Socoer Dunedin dunks Christchurch

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 22

Socoer Dunedin dunks Christchurch

Dunedin City made the ideal start in its chase for the southern league division one soccer title with a 2-0 win over the defending champion, Christchurch, in the first round of the competition on Saturday.

Its comfortable win confirmed reports from Dunedin that it is in fine form so early in the season and sides visiting the Caledonian ground will do well to come away with three points. In other games Technical proved too efficient for Burndale, winning 2-0 at Ensors Rd, Western battled to a 0-0 draw with Oamani and Rangers scored a creditable 2-0 win over Green Island in Dunedin.

Mosgiel and Caversham played yesterday.

Burndale has further cause for disappointment when the former All White striker, John Hanson, was sent off for persistent back chat, by the referee, Ron Gallon, in his first match in the southern league since leaving Christchurch United. STRONG START

Dunedin City started its season strongly with a 2-0 win over Christchurch at the Caledonian Ground in Dunedin.

A strong wind produced the classic match of two halves, and, with the initial advantnage, Dunedin played some excellent attacking soccer, without over-hitting the ball,

to take the lead after '6min.

Its new striker. Grant Plumbley, went around the defender, Peter Bennie, on the right wing, cut in along the line and set up Barry White to score from close range at the near post. The Christchurch goalkeeper, Alastair McCosh, saved a barrage of shots in its dominant first half hour and Rab Brown produced his usual share of last ditch tackles.

Dunedin then possibly tried too hard, shots flying off target, and its 1-0 half-time lead looked slender.

However, the defending champion’s form disappointed its coach, Martin Stewart, and with Dunedin working hard to pressure the ball carrier, few quality passes were deliverd forward. Playing wide on the right Andy Daffin had a quiet match and with Vaughan Conley was substituted after an hour by Julyan Falloon and Stephen Adams.

Christchurch’s most dangerous attacks came from a series of corners but Dunedin’s new look defence, led by the centre-back, Nick Brooks, absorbed that pressure.

After 74min Peter Verwey — whose aggressive, running had been troubling the fullback, Kelly Tonkin, all day — latched on to a right wing cross from Lawrence Malofie,

appeared to turn away, then hit a low left footed shot which left McCosh flat-footed. Its 2-0 advantage let Dunedin freewheel to victory.

At the Sunnyvale Ground a goal by the Rangers striker, Mike Cowen, after 15min gave it the lead over Green Island and an own goal after 40min produced a healthy 2-0 win for the Christchurch side.

The Burndale striker, John Hanson, got a dismal introduction to the southern league when he was sent off late in its match against Technical for back chatting the referee, Ron Gallon. It was Hanson’s second bookable offence and his dismissal summed up a frustrating day for Burndale, which was soundly beaten, 20, by an efficient and hard working home side. Playing down the slope at Ensors Rd in the first half Technical almost scored after 6min when lan France headed a Paul Clarke cross over from close range when he should have done better. It had to wait until 27 minutes to make up for that miss. The Technical striker, Steve Tasker, was brought down just outside the penalty box after breaking clear and from the resulting free-kick the centre-back, Dave Munro, rammed a shot past the wall and into the bottom right hand corner for a 1-0 lead.

The player who committed the foul. Jimmy Small, almost got Bumdale on terms when he rapped the bar with a shot after battling past two defenders while Hanson forced a good save from the Technical goalkeeper. Rod Renfrew, with a powerful volley on the turn.

The second half began with Burndale squandering a golden chance. Peter Ross squeezed past two defenders and burst into the penalty box only to badly hook his shot with only Renfrew to beat.

After that let off Technical came back to stamp its dominance on the game and a second goal after 50min sealed its victory. The right back, Brent Webster sent Terry Neville away down the right and his near post cross was only scrambled away by the goal keeper, Graham Quinn. Tasker was left with the simple task of placing his shot into an empty net for a 2-0 advantage. The former Papatoetoe national league striker was in sound touch until substituted with Neville, Clarke and Peter Burt also shining.

Hanson was generally well marked by Technical while it also struggled in midfield for long periods, only the work of Small and Steve McKenzie at the back keeping it in the game for so long. Western and Oamaru battled out a 0-0 draw at

Western Park in a tight match which produced few clear cut chances. Oamaru was content to play kick-and-rush soccer for much of the match, even when it had the advantage of the wind in the second half, while Western, which fired only in short bursts, could not break down the visitor’s well organised defence. “We only played well in spasms — that was our problem,” said the Western coach, Tony Harvey. He singled out the young midfielder, Liam McHugh, for special mention and overall was happy with the result. Results. — Division two.— South Canterbury 0, University 0; New Brighton 3, St Albans-Shirley 0; Shamrock 3, Cashmere 1; Halswell 1, Rangiora 1; Woolston W.M.C. 2, Riccarton 2. Division three.— Rangers 0, High School Old Boys 1; Technical 3, Western 3, Ashburton 1, Nomads 2; Burwood 2, Christchurch 2; Burndale 0, Kaiapoi 0.

C.F.A. division one.— Christchurch 0, Halswell 4; Cashmere 1, Woolston 2; Shamrock 0, New Brighton 0; University 9, Rangers 1; Western 4, Technical 0. Division two.— Western 9, Shamrock 0; University 3, Riccarton 1; Bumdale 1, Cashmere 5; Woolston 1, Rangers 4; Technical 4, PapanuiRedwood 0.