Scoreless draw in T.T.U. game

Press, 25 June 1979, Page 36

Scoreless draw in T.T.U. game

Special correspondent, Palmerston North

Manawatu United and Trans Tours United fought out a scoreless draw in their Rothmans Soccer League clash at Palmerston North yesterday, in a game marred by a strong wind which swept the length of the field.

Although both sides had the ball in the back of the net, the team with the wind dominated the game — Manawatu in the first half, United during the final 45 minutes.

Manawatu’s striker, Brian Skelton, and United’s Barry Weymouth, were the unlucky ones as both were ruled off-side after scoring, Skelton after 20 minutes and Weymouth 12 minutes into the second spell. The big Palmerston North crowd appreciated the skills shown by both sides, but the wind meant there were far too many unforced errors, both teams guilty of throwing away possession, through numerous mispasses.

Manawatu’s import from Derby County, Andy Crawford, stood out in the home side’s front-line as he frequently beat two or three opponents, only to lose the ball as he went too far, while United’s Johann Verweij had a subdued day,

playing more in the mid-field than up front. The first half was almost all Manawatu with the wind, and the second spell the same for United. In the first spell both Skelton and the Manawatu left winger, Steve Adams, had chances, Adams bouncing the ball off the bar from a chip after beating United’s goal-keeper, Peter Moot. United returned the compliment in the second half, Verweij in particular going close in the sixty-sixth minute when he got his head to a long lan Park free-kick, saved only by a diving save from the Manawatu goalkeeper, George Dunning. Minutes later Richard Mulligan was in the clear but could not control his shot, putting the ball straight at the goal-keeper.

Seven minutes from the end Weymouth had an excellent chance from a solo break down the side but Dunning — later named the home side’s man of the match — took the ball off him after anticipating well and coming off his line. It was a game neither side could take much joy from — United because it never really lived up to its reputation and the bottom-of-the-table Manawatu because it badly needed two more points.