Canty victory welcome boost

Press, 21 May 1987, Page 38

Canty victory welcome boost

By

GARY BIRKETT

Canterbury boosted the standing of South Island soccer by beating Auckland, 3-2, at English Park last evening, proving there is a place for interprovincial games in New Zealand. Canterbury’s victory was a welcome fillip for the code in the south, which has been called a soccer backwater by some of the unkinder critics in the north.

There was nothing second rate about Canterbury’s performance against the star-studded Auckland team, which had been unbeaten in five lead-up games against strong overseas opposition. It took a goal of rare quality from the red-headed midfielder, Danny Halligan, to clinch victory.

The score was tied at 2-2 when Halligan set off on a long run out of his own half. He finished by firing a dipping shot into the top right hand corner for a 3-2 lead after 70 minutes, a lead Canterbury never relinquished. Wbile Halligan was undoubtedly the

man of the match for Canterbury the coach, lan Marshall, was loath to pick out any player for special praise. “I thought all the boys did well. People tend to forget about the defenders in games like this and our two front runners, Allan Carville and John Hanson, caused Auckland a lot of problems.” Mr Marshall said the match was a great advertisement for inter-provin-cial soccer, thoughts echoed by the Auckland coach, John Adshead.

“It was a super advertisement for the game,” said the former All Whites coach. “Canterbury did very well and closed us down quickly. My players didn’t play as well as they have been and perhaps they were a bit jaded after six or seven games in 10 days.” Canterbury, which was the Christchurch national league starting eleven minus the injured Keith Braithwaite, had the better of the opening quarter hour but fell behind to a classic set piece goal. The speedy Auckland striker, Grant

Lightbown, wrested a free kick from the Christchurch defence and Keith Pritchett rolled the ball to Keith Mac Kay, who struck a choice goal past the goalkeeper, Alan Stroud, from 20 metres.

Canterbury was level after 30 minutes, Carville creating a goal out of nothing. He chased a long bail and robbed Ricki Herbert, calmly rounding the keeper, Allan Gilgrist, and shooting home from a narrow angle. Canterbury almost punished Auckland again when Kevin Calder’s cross was headed on by Carville to Hanson at the far The ball bounced over Hanson’s outstretched boot and the chance went begging. The second half was barely under way when Canterbury went in front Hanson won a free kick; Calder floated in a deep cross and Ceri Evans rose high at the far post to head powerfully past Gilgrist With Billy Wright bellowing for more commitment Auckland grafted its way

back and Wright, always in the thick of the action, equalised with a fine goal after 55 minutes.

He sped, down the right and while Canterbury looked for a cross slipped the ball in at the near post, Stroud leaving just enough room for the eagleeyed Wright to get a sight of goal. Canterbury almost wrested the lead back when 'Johan Verweij had a strong drive turned over by Gilgrist and from the corner' Canterbury claimed the Auckland keeper, who had a jittery night, dropped the ball over the line, only for the referee, Arthur Edwards, to wave play on.

Canterbury’s reward finally came when Halligan conjured up a goal he won’t forget for a long time and then it held on well as Auckland fought for the equaliser.

Scorers: Canterbury 3 . (A. Carville, C. Evans, D. Halligan) beat Auckland 2 (K. Mac Kay, B. Wright).