United misses final

Press, 24 April 1984, Page 48

United misses final

By

DAVID LEGGAT

Two goals conceded in the last 13 minutes against Wellington Diamond United yesterday cost Christchurch Brother United a place in next week-end’s Air New Zealand Cup soccer final. Had Christchurch United held onto its 1-0 lead for those closing stages it would have met Gisborne City in the final. Instead, the 1-2 loss means McKee Nelson United, which began its Cup programme with two draws but finished in style with three victories, will be the southern zone representa-

tive. Christchurch United began impressively and largely dominated the opening quarter of the match. It went ahead in the twentyseventh minute. From a long throw on the left, Brent Berry dived in bravely where the boots were flying to head the ball beyond the W.D.U. goal-keeper, Graham Cox.

However, from the last 10 minutes of the first half, things began to go wrong for United. W.D.U. came into the match and created more opportunities after the interval.

The W.D.U. coach, Barrie Truman, made a crucial substitution at half-time, bringing on the tall attacker, Greg Fleming. Eventually, in the seventyseventh minute, after having much the better of proceedings, W.D.U. equalised when Fleming’s hard, low shot from 12 metres beat United’s goal-keeper, Steve Baker.

Five minutes later, Baker made a fine save from a Malcolm Dunford header, but from the resulting corner, Fleming forced the ball over the line for W.D.U.’s second goal.