New Brighton left in contention for fourth

Press, 6 September 1976, Page 30

New Brighton left in contention for fourth

By

BARNEY ZWARTZ

An eventful and decisive week-end’s soccer- including the Lion Chatham Cup and Rothmans League minor placings and relegation—has left little of consequence to be fought tor in the four remaining matches.

Trans Tours United be-: came only the second club to win the Chatham Cup three years in a row, and the first to win it four years out of five when it players were successful at Queen Elizabeth 11 Park on Saturday. Mount Wellington yesterday earned second place in the league by beating New Brighton, 4-6, while Caversham dropped to third by going down, 1-2, to Blockhouse Bay at Auckland. Gisborne City and Stop Out battled their way through a tense bottom of the table match. The Hutt club won 2-1. to keep itself in the league, leave-Gisborne out with its players griefstricken, and more than one in tears. City, the club that helped spread soccer . enthusiasm outside the main centres, becomes the third of the eight original clubs to founder, following Western Suburbs and Wellington City. Although little interest remains, there is one matter yet to be settled, one in which New Brighton will take a strong interest — that of $1250. Brighton lost any chance of an extra $2OOO yesterday in losing to the Mount, which now takes $3500 for second prize and Caversham

takes $2OOO for third. However, Brighton is strongly in contention for the $l5OO for fourth place and. at worst, will take $250 for sixth place. It needs three points from its two remaining matches to ensure fourth place. That would give it 20, and it could not be caught. North Shore or Eastern Suburbs could reach 19, but not both because they play each other, while Blockhouse Bay can reach 18 if it wins its final match against North ; Shore. Two exciting solo goals from wingers, Gary Welch and Jim Richardson, gave Stop Out its important win, although. understandably, the match failed to reach any great height as the teams fought doggedly to avoid relegation. The first team to fall to the new automatic relegation system, introduced half-way through this season, Gisborne will be replaced by Hamilton, Dunedin City and Nelson. Nelson is not yet certain theoretically, but it would take an impossibly large double figure victory by Miramar Rangers for it to lose. Gisborne has at times this season played flowing soccer of a high standard in every respect but finishing. It was

merely the inability to take its chances that cost it its place, its lack of penetrative forwards willing to work in the penalty area rather than attack from deep positions "It’s unbelievable. A who ■ town of 30.000 people will be shattered." said Cirv’s player-coach. John Hill. "It is hard to believe «e have dropped to the central league, we are not a bad team, but we could not stick the ball in the net in the early matches. I "We will do exactly what iW.D.U. did last year After one year in the regional league, we will return to the top division with a stronger side. The club has a lo: of young players who will he given the chance to develop and to be brought forward. ’ said Hill. New Brighton 0, Mt Wellington 4 (E. Thomas 3, J. Leijh)— half-time 0-2. Blockhouse Bay 2 (K. Strefful, I. Irmond), Caversham 1 (P. Berry)—half-time 1-1. Stop Out 2 (J. Richardson. C Welch), Gisborne City 1 (J. Fyfe)—half-time 1-0.

Brighton-Mt Wellington report, Page 20.)

p w D L F A pts W.D.U. 18 13 1 4 31 29 27 Mt Wn IS 10 3 5 33 23 Cav’sham 18 8 6 4 40 26 22 Bright 16 8 1 25 24 17 B’house 17 6 4 7 23 21 16 T.T Utd 18 7 2 9 n n 16 N. Shore 16 6 3 7 25 15 E. Subs 16 5 5 6 27 28 15 Stop Out 18 4 4 10 - •> 31 12 Gl«b 17 3 3 11 9 (Chatham Cup final and New