ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17032, 4 May 1923, Page 3

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL.

fine GAME AT ENGLISH PARK.

(Comments by NESTOR.) Fine weather favoured the continuance of the Canterbury Football Association's competitions on Saturday last and particularly keen contests featured the day’s play. A good game at English Park was witnessed between the unbeaten Villa and Nomads teams, and the high class of football displayed by both sets of players set a standard seldom, if ever, equalled in Canterbury eJub matches. By defeating Thistle on the Hospital Ground, Sunnyside tie with Nomads as leaders of the competition and AY estern made another step forward by winning from Lyttelton at Linwood Park, after a very close game. By reason of their being unable to get a team to travel. St Albans defaulted to Ashburton, and. together with Rang ers and Thistle, have still to secure their first points. HARD LUCK VILLA. After a first half in which Villa threatened to ovei'whelm their rivals, the Nomads pulled the game out of the fire in great style at English Park on Saturdaj- last, and in a splendid match, marred only by the unfortunate accident to YV. Thomas, the Villa centre forward, who sustained a fractured collar hone, the Blues eventually ran out winner*; by three clear goals— all scored \n the second half. Starting with rare dash, Villa early settled down to excellently constructive football and the Nomads’ defence, excellent though it is, quickly found it was up against the most serious proposition of the season. The Villa attack, right from the kickoff, adopted j,ust the correct tactics to throw the Nomads’ defence off its normal game, for with quick, snappy action and excellent footwork, it kept the Blue backs constantly on the move. Of course Nomads were not kept con tinually defending—they are too clever a team to expect it —but Villa was full value for more than one goal which luck denied them. For undoubtedly luck was dead against the losers and its full measnre—apart from the narrow escapes of the Nomads’ goal in the first half—was quite apparent when Mulcahy and Thomas were placed hors-de-oombat before the interval. Wilson, the Nomads’ keeper, would have been entirelv beaten by that terrific shot from Thomas had it been a couple of inches lower. As it was the bait struck the cross-bar and’ bounced to the goal-line, thus enabling Wilson to clear in spectacular fashion Then Hanson had tlje hardest of luck in not netting with a header from a. corner kick, for it was an effort which would have beaten the majority of keepers. But Wilson's keen sense of anticipation enabled him to be just in the right spot at the- right moment, and again the Nomads’ goal escaped. incidents *nch as these whieh made \ ilia the more dangerous in the first half, for with the exception of Knekleton’s astonishing!,- bad marksmanship when lie missed scoring with an open goal, the play of Nomads’ front rank seldom suggested a line to the net. But after the interval which was called with no score. Villa resumed without the injured Mnlcahv, and al though Thomas toed the mark (a trib ”^ t to his pluck), he was obviously With ten men and a cripple amongst them, it was not surprising to find >.omads monopolising mors of the play in the second spell, and with fifteen minutes gone the opened the scoring through Woods turning to ae count a centre from Chapman. Many competent judges agreed that the winger was decidedly off-side when he goaTed. but the referee was puhe defi * ite In his decision. -Although Villa net up a gaine defence, end i.fdeed looked l,k« scoring occns.ons, Xomads era duaHy wore them down and added two time RO "' S erP the finßl whistl ® called For the winners. Wilson in goal ex relied himself, ami to his fine judgment and coolness under pressure Xoinnds owe a large measure of their sueress ""'’Flood were in good foim a ~ full-back the latter being particmarv good m head play. H -M’Creanoi- was the pick of the lmlves ar.d got through an enormous Amount of work. He was closely iof loved by Bond a tenaoious tackier and good feeder, but Jaek M’Dougal did not. play up to liis usual standard at eft-haf Woods was in good form ° n c rfgllt win « and notched a couple of goal*. but his partner. Hall haa been seen to better advantage’ Frickleton’s game also was below his usual standard, and James M’Dougal’s play oould have been improved o-n. Exoepting his tendency to lav offside (for which he was frequently penalised) Chapman was tho best forward on the field. His centring ran a feature of the match. W. Berry in the- Villa goal was mediocre. Always at home in brilliant style to high shots, the low ones found him out. Johmston was easily the beat of the beck*, for ho a clean and fearless

tackier. His partner, Pilling, was not at his best.

