T.T.U. has close win after scrappy soccer

Press, 21 August 1978, Page 20

T.T.U. has close win after scrappy soccer

By

DAVID LEGGAT

In a game containing far too much scrappy play for two of l New Zealand’s leading soccer teams, Trans Tours United beat Eastern Suburbs. 2-1, in a Rothmas League match at English Park on Saturday. The winning margin was deceptive. United should have been ahead at half-time instead of level, 1-1, and it should have scored more than once in the | second half when Suburbs was) reduced to 10 and, for a brief' spell, nine men. Although the ground was hard; and bumpy in areas, play was reduced to a low standard several times, notably in the second half. Suburbs’ attack lacked in j direction and punch, which was I rather surprising considering! the players al its disposal. All : i Stamp did nothing except get ■ booked for a foul on Bobby' Almond, while Earl Thomas) ■ seemed to have slowed down considerably. The only times it looked dan-! gerous was when breaking quickly from defence. Another surprising feature of the Suburbs side was its leaky defence. Ron Armstrong had ] ! one of his poorer matches, whilel Sam Malcolmson was tidier but ] spoilt his display with a bad foul I

I on Mark McNaughton for which i ,he was booked. I McNaughton was forced to’ leave the field midway through! the second half, being replaced , by Richard Mulligan, but he made an impact while he was on the field. He scored United’s first goal, in the thirteenth minute, hooking a loose ball past the Suburbs goal-keeper, Prevan |Jeram. from a very acute angle. 1 He almost added a second j after 34min when Kevin Muli grew, who had an inconsistent day,' crossed the ball to the far ! posts and McNaughton, running; in from the blind side, sent his header just over the cross-bar. i When Suburbs equalised after) 39min it was somewhat against I the general run of play. It could' not have come at a better time j for the team. Malcolmson sent Gary Jenkins ■down the right wing and swung the cross over to the near post. Thomas beat the United goalkeeper, Steve Gryszka. to the ball and slammed it into the j goal. About this time the Suburbs ; coach (Ken Armstrong) took off Paul Johnstone, a striker, and brought on Gary Clarke, a I defender. McNaughton almost scored in j the forty-third minute when he I beat Jeram with a fine shot only

i to see the ball hit the post and bounce clear. ■ Jenkins was sent off in injury I time in the first half when he : head-butted Mulgrew after their s legs had become tangled. > Jenkins seemed to retaliate for > some reason and immediately i received his marching orders. Frank McKay had a fairly i quiet first half but came alive . in the second spell, creating I the second goal and working - hard. ’ United applied considerable • i pressure early in the second ((half. McKay shooting narrowly I wide alter a line through-ball [ from Kees Doornenbal. Mulgrew ■ volleyed the ball over the bar t (from a corner and Doornenbal I let fly with a fierce 23m drive i | which flew past the upright. ; After 64min, McKay fought s: his way through three defenders ; {in the penalty area and his shot, .; partly blocked, was pushed into •{the net by lan Marshall. Marti shall had an industrious first ; i half and was, only slightly less efficient in the second spell. s{ Towards the end of the match, f; Brian Armstrong, a determined II worker in the mid-field, left the a' field to receive treatment for an ; injury. As both replacements 11 had been used, Suburbs was a : reduced to nine men but United y I was unable to add to its score.