United drops first point

Press, 14 April 1980, Page 3

United drops first point

Special correspondent Dunedin

Trans Tours United dropped its first Rothmans Soccer League point yesterday when it failed to take advantage of a reshuffled Dunedin City team at the Caledonian ground, Dunedin. In spite of being a goal down in less than two minutes after the Dunedin City striker, Steve Woodin, had broken through its square back four and beaten the goal-keeper, Neville Petrie, United patiently played its way back into the game.

The Dunedin defence found if hard to contain the industrious running of Frank McKay and Mike Glubb and from a free-kick on the right lan Park’s far post header was stopped by a Dunedin defender’s hand, Park took the resulting penalty and equalised the score in the twelfth minute.

In trying to save the penalty Jim Taylor, the Dunedin goal-keeper, hurt his shoulder and was substituted at half-time when the centre back, Dave Gibson, went in goal and Mitch Goodall, the Dunedin coach, rearranged his back-line.

Possibly the thought of taking advantage of the stand-in goal-keeper encouraged United to shoot more but the accuracy was wanting. Steve Sumner in the midfield worked under strong pressure from Dunedin’s Jim Wilson.

Park’s carefully chosen runs down the wing may ■have won the match but as is so often the case Dunedin lifted its game and contested every move. Glubb came closest with 15 minutes to go when he beat Gibson in goal but the ball hit the crossbar and was cleared,