United on winning way?

Press, 29 March 1982, Page 32

United on winning way?

NZPA Wellington While Gisborne City and Hanimex North Shore retained top position in the Rothmans Soccer League after the week-end’s matches, the way that Christchurch Mogal United snatched its first win in the championship indicated that their ascendancy would not be easily maintained. Christchurch snatched its first points of the league with a last-gasp, 3-2 win over Hamilton City in Hamilton.

The veteran striker, Kees Doornenbal, was Christchurch’s hero, scoring twice, including the winner four minutes from time. Keith Braithwaite scored the other goal for Christchurch, and Hamilton’s goals came from Peter Moxham and Peter Hoebergen. North Shore had a 1-0 home win over the defending champion. Wellington Diamond United, and Gisborne beat Manurewa 2-1. Other week-end winners were Mt Wellington and Napier City Rovers, while Dunedin City and National Mutual Miramar drew 1-1. Gisborne had to struggle for its win. It went ahead after 13 minutes because of a shot from the fullback, John Hill, but then proceeded to miss some chances and

Manurewa equalised just before half-time with a scrambled goal at a comer. Grant Turner restored Gisborne's lead after 15 minutes of the second half but it was unable to score again. Mt Wellington was never seriously challenged in its win over the league newcomer, Invercargill Thistle. Warren Fleet scored the first goal in the fourth minute. The second was added later by John Price and Thistle’s Richard Mulligan completed the Mount’s tally with an own-goal. National Mutual Miramar was lack-lustre in its 1-1 draw with last year’s cup winner, Dunedin City. The match was played at a college ground on Miramar’s home territory, rather than at the Basin Reserve, and 1500 people were there. Dunedin took the lead in first-half injury time when John Scholten • scored. Miramar equalised six minutes into the second spell through a header by Arthur Brown. Wellington Diamond United lacked the ideas and attacking flair to seriously threaten the North Shore goal in their clash. Brian McKeown crashed home a point-blank range header from a Barry Wey-

mouth cross in the thirtysecond minute to score the only goal of the match. Two Malcolm Wilson penalties helped Napier City Rovers to a 3-1 win over East Coast Bays. Wilson, a first half substitution, slotted his first in the thirty-fourth minute to equalise after the defence palmed a shot away and he scored his second from the penalty spot in the forty-seventh minute. The Rovers’ final ' goal came in the 81st minute when Kevin Murray found the top comer of the net with a climbing 20m drive. Stuart Clark scored East Coast Bays' only goal in the twentieth minute when he flashed in from midfield

after a defensive muddle by Rovers. With all the teams having played three matches, Gisborne and North Shore, the only unbeaten sides, lead with six points — one better than their nearest rivals, Mount Wellington, which has had two wins and a draw. Dunedin City and National Mutual Miramar are next with four points, while Napier City and Invercargill Thistle have two. Wellington Diamond United and Christchurch Mogal United have had one win each for two points, with Manurewa on one point ahead of Hamilton and East Coast Bays at the bottom of the table with none.