Entertaining representative match won by Canty

Press, 30 May 1983, Page 30

Entertaining representative match won by Canty

Three fine goals enabled Canterbury to retain the Jones Cup by beating Otago, 3-2, in an entertaining representative soccer match at Queen Elizabeth II Park yesterday. Contrary to expectations, it proved to be a particularly satisfying second course, after the disappointing Queen’s Park Rangers match a week earlier. Both teams produced positive, enterprising soccer, with the generous helping of thrills required to take some of the chill out of the bones. The first half belonged to Otago. It settled into its stride quicker than Canterbury, whose defence was exposed several times, especially down the right flank. Otago took the lead in the

eleventh minute when Steve Jones was handily placed to stab the ball into the net from close range. It would have increased that lead had Mike Fulham, Canterbury’9 goal-keeper, not deflected a good effort from Steve Fleming. Richard Gendall did get the ball past Fulham, but it was disallowed. The open, flowing soccer Otago was producing: was not fully matched by a Canterbury team whfch seemed disjointed in its movements. However, Canterbury did have its chances. Brent Berry shot straight at Otago’s veter an goal-keeper, Jim Taylor,, and Mark Smith’s point (blank shot was blocked by Taylor. With Ken Drakeford and George Morris, Otago’s man of the match, dictating the

midfield battle, Canterbury had its work cut out, but Ricky Hill enabled it to go in at half-time level with a fine solo goal. Breaking clear just inside the Otago half, he rounded Taylor, and finished expertly. Canterbury played some excellent soccer in the second half, having sorted out most of its first half problems. The Otago defence was remorselessly pounded yet it was proof of Otago’s attacking intent that it never resorted to a defensive pattern. Mike Millward gave Canterbury the lead early in the seond-half when he beat Taylor from the edge of the penalty area, after falling, recovering his balance and eluding a tackle. The decisive goal came from Keith Braithwaite in

the sixty-second minute. The dark-haired midfielder bent a free-kick around the Otago defensive wall and beat Taylor to give Canterbury a 3-1 lead. Hill, Berry and Mark Smith, whose good work was spoilt by some untidy ball control, all forced Taylor to make fine saves. However, Pat Berry narrowed the lead at the other end when his looping header from an lan Boath cross beat Fulham, three minutes from the end. Otago almost snatched a dramatic draw in the final minute, when Morris’s low drive nearly slipped past Fulham. Canterbury won the Ruddiman Cup under 19 fixture, beating Otago, 2-0. Scott Sinclair scored both goals for Canterbury.