Exciting Soccer

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 336, 23 April 1928, Page 7

Exciting Soccer

TRAMWAY AND SHORE DRAW Belmont Surprises Thistle SATURDAY’S Soccer games provided some interesting matches, the principal game at Blandford Park being a keen and exciting exhibition which resulted in a draw. The preliminary game found Y.M.C.A. too strong for Northcote which was defeated by six goals to nil. At Onehunga the home team secured a win over Ponsonby, and Thistle beat Belmont by three goals to one after the new recruit had surprised the Scots by scoring the first goal, and runninglevel till close on time.

Blandford Park was in ideal order for fast Soccer, and there was a big crowd lining the stadium for the principal game between Tramways and Shore. The fans were rewarded with a sparkling display, and the issue was in doubt from the kick-off until the final whistle, when a hard-fought struggle ended with honours easy. The forwards on both sides showed a lot of pace, and kept a lively ball on the move by long passing and wing-to-wing crosses. For the first quarter play was even, and both sides missed scoring chances through over-anxiety in front of goal. The Trammies opened the scoring when an offensive on the right wing drew Smith out of his goal. Spencer got possession, and passed to Spong when tackled by Gerrard, for the wing man to run in and net with an empty goal, giving Trams a lucky lead. Shore rallied, and looked like equalising, but smart tackling by Simpson, and quick , clearances by %atty, kept them out. •Simm was dangerous on Trams’ left, and some good crosses went a-begging\

Tinkler left the tramway man prone, j and he had to be carried off with a ; broken wrist. Both sides were within | an ace of scoring - , but the score was ; even when time was called. Batty, Simpson, Tinkler, and Sirnm j were the outstanding players for the j council team, while Gerrard, Gilmour, Woolley, and Jay were prominent for 1 Shore. Smith was a j 'bit nervous on his first appearance in ; the senior game, and the wing halves made the fatal mistake of crowding too much into the centre, leaving the outside men unmarked. The game was so fast that the referee had difficulty in keeping up with the .ball, and several decisions were very doubtful. Y.M.C.A. V. NORTHCOTE The opening game between Y.M. and Northcote proved that the win of the Young Men at Devonport on the previous Saturday was no fluke, and Northcote had a gruelling time of it keeping the Y.M.’s strong front line at a distance. The Young Men won very comfortably, without distressing themselves, by scoring three goals in each spell, and running out easy winners by six goals to nil. The Y.M. defence was not seriously troubled, as the half-line held the ’Cote forwards in check, and fed the Y.M. van with well-judged placements. The attackers are a dangerous quintet, whicn combines well, and Grant, Humphreys, and Hoban are all strong individual players. The newcomer, Grant, impressed as a strong-scoring factor, and should be a prolific goal-getter this season. ONEHUNGA V. PONSONBY The Ponies’ second defeat at the start of the season came as a shock t:> its large body of enthusiastic bar-' rackers, and the blue-and-blacks appear to have lost all the form which Avon them the Chatham Cup last season. Onehunga is always a tough proposition on its home ground, and made: j no mistakes in notching a second win, although Ponson'oy opened the seining with a neat goal from Stewart. Onehunga soon evened matters, when Bentley secured and beat Hall with a strong drive from Avell out. Then Mellor broke away on the left wing, and slammed across a bard centre .when tackled by Miles, for Whimster to cut in and gi\ r e the home side the lead of a goal at half-time. Ponsonby tried hard to even matters at the restart, but Who well Avas a solid stumblingblock, and another lightning dash by Mellor was followed by a strong centre, which Thomas collected and drove to the net, giving his side victory by three goals to one. THISTLE V. BELMONT There was a good gathering of spectators on the Horryain to witness the

Then Gilmour secured in the Trams' twenty-five, and, drawing the defence, gave Woolley a perfectly placed pass, which he trapped at top speed, and dashed between the backs, to score with a hard drive which gave Batty no hope of saving. The corporation men tried hard to regain the lead, and Smith’s uncertainty in goal gave Shore some anxious moments, but half-time sounded with the score even. A SOLID SECOND SPELL The second half opened sensationally by Siiran getting the ball unmarked, and hopping off smartly, to fly down the line and force a corner. He took the flag-kick, and placed an Ideal centre in the goal mouth for Spencer to nip in and net. Shore returned with a rousing attack, and only some brilliant saving by Batty kept them out. Gilmour drove a hot.- one from long range which, looked like scoring, but Batty leaped to tip past for a corner. Tramways kept retaliating,, and Simm was enjoying his immunity on the left wing by some speedy sprints down the line, which were lost by no one connecting with the centres. Spencer had one glorious chance, but could only find the wing of the net. Shore was showing more staying power, and the lively young front line was harassing the Trams’ defence, but Simpson was in great form, and cleared repeatedly with long kicking. TINKLER UNLUCKY With 20 minutes to go, Shore started the best combined movement of the day, which swept past the defence, Woolley sending across to Jay for the final shot, which he drove past Batty in splendid style. Then both team s fought hard for the winning goal, ar.d play was fast and j willing. A clash between Woolley and

game between last season’s champions and the newcomers to the senior competition. The Scots were without Carter, and also tried out Whitley, the ex-Shore player, at centre forward. Belmont also made some alterations which strengthened both the attaeu and defence. The youngsters gave the cracks a shock by dashing away *rem the kick-off and running through the Scots’ defence to score before a rmm.it.--had elapsed. Thistle at once set out for a recovery, but the surprise lead had given the Belmont lads confidence, and the first spell was well advanced before Kay was able to equalise with a solo effort, and at half-time honours were easy with a goal apiece. In tin second spell Belmont again made cuing, lively for their elders, and there w m a sensation when Reid missed a penalty kick for hands. Thistle had to go right out to win, Chesney putting up a strong defence in goal. Kay go i through again about a quarter ot sir hour before time, and followed thi. with a centre which drew Chesney oui and Cummings nipped in to score, . c!mont put up a great game, and loudly cheered for their plucky fi^m.