SENIOR A

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 136, 11 June 1928, Page 14

SENIOR A

PETONE v. THISTLE. A. great struggle between Petone and Thistle on the Petone Recreation Grounds on Saturday resulted in a win i'or the local side by 3 goals to nil. Although on the whole Petone predominated, Thistle pushed them hard throughout, aud, with a bit more luck might have drawn or even won the game. Two penalties, which were awarded to Thistle, were wasted. The teams were:— Petone.—M'Vean; Steel, Haines; Farquhar, Campbell, M'Kee; Stobbs, Hunter, Leslie, Dunlop, James. Thistle.—Fletcher; Jack, Hopper; M'Lellau, Hanlon, Wheelan; Smith, Campbell, Lothian,. Montgomery, Cunningham. Thistle kicked off, and very soon a penalty against Petonc for hands gave the side a chance, but Lothian's kick sailed over the crossbar. Petone attacked, aud good work by James, Leslie, and Stobbs ended in" the last-uamed's shot going behind. Thistle attempted to retaliate, but Campbell, the Pctoue centre-half, stemmed the rush. The local forwards again took up the offensive, testing Fletcher with some tricky shots. In this respect the two wingers, James and Stobbs, showed np, and Leslie, the centre-forward, although well marked, troubled the Thistle custodian not a little. A period of even play followed. Pctone's iirst goal was most unexpected. Leslie caught the Thistle backs napping, rushing through to get the ball just as it was rolling behind. He centred high and Fletcher tipped the ball over his head. It fell behind him, and Stobbs put it in. At half-time the scores were Petone 1, Thistle 0. Neither side relaxed the pace in the second spell. Thistle, in spite of all 'their efforts, could not score, most of the play being carried on in their half by the aggressive Petoneites. From the whistle the latter attacked, Hunter running up to transfer to Stobbs, who centred to Leslie. With only the keeper to beat, this looked a certain goal, but Fletcher brought off a splendid save at full length. Leslie, Hunter, and Stobbs were again off, but were pulled up by Hopper robbing the winger just as he was going to shoot. Thistle attacked, and M'Venn was given some anxious moments. Thistle were awarded another penalty kick, but Hanlon put the ball straight into M'Vean's hands. Later,, from a melee in the goal mouth, Petone scored, Stobbs appearing to just get the ball inside the post. There was some doubt as to which side of the post the ball actually did go, but the referee gave it a goal. Petone 2, Thistle 0. Petone now did most of the attacking and before time was called Leslie scored, the game ending with Thistle attacking Petone 3, Thistle 0. Mr. A. Caisley was the referee.