ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19916, 9 April 1928, Page 14

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

OPENING GAME OF SEASON. DIOMEDE DEFEATS AUCKLAND. .lb© Association football season was official!:: opened at Blandford Park on Saturday afternoon, when a team from the Diomede was opposed by an Auckland representative team. There was a surprisingly good attendance, and, although there was little good football in the game, there was plenty of incide(nt. t and play was of a fairly good standard. The ground was in excellent condition. The teams wore as follows: Diomede.—Wilding, Prior, Killick, Somerson, Gilmour. Lamb. Craik.. Black. *Meynell. Rivers. Cheshire.

Auckland.—Hall, Wright, Ros3, Mowat, Dawson, Morrison, Inncs, Bell, Stewart, Hoban, Goodman. Referee, Mr. E. Parkkison. Diomede was the more aggressive in the opening stages, and only wild finishing by the forwards enabled Auckland to keep ita goal intact. Mcvnell sent Cheshire away, but- his final effort was weak, and Hall easily cleared. Stewart, who gathered in a long pass itom Dawsoai, should havo scored from a«n easy position. .Bell followed up fast and ran through to Wilding, but sent over from very close in. Diomede again attacked, but Wright and Ross defended well, and Hall was not seriously troubled, although he had little to spare in throwm" clear from a snapshot by Meynell. Forceful play by Morrison put Auckland on the attack, and a glorious chance was missed when Stewart and Hoban both failed to add the finishing touch to a fine cros.-< from Innes. At the other end Gilmour worked clear, and hacl a great drjve from 30 yards range, but Hall was on the snot and cleared confidently. There was little in the way of concerted pla;. and the game was very scrappy, with Auckland showing to advantage ill the kick and rush tactics. Innes failed to accept the easiest of chances, and sent high over from very close range. Hoban made a similar mistake a few minutes ' later. Auckland pressed hard, and Be.' drove a fast shot against the crossbai. Half-time was called immediately afterwards, there being no score registered by either siae Auckland pressed on the resumption and Wilding saved brilliantly from Hoban. A fine centre by Mowat elrnost brought a goal, but Prior and Killick were giving little .away and the eiege was eventually raised. Clever combination by Meynell. Rivers and Cheshire had the Auckland goal in dunger. Hall being fully extended to tip « hot shot from Cheshire over the bar. The corner proved fruitless. Keening at, it, Diomede had the Auckland defence fully extended. Hall just pickioift up from Meynell when a goal seemed certain. Rivers rau through nicely and his nartinnr shot, was the best effort in the game Hall saving brillinntlv. From clever n!ay by Craik and Black, Rivers received an onening, and, running well in, he gave Hal! no chance with a fast ground shot. Diomede [1: Auckland. 0. Auckland immediately retaliated, Innes and Mowat being prominent but the latter sent past from a difficult angle. Not to be denied, Auckland pressed hard, and from a good cross by Mowat, Innes transferred to Hoban, who made no mistake wit 1 ' a fast, rising shot. Diomede, 1: Auckland, 1. A period of end to end filay followed, with Wilding the busier of the two goalkeepers. Meynell was prominent with a dash the Auckland defence, but his parting alio! was wide of the target. At the other end Hoban had a shot which Wildiirig cleared confidently. Gilmour showed up in a tricky run that had Auckland's a tangle. His shot was blocked and Jieynell sent weakly past from the rebound. Diorneda continued to press, and Gilmour, wbo wan nlaying a Btrri">s[ game at centre half, sen'i Black away. The inaide m;n transferred to Meynell, who scored with a great shot into the corner of the net. Diomede, 2; Auckland, 1. Auckland's attack seemed life!e«s and with the exception of a fine effort by Innes. there was) liH'e dancer Just before t.he close Mevnell failed to take the easiest r<{ chances to increase the Dinmede's lead, aid the finr-1 whistle pound with the scores: Diomede, 2; Auckland, 1.