Woolston in soccer loss

Press, 29 May 1978, Page 3

Woolston in soccer loss

By

DAVID LEGGAT

The winning run of three matches for Woolston Working Mer> Club ended when it was beaten, 2-1, by a more efficient Wellington Diamond United in a Rothmans Soccer League match at Garrick Park yesterday. Woolston was superior in every way in the first spell but its play deteriorated drastically as the second half progressed. W.D.U. fought back from a poor start to gain control and called most of the play late in the match. Woolston dominated play in the first 20min and showed much more confidence than it had earlier in the season. Neil Francis, again Woolston’s best striker, was put clear by Stan McGaffin in the fifth minute. He had to hurry his shot, which bounced off the W.D.U. goalkeeper, Eddie Canvin, and was cleared. Francis could have made better use of the opportunity. Gary Paddison, the former international striker, put the first pressure on the Woolston defence after 20min when he shot powerfully on the run from 22m and forced Neville Petrie to produce a fine save. The W.D.U. captain, Mike Simenbff, was his side’s most dangerous attacker. He demonstrated his ability after 25min when' he rose above the Woolston defence and forced Petrie to gather the ball just inside the up*> right.

Robbie Larter, who had an indifferent day, took oh two defenders, beat them, and pulled over an excellent cross which was cleared as far as Jorn Flyvbjerc. His volley from an awkward angle was a good effort but was saved easily enough by Canvin. Woolston’s goal came at an important time, smin from half-time, and was a splendid effort. Flyvbjerc pulled the ball square, it rolled straight out to Neil Francis, and his fiercely accurate shot from 20m gave Canvin no chance. Just before this, Keith Francis had forced Canvin to make his best save, pushing a powerful right foot shot onto the post. W.D.U. equalised smin into the second half and, although the Woolston defence was partly to blame, it was a weft taken goal. Dave Farron, who spoilt his otherwise useful display with incessant and needless chatter, expertly chipped the ball into the goalmouth and Gary Paddison back-headed the ball past a wrong-footed Petrie. The goal revitalised W.D.U. It was quick to the ball and when Woolston did have possession it bustled and forced errors. With 20min remaining the winning goal came when Peter Brown hooked the ball to the far post and Simenoff towered over the defence to head a simple goal from 2m.