FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18689, 21 April 1924, Page 4

FOOTBALL.

THE ASSOCIATION GAME. •HARBOUR BOARD DEFEATED. A DISPUTED GOAL. NORTHCOTE AND HELLABY'S WIN. The Auckland Football Association senior competition was continued on Saturday afternoon, wher. Victoria Park proved the centre of attraction. Here, in blazine hot weather, before a Catherine estimated at 4030, the leading teams. Ponsonby and Harbour Board, played a brilliant and hardfought came, resulting in a win for Ponsonby by one goal to nil. This deciding Koal was, ami still is. a matter of much comment, ma.-i.y contending that the ball did not go far enough into the net to cross the goal lin*. At the conclusion of the game the secretary of ths Harbour Board team lodged a protest with the Auckland Football Association against tho decision of the referee in awarding a .goal to the Ponsonby team.

On rn adjoining ground, at VictoriaPark, Hcllaby's decisively defeated Tramways by 4 goals to 1. The surprise of the day was Northcote's victory over Thistle at the Domain by 6 goals to 3. Another big score was registered in the Y.M.C.A.Londoners match, when the former team triumphed by 0 to 1. At Calliope Dock Metropolitan suffered defeat at the hands of Philomel, the Navy team winning by 4 goals to 2. On the Devonport Domain a drawn game was played betwoen North Shore and Watereiders, both sides scoring 2 goals.

PONSONBY V- HARBOUR BOARD. Ponsonby lost tho toss and defended the city end, facin? the sun. At first both srdrs moved cautiously, although a bad miss by Brittain almost let Ponsonby through _in the first few minutes. After 10 minutes, during which a long drive by Neeshr.m again endangered the Harbour Board goal. Ponsonby began to demonstrate a slight superiority oyer their exponents, A lighter and faster side, they wore quicker on the ball. Dickson, their centre forward, was not convincing, but the two inside men were combining splendidly with the wings, while the backs gave sound • support with Neeshtm. centre half, and Braithwaite, left bach, standing out prominently. Luck was against Harbour Board. Their inner left, Hayes, injured himself while kicking the ball just before the game started and had to be replaced by a substitute. This disorganised the attack, and then, early in the match. Cox, the centre forward, had to retire for first aid after a collision. After 20 rainy both teams got properly int.i their stride and bright, snappy nlav delighted the onlookers. Jcnes, at left halt for Harbour Board. put his side on the attack repeatedly with nicely-placed, passes. j Consistently good defence by Braithwaite enabled Ponsor.by not only to retaliate but also to force the game continually, and the ball travelled flora end. to end at a merry pace with both goalkeepers frequently called upon to defend their charges. The hard ground and dry ball "Hint themselves to accurate and e'ever footwork. During a Ponsonby attack just before half-time, Neetham, who was playing excellent football, sent in one of his long drives. Batty cleared to his riuht and Hunter. Pon. »onl>7'tt inner left, dashed through to send in a sharp grounder. The ball struck the ►wipe of the right upright and rebounded across the goal mouth. Batty spooned it r.way, but the referee ruled that three-parts of tho leather had crossed the line. ana Awarded Peru l on by a goal. A few minuted later tho whistle sounded for half-time with the scoresPnnsenljy * Harbour Board 0 On resuming Harbour Board attacked srmartly. Corbett was continually in .the thick of it and made Rome good openings for his forwards. After smart • combined play with. Palmer, Co? received in good position but dipt wildly, losing a pood chance. Ponsonby livened up and took a turn at attack, play becoming even more, strenuous and with Brittain and Cox temporarily out. of the game with injuries. Harbour .Board were hard put to it to keen their opponents out, but Jones ultimately gave relief. Harbour Beard .agx>in commenced, to press and forced a series of corners, with Clark in groat for Ponsonby defending brilliantly. The rest of tho game saw first one side and then the other assume the upper hand. Many opportunities to score were lost through over eagerness and the pace kept up right to the end. No further score was registered and a splendid same ended with the scores:— Ponsonby ... ~ >. .. 1 Harbour Board . . . . . . 0 Mr. A Newbold was referee.

