Rangers still one point short of northern zone league title

Press, 19 August 1985, Page 28

Rangers still one point short of northern zone league title

Defeat at the hands of their bogey team, KLM Cashmere, on Saturday, has left Hurricane Rangers still a point short of confirming themselves as winners of the Hertz Soccer League’s northern zone.

Rangers have not beaten Cashmere in over two years, and the trend continued at Rangers Park, as an early goal by Paul Harrison was enough to give Cashmere a 1-0 victory. It is difficult to imagine Rangers being pipped for the zone title, and a place in the championship play-off series with North End United, of Dunedin.

Only Nomads United, which beat Woolston W.M.C., 3-0, at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday, can realistically hope to deprive Rangers of top place in the zone. For that to happen, Nomads would have to beat South Canterbury United by a substantial margin in its last match, while Rangers would have to lose to New Brighton in their final game at English Park tomorrow night. Cashmere produced some enterprising soccer when pushing forward against Rangers. However, as the second half progressed, Cashmere was restricted to

largely defensive duties, relying on quick counter-at-tacks. In the last 20 minutes. Rangers applied considerable pressure on the Cashmere defence. With the goal-keeper, Kevin Nicholls, showing a safe pair of hands, and the central defender, Josh te Kaat, a steady, reliable influence, Cashmere was able to hold its advantage. Rangers did pile on the chances, however. Geoff Blackburn should have done better than send a free glancing header meekly past the post; John Boatwood pushed the ball wide

of the post, with only Nicholls to beat, and sent a sizzling volley over the cross-bar; Nicholls expertly blocked a firm Stuart Chalmers shot; lan France put a looping header on to the roof of the net; and lan Cowan’s dipping drive flew just past a post. Rangers will have wanted the zone title sewn up well before tomorrow night. On Saturday, they are likely, barring a big upset, to be playing the first leg of the championship play-offs in Dunedin.

Nomads showed the value of taking scoring chances when overcoming a Woolston team which was unable to turn possession into goals.

Alan McCall scored the first, before half-time. Bruce Scott, with a welltaken effort, added the second, and Luke Campfens put the match beyong doubt with a long range shot.

Frucci Halswell United made certain of its place in the southern league next winter in a dramatic encounter with Christchurch United’s reserves at Spreydon Domain. Halswell won, 7-1, while United finished the match with just nine players. The United goal-keeper, Steve Baker, was the first to get his marching orders from the referee, David Haase, for bringing down a Halswell striker. Then his replacement, the veteran, Kees Doornenbal, was sent off, for the same offence. It

is the second time the former Rothams League player has been ordered off this season for the club’s reserve team.

By this stage, there was only going to be one winner, and Halswell took the chance to boost its goal difference. The chief benficiary was the striker, Allan Carville, whose four goals lift him to 11 for the competition — one for Nomads, 10 for Halswell. He is the joint leader with the Nomads striker, Duncan Bean, among individual goalscorers in the league. Mel Jones scored twice, and Mike Cowen once for Halswell, while Mike Mulcahy got United’s goal. The relegation place is now between Christchurch United, which has completed its programme, and Western, two points back, but with three matches remaining.

Western was a shade unlucky to lose, 2-1, to New Brighton at Queen Elizabeth II Park on Saturday. Having gone behind early in the match, to a Phil Lawton goal, Western equalised just before half-time, with a diving header by John Brand, from a long throw which had been flicked on to the far post. The decisive goal came 18 minutes into the second half. A Western player was adjudged to have handled the ball in the penalty area and Lawton made not mistake from the penalty spot. Cockram Nissan Shamrock was too strong for

South Canterbury United, winning, 3-0, in Timaru. South Canterbury has now suffered six consecutive league defeats. Jim Small scored the opening goal, to give Shamrock a half-time advantage. Peter McFaul claimed his first goal for the team to increase the lead and Steve Neill scored the third, from the penalty spot, after he had been brought down by a South Canterbury defender. HERTZ LEAGUE

Burndale United’s slender hopes of pipping Technical for the premier division title on goal difference disappeared on Saturday when it only drew, 1-1, with High School Old Boys. The champagne corks popped at Ensors Road as Technical, still with a match remaining, has the title, and promotion to the southern league, wrapped up. In the premier division knockout cup, Woolston beat Shamrock, 1-0.

P W D L F A Pt Rangers 17 11 3 3 32 15 36 Nomads 17 10 3 4 38 25 33 Cashmere 17 10 3 4 23 18 33 Shamrock 17 9 3 5 35 19 30 Woolston 17 8 3 6 23 15 27 Brighton 16 5 2 9 19 24 17 Halswell 17 5 2 10 30 37 17 Sth Canty Chch Utd 17 4 4 9 18 32 16 18 2 8 8 20 32 14 Western 15 3 3 9 13 34 12

PREMIER LEAGUE Pt P W D L F A Tech. 17 13 1 3 49 15 40 Bumdale 17 11 2 4 50 16 35 Woolston 18 10 4 4 34 19 34 Rangers 17 9 2 6 31 28 29 Cashmere 18 8 2 8 28 31 26 Shamrock 17 6 3 8 22 28 21 H.S.O.B. 18 5 3 10 26 48 18 Western 17 4 4 9 20 29 16 Riccarton 18 5 0 13 19 39 15 Brighton 17 3 5 9 13 29 14