CLOSE GAMES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26779, 24 May 1948, Page 3

CLOSE GAMES

Soccer

NORTHERN’S LUCKY WIN LEADERS HARD PRESSED In cold, threatening weather, with a shower during the second spell, making the surface of the grounds slippery, the seventh series of matches in the Otago Football Association’s competition was continued on Saturday. The games were full of interest, some exhilirating exchanges in the final stages turning defeat into a victory. In the first spell. Green Island had much the better of the game with Varsity, but in the dying stages the students made a whirlwind recovery and scored the winning goal on time. RoslynWakari had to play desperately to beat Maori Hill, and at the Oval Northern scored the only goal in the last five minutes, Watersidcrs providing stiff opposition. Technical and High School Old Boys i»on their games comfortably, and Mornington had a narrow victory over Southern. Roslyn-Wakari still lead but Northern have a match in hand. The results were:— Roslyn-Wakari 4, Maori Hill 3. Northern 1, Watersiders 0. High School Old Boys 9, Caversham 0. University 4, Green Island 3. Technical Old Boys 8, Mosgiel 3. Mornington 2, Southern 0. GREEN ISLAND v. UNIVERSITY The early game at the Caledonian Ground between Green Island and University was full of interest and the students, making more use of their opportunities scored a narrow win. Varsity attacked from the kick-off, and Upland cleared. A period of fast, even exchanges followed with Green Island showing more method, and they were the first to score when Sinclair crossed for Flaws to find the goal with a fine drive. Green Island continued the offensive, but many goaling opportunities went begging. Taylor and Carr missing from six yards. Pilling cleared to Payne who carried through to score. Murphy sent out to Sinclair who ran through cleverly to score. The students changed their team on the resumption of play in the second spell and there was an immediate improvement. Green Island being hard pressed, Upland saving repeatedly. O’Neil passed forward to Carr who scored, but Payne again working for position, gave Upland no chance. A fast movement on the left found Carr in a handy position to score. Pilling, Hill and Payne were doing great work for the students and the Green Island defence wilted when Payne slammed the equaliser past Upland. With only a few minutes left both sides tried desperately to score but in a very determined attack Pilling came through fast and sent to Payne who gave Mcßae an excellent opening the latter making no mistake. The referee was Mr A. McAskill.

ROSLYN-WAKARI v. MAORI HILL Roslyn swept down field from the kick off in the second game at the Caledonian Ground, and Stanley beat Turner to open the scoring for Roslyn. A period of even play followed, but the Hill team was indulging in too much combination in the penalty area. After a heavy clearance by Hollybon, Mason passed infield to Stanley, who gave Turner no chance with a fast ground shot. Roslyn’s two-goal lead was actually against the run of play, Maori Hill were rewarded with an easy goal by E. Newall, the goal-keeper palming the ball through. Hughes scored Roslyn’s third goal with a high shot. Turner, Maori Hill’s goal-keeper, who was playing confidently, was penalised for steps in the second spell, and Welham passed to Stanley, who scored. Maori Hill at this stage opened up play, and Balk’s excellent crosses were always dangerous, and from a rebound off the goal-keeper E. Newall scored. A little later E. Newall added another goal by fast following up. Burgess had to leave the field, but Roslyn managed to survive heavy raids to win a very close game. The referee was Mr W. Dodd. NORTHERN v. WATERSIDERS A large crowd saw a hard, even game at the Oval between Northern and Watersiders. Watersiders were unlucky not to draw, as with five minutes from time 'A. Davidson, in attempting to head a long drive by Meehan, was unfortunate, as the ball slid off his head into the net to give Northern victory by the only goal of the match. The first incident of note was when McLean failed with a penalty. Agnew was playing a good game, and gave Berry few openings, and Gilchrist was feeding his forwards with good passes, but the excellent work of Meehan, Ruddiman, and Ives prevented the Watersiders from being really dangerous. In the second spell Northern were moving better, but the forwards failed badly on numerous occasions. When rain set in the ball became heavy, and play deteriorated. The referee was Mr F. King. MORNINGTON V. SOUTHERN At Mornington Southern’s'downfall was again due to the lack of combination of the front line, as they repeatedly lost possession when a pass to an unmarked colleague would probably have brought results. Southern’s defence was sound, Leyland being prominent in stemming strong Mornington raids, There was no score in the first spell. Kelly opened Mornington’s account when he made no mistake when the ball rebounded off the Southern goalkeeper. Flaws and Cope were again Mornington’s spearhead in attack, and the experienced Cope made full use of an opening towards the finish, when he cut right through to score Mornington’s second goal. Mr J. Scott was the referee. MOSGIEL v. TECHNICAL OLD BOYS Technical Old Boys beat Mosgiel at Mosgiel by 8 goals to 3 without being extended, although the play was much evener than the five-goal margin would indicate. Technical’s superior combination, back and forward, kept the Mosgiel defence busy, and Martin, in Mosgiel’s goal, although he had one or two good saves to his credit, has given better displays. The score was 3 goals to lin favour of the visitors at half-time. The second spell was productive of much better football, Mosgiel failing to goal when looking dangerous. McLeod (2) and G. Nicholson found the net for Mosgiel, Williams, Thomas, Ramsay and Moir sharing the goaling honours for the winners. Mr D. Welham was the referee. CAVERSHAM v. HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS At Tonga Park, High School Old Boys met very little opposition from Caversham. finding the net on nine occasions. The play was too one-sided to become interesting. but Caversham made strenuous efforts to reduce the margin, but without result. The referee was Mr W. M. Smith. LOWER GRADE RESULTS Second Grade Roslyn-Wakari 4, Hi”h School Old Boys 4; Technical Old Boys 4, Northern 1; Maori Hill 5, Tramways 1; Southern 3, Caversham 2. Third Grade Roslyn-Wakari 2, Watersiders nil: Northern A 4, Training College nil; Green Island 4, Northern B 1; High School Old Boys 3. Maori Hill 1. Fourth Grade Maori Hill 3, Southern 2; Otago Boys’ High School 3. Northern 1. Fifth Grade Mornington nil, Caversham nil; RoslynWakari 2, Green Island 1: Southern 2, King’s High School nil. Sixth Grade Mosgiel 2, Maori Hill nil; Roslyn-Wakari 2, Y.M.C.A. 2.