NORTHCOTE V. THISTLE. Ragged play marked the opening stages, but Northcote were quick to take advantage of openings, and after a. dashing move TreL raain scored a good goal, giving the suburban team th«» lead. Thistle retaliated with a. smart attack initiated by Williams. I)odds received in good position to shoot well and Craiion baved at the expense of a corner, which was net turned tp account. Dashing individual piay gave Thistle the upper hand lor a time "but lack of cohesion and weakness in front of goal lost chances. Northcote. on the other hand, combined well and when Knott received a pass within shooting distance he piloted the ball into the net, putting his aide two up. The reverse spurred Thistle to greater effects and a prolonged" attack was crowned ■with succes;! when Dvdds' beat Craxton with a long shot. Thistle came again and only erratic shooting by William* prevented them equalising. Before the interval Northcote again dominated play' and added two further goals, the scores being:— Northcote . . , . . . . . -i Thiatle . . . , 1 A change round in the 'Thistle team when play was resumed brought no apparent improvement and Northcote attacked without full. Two further goals, were scored against the city team, by Bell and Knott, making the scores: Northcote. G; Thistle. 1. , At this stage Northcote appeared to slacken off and their opponents began to force »the issue with greater success. Two goals wore notched for Thistle in Quick time \by Dujißmorc and Dodds. and the game became much more closets contested from ♦lien on. Strenuorsly both sets of forwards fought for supremacy, with the scene of action first at one goal and then the other. Xi"o further score came and a hard game ended: — Northcote . . • • . . 6 Thistle • • • • • • • • 3 Mr. F. Marsh was referee. Y.M.C.A. V. LONDONERS. Opening play saw Y.M.C.A. quick to take the offensive, and the game developed into a duel between the Y.M.C.A. forwards and Londoners' backs. The latter kept their coal intact for some time, getting out of many tight corners by fine tackling and clearing. Eventually a free kick enabled Turnbuil to place the ball with judgment for Marshall to score Y.M.C.A. s first goal. Play of a more even nature followed the kick-off and Londoners' forwards showed flashes of clever combined a X, 'hat gave P . VIM© of better things. But. Shenkni and Spa-ling -in the Y.M.C.A. back Jinc soon „', the ball away to their own forwaras. ' Before the sne'.] ended Marshall scored his second and Hart got a goal for Y.M.C.A., Londoners made' half-time. fight of the Londoners made » plucky fight of the second half, and Burlev scored their first goal by following up fast and getting Ravins I," "finstled." The goalkeeper & moment later retrieved his fallen laurels with a .-lever save from a particularly hot shot. Tho game was fought to a finish and Londoners were by 110 means outclassed in the final stages although their opponents added three further goals per medium of •{ vep (2>, and Marshall, who accomplished the "hat trick." The Cna! scores were:— Y.M.C.A. .. .. ..... 6 Londoners . . . • . . 1 — v WATSIDE V. NORTH SHORE. . "cwly-promofed Watersiders justified ,' ( p » r v ,a !l n to senior honours when they ground ° 1 all ° ro on the latter team's pear to e K M»f t J alf the viß '<"rs did not noground an » dow, l to ° V -'" U ° n tho strange Ab'v led by Dm-- t r i Mu if nl 'y cau«hfc offside. Eood form and thp. i' ' 10 am displayed tor, were obviouslv " umb " oi spectaof their eleven cotin'oßKl W!th , th f ° ff ? rtS yearV juniors. GmK™ mostly ,of last and Wooiley or M T p ti' scoled by , Dro b" 2to nil fit ,half-time v '' ere leadllI >" The second half saw Watersiders plav more coniidcrice and good work V- ir W '-v finiC.Fecney ended in a centre whir}, n 1 turned to full account. Further i.v 3,r ? <) veiled in the visitors' favour* and Fechev . wm again prominent. nwinginß aeroF, ;, LS brautifld centre tor Martin to equalic v,, ( . h'ithstandinjr determined efforts by North b'hoio ■ they s could not again take the lead ■and the . final whistle sounded w;th the Korea: Hy'ffigas. .: -u S