfield. DISALLOWED GOAL Then came the decision that upset United most of ail. From a low cross. Madrussan and I. Park bore in, and it was Madrussan s head that sent the ball into the net. But the referee ruled that Madrussan had pushed a defender and disallowed the goal. “All I did was go for the ball and connect with it. Who did I push?” Madrussan asked afterwards. Only seven minutes later came the miss of the match—although it was not quite as easy as it looked. K. Doornenbal backbeaded a long clearance from his defence and Park raced on to the ball clear of defenders. Nuttndge cut down Park’s vision of the goal, and although the t nited striker managed to slip the ball past Nuttridge, it was also Inches wide of the goal. From this peak United suddenly went crashing to the ground. The first sign of disorder in the United rearguard came with 25 minutes remaining Its defenders were caught in a one-to-one situation for the first time. W. Quirke beat his man

and fed K. Morton, whose snapshot was sliced just too high and lust too wide. LEAVING GAPS .. , wa s the danger signal to the United defence; it had been stretching itself too far and Brighton’s strikers are not the men to take liberties with. But the lesson was not learned. Two minutes later a similar situation arose and this time K. Mulgrew took his chance brilliantly. Not even a P. Dando now in his very best form could do anything about it. United attacked and attacked for the last 20 minutes, but it was a little like dribbling a pea uphill. Brighton defended, as it had done earlier, with tremendous verve, and Nuttridge was in no mood to make another mistake. The best chance came from a low’ cross by W. Arney, which was deflected for a corner, but the ball was no more than a foot away from two United boots. It was thought before the game that the team which won control in mid-field would win the match; ironically, this was not the case. United’s build-up football, sometimes too slow and

unimaginative, was always better than Brighton’s. But mid-neld supremacy without the strikers to finish off was not enough—as Brighton proved. DENIED SPACE Mulgrew, Morton and Quirke were largely denied the space and freedom they need to produce their dangerous runs by the tightness of the marking of K. France and G. Griffiths, in the middle, and L. Blyth and R. Drinkwater, on the flanks. Hardman was United’s Trans Tours “man of the match.” His control and probing passes deserved far more reward than they received. Almond had another good match in Brighton’s defence, and on the flanks. T. Reece and J. Souter defended stoutly. But it was the inability of United to penetrate around this defence which caused its own dawnfali. With so much ball, too little was accomplished.

By this victory, Brighton preserved its unbeaten record in the league, and its position of league pace-setter, and put behind it the ''Cinderella” role it has had to United in the last four years. Now it is United that must catch up.