Convincing win for United

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34149, 10 May 1976, Page 13

Convincing win for United

'Special Correspondent) GISBORNE. A turbulent air trip which left five players sick was not enough to knock Christchurch United out of its stride when it scored a convincing '.3-1 win over Gisborne City in a Rothmans national league match at Gisborne yesterday. If the conditions were bad On the way up. there was certainly no relief when the players arrived in Gisborne. But the “man of the match." Brian Hardman, relished the driving rain and muddy conditions "I'm one of those with an iron constitution.” he quipped after the game. “I wasn't sick on the plane |rip.” He certainly’ had a big Effect on the outcome of the match and the coach. Terry’ Conley, said that he was particularly pleased with the play of Hardman, Kees Doornenbal. and Kevin Mulgrew. Well pleased with his team's performance. Conleysaid that considering the difficult trip to Gisborne the players had settled very quickly and gave an outstanding team performance. Christchurch went into the lead in the second minute when Mulgrew darted on to a long through ball and slipped it into the net. but Gisborne levelled the scoring in the thirty-fourth minute w hen Bobby ■ Craig scored with a header. It was level 1-1 at the interval and in the opening stages of the second half Gisborne began to look as if it could cause an upset but the Christchurch defence of Ross Durant. Laurie Blyth. Trevor Reece, and lan Park remained rock-like and repulsed the Gisborne efforts.

Once again the Christ- . church mid-field trio of Hardman, Bill Arney, and Steve Sumner took command and a two-goal burst in two minutes sealed up the match. The fifty-ninth minute Doornenbal unleashed a 30 metre cross-shot from' the left wmg and the ball dipped into the far corner of the net. Then Norman Moran ■ snapped up the half-chance ■to score from close range in the sixty-first minute and it was all over. ; For Christchurch Mulgrew ■and Moran showed speed and penetration against the Gisborne defence, which was well-marshalled by the player-coach, John Hill. The longer the game went, the more Christchurch dominated play and they struck the wood-work three times, with Sumner particularly prominent as the team launched raid after raid on : the Gisborne goal.