ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL West Coast Defeats Buller Comfortably In Return Match

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 August 1949, Page 6

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL West Coast Defeats Buller Comfortably In Return Match

The West Coast Association football team maintained a creditable record on Saturday when it beat Buller by five goals to two in a representative match played at Victoria Park. For three years the Coast team has been undefeated, but its win on Saturday was not inspiring. In the first match against Buller, played on a sodden ground, both teams gave a sparkling performance and yet this return game was most indecisive, in spite of greatly improved ground conditions. More polished play in the forward line gave Coast victory, although in the second spell Buller could probably be credited with a territorial advantage. Their chances came, but they failed to capitalise on them.

Play in the first spell, was somewhat scrappy, with both sides attacking in turn. With neither side displaying the form of the previous representative match between the two teams, the attacking front did not cause either goalkeeper much anxiety. The youthful Moore early played very soundly in goal and kept Buller out of trouble. Hassen put Coast on attack after Geddes had cleared earlier. Monaghan, Crackett and Steel went down in a fine combined move, but Kirk cleared. Soon after, Buller conceded a corner and Scott sent . in a “hot” shot from in front which just went over the bar. Scott had another shot, only to find Blyth clearing well from in front of the goal. Coast scored the first goal wnen Nuttall, from an attacking position, gave Ward and Scott a good chance, the latter scoring a gift goal. Buller Unlucky Lee, although showing a tendency to get out of position, saved Coast time and again with his forceful boot. Buller came back and Crackett was prominent down the flank but missed with a long shot. Actually, Buller forwards looked dangerous when in possession, but their opportunities were restricted because of loose play among the Buller fullbacks. They were a shade unlucky when, following a movement started by Steel, Watson just missed heading the ball in. Then a good shot by Fitzsimmons was disallowed because of “handling.” . . After Kirk had been prominent m some good saving work, Coast swept downfield in an attack, but were penalised for impeding the goalkeeper. Then followed some good play by Glenn. He had not seen much of the ball but his play was crisp and decisive. However, he was “out of touch” with a weak shot, after a transfer from Scott which landed in the right position folium. u . , Before half-time, Hassen “headed the ball near the Buller goal, only to miss narrowly. Steel, showing a lot of pace, brought Buller back on attack. Half-time came with the score: West Coast 1, Buller 0. Buller attacked' immediately after the resumption of play and a mistake by Kirk left the “gate open” for Steel, who beat Perrin with a good shot; thereby evening the scores. Both teams showed new life and the play became brighter and more cohesive. Quick passing in front of the Buller goal saw Hassen score nicely to give Coast the lead —two goals to one. Scott scored Coast’s third goal after Buller had been adjudged offside after Crackett had scored. Coast On Attack Another Buller attack found Perrin making a fine save at the expense of a corner. Coast set sail down field and Moore made a brilliant save from Scott. His counterpart, Perrin, also bandied well, keeping out some swift shots from Steel.

Combined efforts by Coast had their reward. Nuttall sent across a welltimed and well-directed ball to Boyd, who made no mistake. Buller were trailing, .one goal to four. The home team continued to have the better of the exchanges and, following a good opening made by Scott, Glenn sped the ball into goal. Buller had a turn on attack and McNaught, who was not as impressive as usual, missed narrowly. Steel narlowed the gap in the scores, scoring after a free kick against Perrin. Another Buller attack saw Crackett put in a well-placed shot which Steel headed over the bar. At the final whistle Coast still lead by five goals to two.

Coast won the game through better finish. Perrin made few mistakes in goal for Coast and Lee was the better of the full-backs, repeatedly saving his team. Of three useful half-backs, Kirk was probably the most impressive. Scott, Hassen and Boyd were prominent for sound play in the towards. For Buller, Geddes was a good fullback and Moynihan was the best of the three halves, none of whom was really impressive. Steel was easily the best of the Bullei- forward line, with McNaught improving as the game went on. The teams took the field as follows: West Coast.—J. Perrin, R. Lee, J Clark, R. Nuttall, J. Kerr, J. Kirk, G. Glenn, A. Boyd, R. Scott, B. Hassen, J. Ward. Buller.—F. Moore, A. Geddes,- C. Fox, D. Monaghan, T. Blyth, W. Trotter, G. Crackett, C. Steel, S. Watson, H. Fitzsimmons, J. McNaught. In the curtain-raiser, the West Coast A schoolboys team beat the B team by five goals to nil. The Coast schoolboys team will leave today for Timaru, where it will take part in the South Island schools’ tournament. Fixtures For Saturday The Westland Football Association’s draw for Saturday is as follows:— Senior.—Blackball v Taylorville, at Blackball .(G. Lindley); Runanga v Greymouth, at Runanga (J. Timlin), Reefton a bye. , The Cobden club has withdrawn its team from the senior competition be-, cause of lack of players. The West Coast schoolboys’ team left today for Timaru where it will take part in the South Island schoolboys’ tournament. , There will be no competition matches while the team is absent from the district.