Defender takes lead in soccer league

Press, 26 June 1989, Page 26

Defender takes lead in soccer league

The defending champion, Christchurch United, swept to a seven-point lead at the top of the southern soccer league with a 2-1 win over Western in trying conditions at Western Park on Saturday.

While United was overcoming a very heavy ground and dogged opponent, its closest rivals, Burndale United and Dunedin City, slipped to losses.

Burndale, without two key forwards in John Hanson and Korosh Monsef, went down 10 to Green Island, and Dunedin City suffered its second successive loss when beaten, 2-1, by lowly placed Oamaru.

United has a demanding schedule in the next three weeks when it meets Technical, Burndale and Green Island but its form has been so consistent it should have little trouble maintaining its lead. It has suffered only one loss, to Dunedin City in the first round, and the depth of talent in the squad will make it hard for other sides to get past it. In other games on Saturday, Rangers and Mosgiel drew, 1-1, and Technical

moved into fourth place with a 2-0 win over Caversham.

Western held Christchurch United for the first half of their match at a sodden Western Park, but a penalty early in the second half saw the defending champion take the lead.

Liam McHugh brought down Brent Berry, United’s liveliest attacker, and the captain, Rab Brown, converted the chance. Western came back after 70min. when Sasha Radujko’s free kick from 20m out took a deflection and the ball wrong-footed Alastair McCosh in the United goal.

But the United national league fringe player, Mike Boomer, restored its advantage with a fine goal, cutting in from the right and driving

home past Eric Eicholtz for a 2-1 victory. Boomer and Laurence Fitzpatrick stood out in the United midfield, while Eicholtz was in grand form for Western, keeping it in the match with some important saves in difficult conditions. At Rangers Park, the home side took the lead after 7min. with an expertly constructed goal. Jeff Blackburn’s cross from the left was chested down by John Boatwood into the path of lan Cowans. The midfielder’s first-time volley from the edge of the box whistled home for a fine goal but Mosgiel equalised on the half-hour. Brent Steven’s shot struck Paul Welford and the goal keeper, Darren Johnson, was left stranded by a deceptive bounce.

Rangers continued to hold the upper hand in the second half but missed some clear chances to add to its tally and finally had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

At Ensors Road, the match was delayed for an hour because of a motor accident involving Caversham players. Nobody was injured but a

new vehicle had to be found for the players to travel in as their car was badly damaged.

Once the match started. Technical battled to break down Caversham’s wellorganised defence and it was not until Steve Tasker struck mid-way through the second half that it took the lead.

A second goal to Pat Berry near the end gave it a 2-0 win, the veteran striker thumping home a drive from the edge of the box after being put through by Paul Clarke from midfield. At Burnside Park, the visiting side, Green Island, eked out a deserved 1-0 win over Burndale United to severely dent its title hopes. The only goal came midway through the second half when a Craig Helm corner was headed home by Shane Robinson. Until then the match could have gone either way but Burndale certainly missed the finishing ability of the suspended John Hanson and the injured Korosh Monsef.

It created a number of useful chances in the first half without capitalising, Steve Toohey shooting over

the top when clear and Graeme Archer mis-hitting after Toohey had cut the ball back to him.

Archer plaved wide on the left for Burndale and was in the thick of the action throughout, both on and off the ball, where he had a lively tussle with the physical Green Island defence. In between chats with the referee, Eddie Taylor, of Wellington. Archer kept Green Island busily employed but there was plenty of action in the Burndale goal mouth as well.

The left back. Neil Wright, had a long-range shot turned around the post by a diving Graham Quinn before Robinson’s header left the goalkeeper stranded. Burndale almost got back on terms with 20min. left, Jimmy Small’s firm backheader from a free kick bringing a brilliant save from the chunky Green Island custodian, Jeff Barnes, who dived to tip the ball over the bar.

The match was physical in the second half, with Peter Ross clashing with Kevin Scoullar early on and plenty of willing tackles being put in

by both sides. The only player to get a yellow card was the Burndale centre back, Marty Quinn, who could hardly have cause for disagreement after taking out the Green Island striker, David Milton.

Archer almost earned Burndale a point with lOmin. left, pushing his shot wide in a one-on-one with Barnes, but it was not to be and Burndale’s title hopes are now looking gloomy. Results: Division two: South Canterbury 0, New Brighton 2; Cashmere 2, University 0; Shamrock 3, St Albans-Shirley 1; Woolston 2, Rangiora 0; Halswell 2. Riccarton 1.

Points:— New Brighton 27, Halswell 25. South Canterbury’ 20, University 17, Shamrock 16, Woolston 12, Cashmere 12, St Albans-Shirley 11. Rangiora 7, Riccarton 7. Division three: Ashburton 2, Western 0; Christchurch United 2, High School Old Boys 1; Burwood 0. Rangers 3; Technical 3, Burndale 0; Kaiapoi 0, Nomads 2. Points: Christchurch 29, Technical 26, Rangers 24. Old Boys 23, Western 19, Ashburton 15, Nomads 12, Burndale 9, Burwood 8, Kaiapoi 3.

P W D L F A Pt Chch 12 9 2 1 28 11 29 Burndale 12 7 1 4 29 10 22 Dun. City 12 6 3 3 21 13 21 Tech. 12 6 9 4 16 15 20 Rangers 13 4 6 3 14 15 18 Green I. 12 5 2 5 20 16 17 Western 11 4 4 3 13 14 16 Oamaru 12 2 6 4 13 22 12 Caversham 12 1 2 9 10 25 5 Mosgiel 12 1 2 9 10 34 5