United alone successful

Press, 2 June 1981, Page 3

United alone successful

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Only one of the Christchurch’s three Rothmans Soccer League teams, Christchurch Mogal United, can be happy with its efforts in the two rounds of matches over the long week-end. United followed up its scoreless draw at Takapuna on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Wellington Diamond United at English Park yesterday; Woolston W.M.C’s defence let it down against Dunedin City at Queen Elizabeth II Park, and it lost, 2-0; while Rangers lost, 1-0, at Hamilton yesterday, after picking up one point in their draw with Woolston on Saturday. However, even United could count itself lucky to have taken two points from an impressive W.D.U. team. The only goal of the match came well into injury time, at the end of the first half when the referee (Mr Arthur Edwards) awarded United a penalty for a pushing offence by a W.D.U. defender. Bobby Almond, who was outstanding in defence, scored from the penalty spot to give United a fortuitous lead. W.D.U. had much the greater share of possession with its big ; men,. Mike Simenoff, Paul van der Breg-

gen and Wynton Rufer, all winning a lot of ball. W.D.U. continued to do most of the attacking in the second half, particularly down the left flank where Rufer, Jeff Strom and Paul McLean worried United’s defence.

United’s goal-keeper, Barry Pickering, kept his team ahead with a fine display, especially one superb save from a Simenoff header. United had just one real second-half chance, when David Jackson forced a diving save from W.D.U.’s goalkeeper, Bob Wilshire. Shoddy defensive work cost Woolston both its goals against the in-form Dunedin City team. The first half was an even one, but Woolston’s attack seemed unable to break through the solid Dunedin defence.

In contrast, Dunedin’s offensive play was always more dangerous with Steve Wooddin in sharp form. His incisiveness was initially stemmed by some tight marking from David Hendry, but as the game progressed so Wooddin’s influence increased. sWoolston’s second half display fell right away after a promising start and its’clear chances were few. Hendry

turned a Graham Storer corner over the bar in the first half, and Richard Mulligan should have brought Woolston level at the start of the second half, but his shot was weak. Of the Woolston midfielders, only Storer would have been pleased with his efforts. Peter Moot had a fine game in goal for Woolston, stopping shots from Terry Wilson, John Russell, Wooddin, Graham Carr and Paul Hillis, and his handling of the high balls was impressive. Graham Thompson, at left back, also had a sound game, but it was hesitancy in the defence which let Woolston down.

Six minutes before halftime, it was slow to react when, having blocked a Canshot from the edge of the penalty area, the ball rolled to Wooddin, two defenders stood off and the international striker made ho mistake from close range. Then minutes from the end it was a similar story when Wilson’s deep cross was headed down by John Scholten for Russell, with time and space, to squeeze the ball past Moot from right in front.

Hamilton was too strong for Rangers and could have won by a bigger margin. The only goal came nine minutes after half-time when Graham Fleming scored from the penalty spot after Paul Gemmell had been brought down by a Rangers defender. Results:— National Mutual Miramar 4 (Arthur Brown two, Shane Rufer two), Takapuna' City 1 (Alister Elder). Half-time 1-1.

Mount Wellington 3 (Keith Nelson two, David Taylor), Hani-mex-North Shore 0. Half-time 2-

Christchurch Mogal United 1 (Bobby Almond penalty), Wellington Diamond United 0. Halftime 1-0.

Hamilton 1 (Graham Fleming penalty), Rangers 0. Half-time 0-

Woolston W.M.C. 0. Dunedin City 2 (Steve .Wooddin,. John Russell). Half-time 0-1.

ROTHMANS LEAGUE P W D L F A Pt Dun. City 11 7 4 0 23 10 18 Nth Shore 13 8 2 3 25 16 18 Mt-Wgtn 14 6 3 5 26 12 15 Gisborne 7 6 1 0 20 4 13 W.D.U. 11 5 3 3 18 9 13 Chch Utd 11 4 5 2 10 4 13 Miramar 13 4 4 5 11 21 12 Takapuna 13 3 4 6 17 23 10 Hamilton 14 3 4 7 12 23 10 Manurewa 7 3 2 2 14 10 8 Woolston 14 2 4 8 13 34 8 Rangers 14 0 4 10 8 31 4