MARIST WIN.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 69, 19 September 1927, Page 6

MARIST WIN.

Marist beat Diamonds by 2 goals to 1 at Association Parkin the Association Cup final. The game was one of the hardest seen this season, but was disappointing as far as the.standard of football was concerned. After having played on truer, even if heavier, grounds for the greater part of the season, the teams found the hard, dry, and uneven area at Association jjark disconcerting, and neither side played its best game. Marist were a disorganised side. In the absence of Cudby, Rudolph played on the left wing, Fitzgerald joining the team as goalie; Diamonds set;the .pace from the start, and for practically the whole of the two spells had''the best of the play. The Marist forward line, usually the strongest part of the team, had no combination, and rarely got moving. The brunt of the game fell to the halves, Pope, Thomas, and Burke, who all played well, as also did Fitzgerald, yin the full-back position. Jhe Diamonds defence was their strongest part, time after time rthe Marist forwards failing to get past the back line. Smith, in the half-back line, and M'Leod, on the right wing, shone. It was unfortunate that Hearne had to retire at halftime with an injury. His presence .was missed among the forwards. Within a few minutes' of starting, Diamonds forced a corner. M'Leod worked up the wing and centred, Fitzgerald just tipping the Dall for another corner. Marist then took a hand, and a solo run by Barton almost brought results. He sent the ball into Condon, whose shot missed by inches. The ball was swung out to MTJeod, who cornered the attack into Marist's territory, and sent in a stinging shofc, which Fitzgerald saved in good styje. Immediately, play "swung down to the other end of the field, and from a corner Rudolph headed the ball, which struck the cross-bar. Play again travelled back to the Marist goal, this time the ball glancing off' a Marist player to strike the upright. M'EUigott tried a long shot, dropping the ball into the goal-mouth. Ewing saved at the expense of a corner. Not long afterwards GoiiGtin'and Rudolph found themselves in front of an open goal. Condon's' shot missed badly. M'Leod again got possession, ran up the wing, and centred, ami Smith scored. Diamonds I, Marist 0. Half-time was called shortly after.

In the.second half Rudolph went to the full-back position, and Hiekey played on the.wing. For nearly the whole of this spell Diamonds attacked and Marist were hard-pressed. .Occasionally the latter would break away, but their work lacked finish when near goal. The ball travelled .rapidly up and down the field, and the game developed into a hard struggle. ■ In the last five minutes a forward rally on* the part of Marist saw Marshment close up to the net, and he equalised from a melee on the line. 1-1.

; The first spell of the extra time saw .no goal. About half-way through the bccond spell Burke sent the ball out to Hiekey 'on the wing. He centred, and Barton, who was m position, scored the winning goal with a dazzling shot that gave Ewingno .chance, the game ending: Sfarist 2, Diamonds 1. . Mr. Jackson was the referee.