SOCCER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 21 May 1926, Page 5

SOCCER.

MANiMAi (3) v. STIUfITORB (1)

Manaia veire at home to Stratford yesterday, laud in .spite of the wintry conditions prevailing a game brimful of interest eventuated. Owing to the weather ttihe spells were reduced to 35 minutes each. Stratford, winning the boss, elected to 1 play the first half defending the western end of the field against the bleak .south-east wind. Play opened smartly and soon the ba.ll was travelling up and down the field at ia lively pace. Mjaaraia .forwards, with Sutton leading, .carried play into Stratford’is goal area, when H. Pbllamd, with) a fast shot at an acute angle, hit the crosslbar. From the rebound Brown cleared to send Elgar on the wing upheld, where he centred to. Williams. The latter, from a. (scramble, tested .Manaia’s goalie, but without result. Black again came Stratford, who now were combining well in the half back line. Day .passed out .to Hensillwood, but Beitteridge, clearing, worked upheld ftp l send H. Polliard a.nd A. Griffin- .away. After a. sparkling exhibition. of passing and re-passing, H. Flo hard isent in a. well judged shot- that gave Wells no chance. Play havered in midfield till Dickson, intercepting ia pass, passed ■to' Williams the latter transferring the ball to HfnseLlwoad. But Manaia.’s' goalie, gathering the ball up, isent his halfaefes going. Until half-time Manaia severly tested Sitratford’is! defence, but Brown was there to clear everything. The .second .sSpell opened quietly t; Dickson, with a clever dash through Manaia’is hah-es sent the hall on to Elgar, but Cockrell trapped and, .with B. Sutton and A. Griffin, set up a concerted paisSsing rushes till Dlay intetrcepteid and, kicking high, cleared momentarily. J. O’Connor, obtaining possession, passed several opponents and Duubridge, with a well lined kick, sent the ball on to W. Sutton, the Latter, who wlas particularly noticeable in danerous rushes, made no mistake with ia. shot that gave Manaia their second goal. This 1 reverse stirred Stratford u,p and again and again Manaia’s defence was sorely tested. Cockrell, in saving a rush, conceded a corner, and Elgar, taking the kick, landed the ball in the centre of the penalty area, where Dickson, with a smart piece of head work, found the net for Stratford. J

The concluding stages of the game were fast and interesting, Manaia forwards making the game very open. IT. Pollard, at centre, shooting with accuracy, hit the crossbar on two occasions. From! a goal clearance, B. Pollard centred! to W.. Sutton, who sidestepped to allow A. Griffin, with a clever dash, to score •Maivadai’si third goal. _ Stratford forwards now made titanic efforts ito score. Day, with a hot shot, found Manaia’s! goalie at home. From the clearance play was still lively, when time sounded. Mr. W. McCook ably controlled the game.