Mundane match in Wgtn

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 28

Mundane match in Wgtn

Special correspondent

Wellington Diamond United symbolised soccer’s mundane side in struggling to a goal-less draw against Rothmans League fellow-re-legation battler, Woolston Working Men’s Club in Wellington yesterday. Diamond improved marginally on last week’s worst Basin’ performance of the year against North Shore but was again outplayed and lucky to get a point.

The capital side showed more fight and purpose than last week but still offered little imagination or cohesion and soon dragged the sometimes skilful Woolston to a similar level. There was some early excitement as both sides took time to settle, then Wellston prettily promised more than it could deliver and Diamond promised nothing. Both sides looked like relegation candidates, especially the yet-again-changed Diamond line-up, which fea-

tured the defender, Dave Strom, horribly miscast in mid-field. Woolston missed good chances after 4min when the goal-keeper, Eddie Wilson, sparred Neil Francis’ fierce drive and attackers missed the gift rebound. After Bmin Francis superbly freed Allan Boath, the man of the match, who then shot wide. Roger Love cleared a speculative drive off the line after 27min and Stan McGaffin lofted just over an open goal 3min later. At the other

end the Diamond striker, Gary Paddison, stabbed wide a good chance earht by Andy van den Ende’s persistence just before halftime. The second half was distinguished by Woolston’s Jorn Flyvbjerc clearing a header off the line, Paddison blasting a shot straight at Neville Petrie when he had only the goal-keeper to beat, and Woolston’s Keith Francis chipping millimetres high when Wilson came too far off his line.