NATIONAL LEAGUE SOCCER Pounding for Brighton

Press, 6 September 1976, Page 20

NATIONAL LEAGUE SOCCER Pounding for Brighton

By

BARNEY ZWARTZ

New Brighton lost $2OOO in Rothmans National Soccer League prizemoney at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday when, in a debacle practically unrivalled this season, Mount Wellington devastated the seasiders, 4-0. The result pushed the Mount into second place, behind Wel-lington-Diamon United, and Brighton into fourth position, behind Caversham.

The score paralleled Trans Tours United’s Lion Chatham Cup margin over Eastern Suburbs on the same ground on Saturday, but,. if anything, the Mount was even move dominant. Seldom, after Brighton’s excellent away win over the Mount, has a game promised so much yet delivered so little. Brighton suffered from the heavy handicap of having no idea of the scope of the Mount’s play and people not at the game could hardly conceive from the score the vast difference between the sides. The Mount players, eight of whom are leaving for South Korea with the New Zealand team on Tuesday, scarcely broke sweat. That they played so much within their capabilities and were yet so immeasurably superior merely emphasised the unfortunate Brighton’s utter humiliation.

The Mount now picks up $3500 prizemoney for second place, while Brighton receives $l5OO for coming fourth. People started leaving the ground up to 20 minutes before the end, adding to the bewildered Brighton’s shame, which was in marked contrast to the game’s dramatic start. Astoundinglv Mount Wellington scored after only 29 seconds —much the fastest goal of the season—straight from the kickoff. John Leijh. the man-of-the-match, robbed Brighton’s Keith Granger and played a long ball through to Brian Turner, who aid it back from the by-line or Earl Thomas to slide home vith the Brighton defence comoletelv square. The Mount had another great ■hanee in the third minute with > three-to-two combination, vhich was ruined by an appaling ball from Clive Campbell, oefore Brighton came into the tame for virtually the only time n the match. Peter Bennie and Johan Verveij both had strong shots beore Granger produced the one •hance that deserved a goal for his team. With superb skill he knocked the ball over the defence and rounded it himself, tut his shot was high. Thomas scored again after 41 ■ninutes when Leijh played the hall into the area. It hit Thomas’s boot, then his hands, is he volleyed into the goal. Ludicrously, everyone on the ground but the match officials

saw the handling offence, while the Brighton defenders stood still waiting for a free-kick. Two minutes later Campbell volleyed home, but was offside, and the score remained at 2-0 at half-time. The Mount relaxed completely in the second half, and scored two goals when it could have had as many as it desired. After 12 minutes Turner crossed straight to Thomas who was clear in the area. He headed it down and Leijh hit the loose ball into the net from about one metre.

The final goal came from an 111-conceived backpass bv Verwelj after 28 minutes. Thomas intercepted it, crossed square to Campbell who was completely clear and Wilson could not hold his shot. Thomas nodded home the loose ball for his third goal. Brighton had one brief flurry of excitement midway through the half when it advanced with four attackers to three defenders. Fred Roest played the ball

into the area and Kevin Curtin, in goal, lost sight of it. but. as it bounced free, he recovered well. Later, Graham Dacombe picked up a bad pass across the defence and beat one man, but his 15-metre shot was wide. The difference basically was in technique, where every Mount player was far advanced. Mount Wellington did not even play tactically, but few teams could play as well off the cuff as it did yesterday. Brighton’s tactics were naive and limited, consisting mainly of long balls—none of them accurate—to Mike Glubb, who had little chance against Glen Dods. a New Zealand player and inches taller. High balls were hit into the area, where onlv Verweij had any chance of winning this duel and more often there was no Brighton player around. Turner, Thomas, Leijh. and Dods were outstanding. No-one shone for Brighton, but, in mitigation; they all tried hard.