Western’s title hopes improve

Press, 14 July 1980, Page 21

Western’s title hopes improve

Western moved another step closer to the Hertz Soccer League title on Saturday as one of its rivals, Halswell United, dropped a .bad point and certainly lessened its . chances of eventual success in the cnampionship. While- Western was beating New Brighton, 2-1, at English \ Park in a' generally dreary match , Halswell was being held to a 1-1 draw by Nomads United at Halswell Domain. > Western now has a two-point J lead; over Halswell. with a game in hand,-and also leads Wool.-toh' W.M.O. fby four points but has played, one- extra match. An Adrian Kersten penalty, gave Western a half-time advantage. over the young Brighton team, and a good goal by the

hard-working midfielder. Phil Ayers, after an excellent run down the right flank by Colin Duncan, seemed tn assure Western of the win. A dull and scrappy period of play followed, but Brighton suddenly brought the game back to life with a well-worked goal eleven minutes from the end. Paul Glasson. around whom most of Brighton’s play revolved, broke through and his pass found Warren Quirke. who made no mistake from 12 metres. Both teams lifted tbeir performance but could not alter the scoreline. The best effort came from Kersten, whose 20-metre drive crashed against the crossbar from outside the penalty area.

David Banks gave Nomads a half-time .lead over Halswell, but Ron Provan equalised for the home side in the second half. Baisweil's hopes have slipped considerably in recent weeks. It has taken only one point from its last three matches and will now face a difficult task to keep up the momentum of its league title challenge. Woolson beat Technical, 1-0, in an unimpressive match which rarely reached any great heights. Mike Poole scored the only goal of the match. Two goals by Graham Ford moved Cashmere-Wanderers well clear of any pursuers in fourth place, against Shamrock at Riccarton Domain. Ford scored once in each half, the first coming when a Cashmere penalty had

been saved and he scored from the rebound. Shamrock’s only goal came shortly before the end, through Joe Mullins. Cashmere had the better of the first half, when play ing with the wind. Shamrock had more possession after the in-, terval but had a tough job trying, to penetrate the strong Cashmere; defence. HERTZ LEAGUE

Matches played in the premier; league resulted. — Christchurch; United. 2. High School Old Beys' 1: Cashmere-Wanderers 3, Tern-1 uka United 2; Burndale 2. West-i ern 2; Rangers 5, Woolston 1. I

The University-Shamrock match was not played and Rangers have lost a point through playing an unregistered player earlier in the season.

Western 13 10 •> 1 36 14 •■>•> Baisweil 14 9 ,_'i 26 8 20 Woolston 12 9 0 32 16 18 Cashmere 11 4 ■> 1 •> 11 14 Nomads ; 4 4 .) 18 25 12 Shamrock 13 4 3 6 23 30 11 Brighton 14 3 4 — oo 31 10 Technical 14 ■? n 9 *9 31 8 Timaru i •" i 4 8 9 30 6 Hearts io 2 1 7 11 19 •5;

PREMIER LEAGUE Rangers 15 11 3 1 53 16 24 Western 15 11 1 3 54 13 Shamrock 14 a 3 3 32 18 19 V.’co’.ston 15 S 3 4 °T 24 19 Chell Util. 15 8 2 5 30 13 18 Burndale 1-1 7 2 5 34 23 16 H.S.O.B 15 5 1 9 ■?- 11 CWmer» 15 3 3 20 16 9 Tcmuka 13 2 1 9 16 54 .3 Universl'y 14 0 1 13 16 67 1