Association Game

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16839, 15 September 1922, Page 2

Association Game

IS Comments by

“ Nestor "

ENGLISH CrP TIES, i The prospect of seeing two first-class 1 matches drew the season’s largest ! crowd of spectators at English Park 1 last Saturday, and during the whole | of the 180 minutes of play there was | hardly a dull moment. The exception-’ j ally fine weather experienced made conI ditions ideal from the spectators’ point t of view, but found out the players who i lacked training. The well-kept playing area never looked better, and, with the absence of wind, conditions were ideal for fast football. The many bright passages of football were not- lost on the large crowd, and'frequent bursts of applause signified their approval. The Nomads-Villa match commenced sharp at. 2 o’clock, and after a hard game, in which the Blues had all the luck which was going, they proved victorious by four clear goals. The second match between St Albans and Lyttelton was a much more exciting contest, but the Saints eventually qualified for the final for the first time in the history of the club by three goals to nil. NOMADS (4). VILLA (Ob Following their recent displays, and taking into consideration the amount of training indulged in by Villa, the Claret and Blues were expected to make Nomads go hard all the wav. In the opening stages Nomads found themselves very much up against it. Their strategy entered into the game for, following a smart piece of work by Woods, on the Nomads’ left, a Villa defender put the ball into his own netin endeavouring to clear. Nomads, a goal up and Nomads, a goal down play like two different teams. The success of that first few minutes’ play put up Nomads’ Cup stock very considerably, and the players felt that they were entitled to take more liberties, especially in attack. But Villa set out to retrieve' the position. and pounded the Nomads’ keeper. Wilson, with shots hard and true, but the nippy custodian was always right on the spot. If the Villa front line had got the best service from its halves and back division at this point it would have scored. For a short period the Nomads’ defence was on its toes, and a solid attack might have turned the trick and changed the whole aspect of the game. But Villa were not through with their troubles. Berry got bis “wing” in the way of a bouncing ball in the penalty area and, although the offence did not merit the punishment, Nomadwere two up following the limit-breaking drive by ,T. Friekleton. Villa made determined efforts to reduce the lead, but always the same faulty feeding of the forwards prevailed. Four times out- of six the hall was graciously passed to a Nomads’ half or hack instead of a Villa forward, and it was this fault which lost Villa the match. At the interval the Villa supporters were still optimistic. Very much the same conditions ruled in the second halt as before the irterval. Villa carried many attacks up to the scoring point, and then decisively collapsed: If all the forwards had been a Woodford they would have scored more goals than Nomads. For all-round ability he was the best forward on the field. Just a little working space for a sight of goal and then a lightning shot- that is the class of football which wins cup matches. Heatley hugged the line as if it were his salvation and he caused quite a lot of throws-in on that account. Sharr and Berry should have attempted to keep the defence moving by slinging the. ball about more and Sommerville wa« outpaced bv Cummins on tbe right. Bauson grafted like a nigger nt centre half and he serif along his ermj more than once to Wilson. Ho was <c the diehard ” of the team. Neither Philps ncr Mnlcahy produced their best form. Randall was efficient. but lacks something in pace end Grose*’s education as a custodian is hardly complete as yet, though he made some nice saves. The Nomads forwards were uniformly good and showed some nice combination. Wood. Spencer and Grant were the pick. The halves played a hustling game and, if Villa had followed their example, they would have made a better showing. H. and T. M’Creanor and J. Friekleton formed the line. S. Friekleton at right back spoilt what would have been an excellent exhibition by introducing tactics which would be better forgotten. Cummins’s play was enhanced by comparison. His blocking i and covering were fine. Wilson’s repu- | ta-tion as a goal-keeper was not tar- I nished by Saturday’s exhibition. He has still to be hasten in a Cup tie. I

ST ALBANS (3). LYTTELTON (1). The Lyttelton team did not come into real prominence until the English Cup ties commenced. Then it caused something of a sensation in local “soccer” circles by defeating Sunnyside on i,ts • own ground, and encouraged by this success Lyttelton set out resolutely after the Cup. A big lot of practice and training was crowded into the two weeks before their next battle and when they faced St Albans at English. Park they were a confident team. Right from the .lump they placed the Saints “on guard” and Dobbs handled the ball in the first few minutes. Byrne, Thornlia.m and Hales produced some nice combination on the left wing and the last mentioned never hesitated to give Stafford and J. Taylor a, turn with the ball if he saw an opening on the right. They showed over-eagerness at times and consequently crowded their play. If they had introduced the long passing game, as did St Albans. they would have scored more than one goal. Byrne at outside left turned on some very smart work at times and got the St Albans 1 defence thinking, but undoubtedly the star forward was Hales. His solo dashes for goal were quite a feature of the match and deserved more success. , The three halves were kept constantly in work and acquitted themselves well. The game of Purdom and M’Donald could be improved by a better service to the forwards, but M’Gill’s play would be hard to beat. Cool and resourceful he always had a, trick up his sleeve to outwit the Saints’ attack. Murray and D. Taylor made a pair of very solid backs. Perhaps their only fault was too hard kicking. M’Quire took risks in goal occasionaly. but he i always showed good judgment in doing soA quintet of fast forwards like St Albans possess arc always a danger to any side. It was their speed which won them the match on Saturday. For a fast winger and a dangerous shot .Kelly was given too much liberty and be took the fullest advantage of iv. Two of the Saints’ coals came indirectly from him and his showing was entirely pleasing. Colville, M’Glenc-hy and Henrne showed some nice combination and were invariably on hand at the business end. Kirk, at outside left., j whilst showing some of his old-time | speed, had “ bellows to mend” afterthe first sprint or two. The two Simpson brothers. T. and J fc . were the outside halves and they played well up to their usual efficient standard. Hilgrovc was more or less handicapped by his weak knee giving out on him early in the match. His game was a plucky effort at centre half but that extraordinary affinity between his hands and the ball in the penalty j area, apparently still seems to exist. I A pair of sturdy defenders were i Jewell and Tennant. The latter’s display was particularly pleasing, though he would do better by sending the ball to bis forwards via the halves. Tt tends to keep the play controlled by his own side. Dobbs in goal had little to do, but the two saves he effected were very clever. JOTTINGS. The game to-morrow at English Park between St Aibans and Nomads for the English Cup promises to be the best match of the season, and it is creat- > I ing a great deal of interest. Nomads , are relying on the same team which defeated Villa, but one or two changes , are to be made in the St Albans eleven. As a curtain-raiser to the big event Otago Boys’ High School are to play i the Western third grade team. The Otago boys are the winners of their grade in the Dunedin centre’s league and conic with the reputation of a highclass combination. The game should be a very close one, for Western are recognised as one of our most promising 1 next season’s junior teams. This game will commence at 1.50 p.m. sharp. Quite an Old Country Cup tie aip pervaded English Park last Saturday* when two enthusiastic Villa supporters appeared bearing sunshades quartered with their favourite’s colours—black and blue. The Mornington Gflub (Otago champions') will play Rangers (Canterbury champions) at English Park next Saturday. As a curtain-raiser the Christchurch Commercial Travellers are scheduled to play a match against the Canterbury Football Association, f Linwood Park will be the venue of i all juvenile soccerites to-morrow when the fourth and fifth grade Wellington 1 juniors will play the Canterbury rel presen ta-tive?.