ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Southland Times, Issue 23829, 29 May 1939, Page 12

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

WINS FOR MATAURA AND THISTLE GAMES PLAYED UNDER BAD CONDITIONS Frequent showers of rain and sodden grounds did not provide good conditions for Association football games on Saturday afternoon, but, nevertheless, the two senior games played produced good football. Thistle, although playing four men short, beat Old Boys, after being two goals behind at half-time, by six goals to three, and Mataura beat Central by three goals to nil. Many of the regular members of the Central team did not appear on Saturday, but the scratch team fielded put up a fine showing.

MATAURA V- CENTRAL

For a “scratch” side, Central put up a fine showing in its match against Mataura and was beaten by only three goals to nil. The Mataura, forwards played fine football and, against a less resolute defence, would have made a cricket score. M. O’Rorke, who played in goal for Central, was outstanding and brought off some brilliant saves. Altogether, it was an interesting which produced some bright football under distinctly adverse conditions. The teams were: —

MATAURA.—CuIIen, Gilchrist, McCormack, Smith, Ramsay, Jenkins J. Hardie, A. Hardie, Todd, Mitchell, W. McKinnon. , CENTRAL.—M. O’Rorke, Gome, McDonald, Herrick, Matheson, W. Adamson, R. Ferguson, L. McKeever, McDougall, English.

Central was early placed on the defensive, the Mataura forwards sweeping to attack from the opening whistle. Gorrie saved two dangerous-looking situations for his team and O’Rorke, Central’s goalkeeper, was called, upon to clear a dropping shot from well out. Central took a turn on attack and Mataura was forced to concede a corner. The kick was well cleared, however, and the country forwards took play to Central territory, where O’Rorke was kept busy defending his goal. For an infringement by McDonald in front of the Central goal, Mataura was awarded a free kick; which was taken by Todd. O’Rorke cleared a powerful drive by Todd in splendid fashion, but the Central defence was kept thoroughly tested for the next few minutes. O’Rorke was doing splendid work in goal. Play was in midfield for a time, the Central forwards putting in good work. Mataura was not to be denied, however, and play returned to Central territory. McDonald allowed the ball to pass through bis legs, and O’Rorke came out to clear. The Central goalkeeper saved one hard shot, but was left out of position when Mitchell sent in a hard drive which gave McDonald, who had gone back to goal, no chance. Mataura 1, Central 0. Immediately after the kick-off, the Mataura forwards in a fine move took play to the Central end, where O’Rorke was again called upon to save a difficult shot. Mataura kept up the pressure, but the Central defence was doing splendid work. Me Donald was injured in a melee round the Central goal and retired for a few minutes for treatment. While he was off the field, the Mataura forwards swept all over the Central defence and A. Hardie sent in a low, hard drive which O’Rorke just failed to clear. Mataura 2, Central 0. There was no further score at half-time. Central was first to attack in the second half, but the Mataura defence held firm and play was soon returned to Central territory. After a long period in which play ranged from one end to the other, the Mataura forwards made a good move, which resulted in J. Hardie scoring a fine goal. Mataura 3; Central 0. A long period of hard, fairly even play followed, in which Central gave as good as it took, both on defence and attack. For a scratch side, Central was putting up a fine showing and the strong Mataura team by no manner had matters all its own way. Two young players, McKeever and Ferguson, started some promising rallies for Central, but found the country team’s defence too strong. McDougall also did a great deal of good work, but was not supported as well as he’ might have been. The Central backs played a grand defensive game and, with O’Rorke showing out, were seen at their best when Mataura was making desperate efforts to score in the last few minutes of the game. The game ended with the scores: Mataura 3, Central 0. 1 Mr T. McMurdo was referee.

THISTLE V- OLD BOYS

A relaxation of its efforts in the closing stages of the game cost Old Boys a splendid chance of beating Thistle, which was playing four men short. Old Boys played with great dash for three-quarters of the game, but then appeared to tire and Thistle was able to secure a convincing win after being two goals behind at halftime. The teams were:

THISTLE. —Greenfield, J. Morrison, McMurdo, Chapman, McLean, Taylor, Lang. OLD BOYS—Holding, Cranston, N. Bennie, Mclvor, Garthwaite, H. Bennie, Wilson, Hesson, Dawson, J. Walker. Old Boys took the initiative at the start and a good movement by the forwards gave Wilson a chance to goal, but his shot went over the bar A few moments afterwards Dawson too, sent the ball over the bar. McLean made a good run for Thistle, but Chapman failed to connect with a neat cross. Thistle continued to attack and McLean had a shot at goal, which was well saved by Holding. Old Boys took play to Thistle territory, but several promising scoring movements broke down at critical stages. Wilson sent in a powerful drive, but Greenfield brought off a good save. Soon afterwards, Wilson was again prominent in a good run and gave Dawson a fine opening. The centre sent in a wellplaced shot which gave Greenfield no chance. Old Boys 1, Thistle 0. Thistle returned the attack and Holding threw himself at the ball to bring off a good save from a shot by McLean. Old Boys made a raid to the other end, where Dawson goaled with a powerful shot from well out. Old Boys 2; Thistle 0. Another goal went to Old Boys two

minutes later. Bennie crossed from the wing, and when Greenfield left his goal to clear, Dawson cut in and tapped the ball into the net. Old Boys 3; Thistle 0. McLean opened the scoring for Thistle after making a solo burst, shooting a splendid goal from a difficult angle. Old Boys 3; Thjstle 1. There was no further score at half-time. Thistle harassed the Old Boys defence early in the second half and after five minutes’ play Lang sent in a shot which found the net. Old Boys 3; Thistle 2. Old Boys carried play to Thistle territory and a splendid shot by Dawson was well saved by Greenfield. Thistle returned the attack and ■ a powerful drive by Lang was well saved by Holding, who was playing a splendid game. McLean sent in several shots from long range, but the Old Boys goalkeeper cleared them in good style. At this stage, Thistle was dominating play and the team had its reward when Chapman neatly picked up a dropping ball and beat Holding with an angled shot from close in. Thistle 3; Old Boys 3. A few minutes later Thistle took the lead when McLean shot a good goal from a handy position. Thistle 4; Old Boys 3. . . < The Old Boys players now appeared to be tiring, lacking much of their earlier dash. Towards the end of the game, Thistle forced a corner and Chapman scored a neat goal from close in. Thistle 5; Old Boys 3. Just before the final whistle, McLean goaled from a scramble round Old Boys’ goal, and the game ended with scores: Thistle 6, Old Boys 3. Mr G. Gunn was the referee. IN OTHER CENTRES AUCKLAND Abels 3 drew with Comrades 3. Y.M.C.A. 3 beat Grey Lynn 0. Ponsonby 3 beat Onehunga 0. Eastern Suburbs 1 beat Thistle 0. North Shore 3 beat Mount Albert Grammar Old Boys 2. WELLINGTON Petone 5 beat Seatoun 4. Waterside 2 beat Technical Old Boys 0. Swifts 4 beat Marist 0. Hospital 6 beat Diamond 4. CHRISTCHURCH Western 6 beat Technical 4. Rangers 2 beat St. Albans 1. Thistle 3 drew with Nomads 3. DUNEDIN High School Old Boys 4 beat Caversham 2. Mornington 5 beat Technical Old Boys 2. Maori Hill 3 drew with Seacliff 3. Mosgiel 10 beat Roslyn-Wakari 3.