Woolston’s gallant run ended

Press, 1 August 1977, Page 22

Woolston’s gallant run ended

By BAILKEY ZWARTZ Wootton U.M.L.s valiant Lion Chatham Cup soccer run wu enaeti iuru*l\ >e»tema\ by» Kurin bhor*. i-v. out the issue was never in doubt Woolston defended valiantly* for du minutes oetote Ted Ldwarda ended its hopes of further g*orv in «<n entertaining game placed under aiioviuus cvntLtions at Queen Elizabeth II Park number two. seldom lias a team been so roaipieteh outplayed in a cup quarter-final, which served only, to emphasise Woolston's pluck and spirit against overwhelming As its coach -Tern Manmi generous 1> admitted: "Me gate, everything we had and in the end it wasn t enough. Shore s 1 Rothmans League experience, speed and fitness »old after all,but we gave them a run for their; monev.” The game showed the difference in standard between the Rothman* League and the Broadlands Southern League, which Woolston current!} leads. However, the game was played) in a good spirit and produced more skill than seemed possible, both teams fighting a strong,, w nd and a dreadful pitch that, was a combination of mud and water. \part from one early chance, Woolston was host to a one-way) stream of attacks throughout the J game. Each was foiled by cour- 1.

ageou* determination, luck, or; Miores stiange inability to finish 1 1 guoo chances. Neville Heine; Woo is tons goalkeeper plated superbly, while l>tew rteid — in the bean of the aetence — piayeu almost the game of his Ute. Even so. they had nu answer to the superior skills and ideas of Dave bnedaon, Kern Hales. Adnan El rick and leu Edwards — the pick ot the Shore team. Shore platen fluent, intelligent soccer — overcoming tile pitch) a* much as possible by 'kill and' imagination — breaking Woolsum's composure at will, and; forcing opening* almost with monotonous regularity It was held oy its inability to: make its attack* decisive through, finishing, and Woolston** de*per-i ate ability to avoid an utter shambles by having one man ini the right place — usually Reid. | Shore wasted much of its 701 per cent possession with iong speculative stiots in the air. hoping to profit from the greasy ball, but Petrie was nearly faultless. A better tactic would have been to drive low hard balls, I which would skid and hold on the mud. Woolston s one chance was seven minute* into the game, inspired by Keith Francis, its most dangerous player until he tired early in the second half. He fed Ricky Koster, who played an excellent ball through the middle for Stan Me Gaffin 'with an almost open goal. Mc-

r Gatlin unluckily slipped as he' i lunged, and deflected his shot round the post. Two minutes later Shore's Ural : hopetui lob towards the unchal- • lenged Petrie -lipped througn his . casual hands ano oounced oil the i 'crossbar. Petrie was not beaten again, . in numerous attacks, until 39 ; annuies had gone, when a wicki edit curving corner from Sned-; don slipped past him. It would ; liave crept behind inside the far : post, but for Brian Hendry, who! I headed ofl the line just round ■ . the post. I From the ensuing comer Keith i Hobbs made a ferocious volley, that looked every inch a goal, > until it was foiled by a spectacu-1 i lar diving save by Petrie. I The second half followed the ■lsame pattern, apart from an , early spell which was extremely hard and tight. Here a little I frustration crept into Shore’s ; play — it had tried and given everything, yet gained nothing. After 74 minutes Brian McKeown missed the game’s best ■ chance w hen he received Sned- , drsn’s low cross unmarked six I yards from the goal, but he stabbed his shot over the bar. i Six minutes earlier Sneddon’s angled drive had just been tipped round the post, but six minutes later Shore’s efforts were justly rewarded. Keith Hobbs caught i the defence square with a through ball that Edwards raced on to behind them. His volley on the run gave Petrie no hope.