ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21007, 19 October 1931, Page 10

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

PREMIERSHIP TO THISTLE. y.M.C.A. LOSES THE HONOURS. MARGIN OE THREE GOALS. An ability to make the most of its fchances gave Thistle the premiership by 4 poals to 1 in the final of the Auckland . Football Association's senior championship with Y.M.C.A., played at Blandford Park on Saturday. The weather was fine, but the ground was inclined to be a trifle fiery, which made ball control difficult. The contest taken as a whole did not prove a good one, although a few brilliant phasss were witnessed. The teams were as follows: y".M.C.A.—Hilliard, Mowat, McGladdery, Chalmers, Malcolm, R. Riddolls, Thornea, Humphreys, A. Riddolls, Hamilton, Kay. Thistie.—Gerrard, Chapman, Williams. McLean, Wright, Watson, Cummings, His•lop. McLeay, Gill. Woods. Y.M.C.A. worked to a dangerous position a few minutes after the start, and a goal seemed imminent when Hamilton .steadied for a drive from 10yds. out, but 'Chapman made a desperate dive, and deflected the shot .with his foot. A. Riddolls almost burst through on two occasions and Kay brought Gerrard to his knees with a flashing ground shot. The Thistle team began to get a firmer grip on the exchanges, and play visited Y.M.C.A.'s goalmouth on more frequent occasions. Thistle took tho lead in an exceedingly simple fashion when Woods, after a sideline run, / put across a weak centre. McGladdery raced back to defend, got in the way of his goalkeeper and knocked the ball into the net. A lightning, retaliatory move saw Humphreys and Thornes combine prettily, the first-named sending in a piledrive shot which thudded against the goalkeeper's chest and rebounded clear. Midfield activities marked the closing Etages of the first spell, the score at the interval being:—Thistle, 1; Y.M.C.A., 0. The second half opened in sensational fashion, a lofty kick by Hislop seeing Hilliard misjudge the flight, and McLeay, following up fast, snapped the ball into the open goal. Thistle gained a third goal when Hislop hooked cleverly over his head, the ball striking the upright and eliding into tho net. The game swung more in Y.M.C.A.'s favour and a fierce attack culminated when Humphreys dropped in a well-judged shot which Williams hitout with his hand as the ball was entering the net.' The penalty kick was taken by / Malcolm, who kicked the ball straight into Gerrard's hands. A few minutes later, however, another penalty kick for tripping gave M. Kay the opportunity to open Y.M.CjA.'s account. Y.M.C.A. tried strenuously to reduce the deficit further, but. the Thistle defence proved too stalwart. Woods ■ centred in a subsequent Thistle onslaught and McLeay supplied the finish •with his lieadi to make the final score:— Thistle. 4; Y.M.C.A., .1. Mr. G. Shand was referee.

CURTAIN-RAISER CONTEST. GLEN INNES WINS DACRE CUP. The final of the second grade knock-out competition for the Dacre Cup between Glen Innes and Buniley was played as a curtain-raiser at Blandford Park, a fast and interesting contest resulting in a win for Glen Innes by 2 goals to 1. Burnley could be considered unfortunate to lose in some respects, as, had the forwards shown more direction with their shooting, the decision probably would have been reversed.