Of the halves Thempfior was in great form, and his spoiling tactics detracted from the opposing inside trio's display. He might have shown improvement by making move u*e of his wing forwards. Sharr was very effective and was always in work. Hi a performance was excellent. A spoiler of combination and an excellent marksman, Mulcahy was always in the picture up to the time of hi* injury. Of the forwards Ransoa proved himself speedy and tricky on the right wing. He served hi* centre with excellent transfer*. and his play throughout reached a very high standard. Woodford and Thomas showed some pretty combination at times. The latter played a forceful game until he was hurt and had hard luck in not scoring. Robertson lacked something in marksmanship, but was prominent in some sparkling wing movements with T. Berry on the left. The latter would improve his play by giving hi* centre more chances when near goal. SUNNYSIDE RECOVER, Quite a large number of .spectators witnessed the match between, tho hospital team and Thistle on. the western suburban, ground, and contrary to expectations Sunnyside experienced the greatest difficulty in making the Scots relinquish their hold on two very valuable points. Perhaps the reputed mediocrity of the Thistle team inspired the Greens not to take their opponents 100 seriously, but juet on that point the Scots sprung a gentle surprise, for not only did they prevent the Sunny- • ide forwards from penetrating their defence in the first half, but actually had the audacity to score a goal. Marked by fine dash and skill, and with much improved cohesion in play the Scots were full value for the more experienced hospital team in the first and the game was very even. The fact that only one goal was scored before the interval was nothing like a true ’eflex of the run of" the game. A total score of one goal in forty-five minutes’ play suggests a. defensive game of the fiercest character. True there were passages of prolonged defence in which sturdy backs made brilliant play. There were also forward* with the quickness of perception and the adroitness of foot to out-manoeuvre these defenders, but when the vital touch became necessary, the real work that counts- a goal-getting shot—there was not a reliable marksman on the field. Lamont certainly scored two goals for Sunnyside—and good goals—-hut with the chances that came his way he should have bagged a round half-dozen. And he was not the only • .ne to miss goals, for Magen—a very reliable marksman usually—also appeared to be troubled with poor visibility when near goal. Amongst the Scots’ attackers Wales and Allen took it upon themselves to be the'instruments whereby goals were to be scored, but they failed miserably, and much of their good work was nullified thereby. Jackson, the Sunnyside keeper, was never seriously troubled. The harrier of backs and half-backs saw to that. The former might have been nonplussed occasionally by the unorthodox methods of the Thistle attack, but the deft intrusion and cute disposal of the hall in recovery were factors which often reduced the Scots’ work to a mnentity. AVardell, Newell, and J. Jackson were the most prominent defenders. Both Duncan and Sweeney on the wings concentrated their transfers on the pivot of the line when near goal, hut much of their good work was lost by indifferent shooting. Although the Scots were deficient in marksmen their defence ifiayed an exceptionally fine game. Si mm in goal put up a brilliant performance, and 1 is display marks him a tradesman in every branch of his work. J. Simpson’s reputation as a defender did not suffer by defeat, and in his partner. Shaw, Thistle have a. full-back who will make good. Ait-ken. at centre half, pia-yod one of his be6t games against his old colleagues, and he was well supported b\ T. Simpson on the light. M’Glinity repuires a game or two to reach form. Perhaps Dick Gray and Allen were the pick of the forwards, but the entire line should assiduously apply themselves to target practice. Summed up, the Scots must e-n----deaA our to work up the attack to the same standard of the defence, and vlien the consummation is obtained they will become a worthy opponent ot any senior team in the competition. WESTERN’S NARROW WIN. A narrow margin of the odd goal in three decided the match at Linwood Park in favour of Western, and tho watersiders thereby sustained their first defeat ol the season. It was a game in which vigorous play ruled supreme, and “ shock tactics ” were resorted to by both sides. Of combined play litle was apparent, for the defence on both sides never attempted to conceal the fact that a hard game was expected of them, and right well did they play up to this standard. Playing faster football at the start "Western were very aggressive, thanks to the good play of their half-backs. Responding to the fine effort of Reece in the first ten minutes, which gave Western the lead, Falloon sent over many fine centres from the left. ILe much boomed Robinson was at centre forward, but lie did not reproduce the dash which has been a feature of his play. Only once before the interval did he really get a chance, ami then he picked up a fast centre from Xorrie, one l put in a tremendous shot which nearly smashed the cross-bar. Moorhouse also tested the Lyttelton custodian from long range with a great drive, and beat him. but again the cross-bar saved the situation. The Port forwards were not quite so effective, though Collins and Wells on the extremes dad well enough. Western’s second goal came from Durie, the centre-half, who sent in a terrific drive from well out, The score at the interval was two goals to nil in "Western’s favour, but had the waters id ers taken advantage of a succession of gilt-edged chances, the scores might easily have been equal. The second spell was something of a replica of the first, the pace being kept up surprisingly well. Lyttelton reduced tie lead after fire minutes’ play. Campbell and Marsden worked the ball up to the Western goal, which the defence packed. M'Gilp was put in possession, and he let drive with a speculator which caught Andrews a. foot out of position. Many chances presented themselves to both sides thereafter, but the scores were not improved upon. Of the Western forwards Falloon, Reece and Robinson were the pick, but the real strength of the winners lay in their half-backs. Kennedy. Durie and Whittington vied with each other in