Soccer Rangers qualify for play-off

Press, 5 September 1983, Page 20

Soccer Rangers qualify for play-off

By I

David Leggat

Rangers wrapped up the Hertz Soccer League title for 1983 on Saturday, but certainly not in the comfortable, relaxed fashion they had perhaps wished for.

Rangers lost the second leg of the zone play-off against Roslyn-Wakari, 2-1, at Rangers Park, having won the first leg, 2-0, in Dunedin a week ago, and with away goals counting double, Rangers thus advanced to the Rothmans League promotion series on a 5-4 aggregate. But for a spell in the second half, Rangers were under real pressure as Roslyn-Wakari sensed it had the chance to cause a major upset.

The play became hectic, even nail-biting towards the

finish, although the standard was generally a shade below what could have been expected from two teams challenging for a national league spot. As a test case for a return to one fully regionalised league, however, it would certainly have converted some of those previously undecided. The strong wind which blew diagonally across the pitch for the first hour marred much of the match as a spectacle. But it did not prevent both teams carving out scoring opportunities. »

Rangers, with the wind coming over their left shoulder in the first half, should have gone ahead when John Boatwood’s header was cleared off the line, and, particularly, when Mark Gatenby drove a great chance wide, for him a strange

error. Geoff Duke, the Roslyn goalkeeper, saved virtually at point blank range from Eric Reiser. Roslyn’s attacks largely revolved around its tall striker, Mark Gribben. He displayed some fine touches, especially in the second half, and played a significant part in most of Roslyn’s best chances. Rangers strikers, Gatenby and Boatwood, toiled hard against a combative back-line, in which Jamie Brown stood out. A minute before the interval, Roslyn’s players — and its vocal supporters — appealed in vain for a penalty, after its winger, Warren Gould, was pushed from behind. However, the referee, Arthur Edwards, ruled that no foul had been committed.

Roslyn, and Gould in particular, made .amends six minutes after half-time. Gould took a corner on the.right, it swung appreciably towards the goal in the wind, and Rangerrs goal-keeper, Peter Hawker, let the ball fly between his hands as Gribben challenged for the ball. Reiser and Gatenby had both missed early opportunities, and Roslyn pressed forward with urgency seeking the equaliser. When it came, 12 minutes later, it was no surprise. Roslyn had looked sharper, forcing errors in the Rangers defence. Again, it was a corner which undid the Rangers defence. This time, it was from the left, and Barry Still was allowed to head it home from as close as the six-yard box.

Darryl Hudson forced Hawker to palm an 18-metre volley over the bar, and Gribben capitalised on an error by Scott Dewar only to hit the ball too high. At the other end, Duke made a one-handed save from Reiser, and Dewar had his close range shot kicked off the Roslyn line.

Just when extra time seemed a certainty, Chris Smith hit the underside of the Roslyn cross-bar from right in front, but Grant Hughes drove the ball low past Duke, through a crowd of players for the deciding goal. The national league play-off series will be held in Nelson, from October 1-3. If Rangers win through, it will be their third year in the country’s premier competition, after spending 1980-81 there.