Shock for Gisborne

Press, 1 April 1985, Page 44

Shock for Gisborne

By

DAVID LEGGAT

New Zealand Permanent Gisborne remains in its customary position at the head of the Rothmans Soccer League points table, despite being held to a remarkable draw by the struggling University Cowan yesterday. The result is the biggest surprise of the season to date. University, which finished bottom of the national league last season, and looks like being thereabouts again this time round, came from behind twice, to share the points. Alistair Elder, the former international striker, scored twice for the Auckland club, as did the excellent Gisborne attacker, Colin Walker.

Christchurch Brother United returned from doing

battle with its oldest league rival, Masport Mount Wellington, having picked up a good point after a 1-1 draw. United had the better of the match and was a shade unlucky not to leave with three points. Russell Cotton scored his first national league goal for the club just after halftime, but Mount Wellington’s 21-year-old English import, Grant Lightbown, equalised. Two players were sent off as McKee Nelson United got off the mark with a point from its scoreless draw against Southmall Manurewa.

Nelson’s Colin Tuaa, and Ken Drakeford, who joined Manurewa from Nelson this year, got first use of the showers after being dismissed.

A goal five minutes from the end by John Barry gave D.B. Wellington a 2-1 win over National Mutual Miramar. Nigel Simpson kept up his record of having scored in each game with a penalty for Miramar. 4XO Dunedin City, playing on unfamiliar territory at Carisbrook, had its first win of the season, over Landbase Papatoetoe; while Napier City Rovers remained rooted to the bottom of the table, still pointless, after going down to Hanimex-North Shore. Results:

Masport Mount Wellington 1 (Grant Lightbown), Christchurch Brother United 1 (Russell Cotton). Half-time 0-0.

4XO Dunedin City 2 (Dave Munro, Stuart Dunbar), Landbase Papatoetoe 0. Half-time 1-0.

Southmall Manurewa 0, McKee Nelson United 0. National Mutual Miramar 1 (Nigel' Simpson penalty), D.B. Wellington 2 (Brent O’Neill, John Barry). Half-time 1-1. New Zealand Permanent Gisborne 2 (Colin Walker two), University Cowan 2 (Alistair Elder two). Half-time 1-0.

Hanimex-North Shore 3 (Keith Hobbs, Barry Weymouth two), Napier City Rovers 1 (Harry Clarke penalty). Halftime 2-1.

ROTHMANS LEAGUE Pt P W D L F A Gisborne 3 2 1 0 7 3 7 Mt Wgtn 3 2 1 0 6 2 7 Nth Shore 3 2 0 1 10 7 6 Miramar 3 2 0 1 7 5 6 Wellington 3 2 0 1 7 7 6 Chch Utd 3 1 1 1 5 3 4 Dun. City 3 1 1 1 3 2 4 Manurewa 3 0 3 0 2 2 3 Papa toe. 3 1 0 2 3 7 3 Univ. 3 0 2 1 4 5 2 Nelson 3 0 1 2 4 9 1 Napier 3 0 0 3 1 7 0