Association Football Notes

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17344, 26 September 1924, Page 4

Association Football Notes

By

"NESTOR”

English Cup ties claimed the attentlOT) 2ft .*°. ur teanis on Saturday last and Thistle completed their season’s programme of matches in fulfilling a League engagement with Kaiapoi on the latter s ground. The Scots fielded a weak team of ten men and in being defeated by o clear goals they suffered their biggest reverse of the season. A strenuous match was the English Cup semi-final tie between "Western and Nomads at English Park. Tho game went the full ninety minutes without a goal being registered. Two e?ttra spell of ten minutes were played but again the defence proved superior io the attack and the game will bo replayed. After drawing with a goal apiece in the second round Sunnvside and St Albans engaged in a re-play at Hagley Park. By registering twice Sunnyside qualified to meet Rangers in the semi-final. For the first- time in Canterbury football a local representative team visited Methven, where they met an eleven selected from the newly-formed Ashburton County Sub-Association. \ ictory rested with Canterbury after an interesting game by 4 goals to 3. A GOAL-LESS CUP-TIE. It is a tradition that a Cup-tio means the sternest of tackling, and that with such a motto as “ Safety First ” the rivals are determined that neither shall play football. Tradition was fully realised in the Oujvtie between Western and Nomads which was Played at English Park. No goal was scored and presumably tlie teams were satisfied in that both live to fight another aay. It may fairly be argued that neither side was entitled to more than it got. If Western were the stronger and exerted more pressure prior to the interval Nomads were the more aggressive afterwards. Possibly the Blues had some reason to rail at Dame lortune towards the close of the second half, but taking the struggle sis a whole a draw, without a goal, is a result that no impartial judge of football could quarrel with. After an absence of twelve months Hoy has returned and ho took up his old position at centre-forward iu tne Western team. r I he Blacks’ selectors which was not justified on the game, in withdrawing Latterway from the forwards and playing him at right fullback. Sproston has played remarkably good footbali in that position right throughout the season and if Saturday’s display is a criticism he is a vastly superior back to Latterway. If a player is to be dropped from the Western team for the replay it should be a forward and Sproston should be allowed to resume his usual position. Andrews in goal did well to parrv tho many difficult shots he had to' deal with and all round, his display was good. Cji ipple was the out-standing figure m tho defence though he was often puzzled by the unorthodox tactics of the veteran W atson. His timing of the ball and placing was very fine. Individually the half-backs played a distinctive type of football. Whittington on tho right was vigorous and assertive. As a spoiler none was was his equal. Assuredly lie saved Western from defeat. when, with Andrews beaten ho flicked the ball out of the net with his head. It was tho finest individual achievement of the match. Roberts, at centre, was crafty and resourceful, with « nne regard to the distribution of the ball. Bull excelled as a purveyor and limited his footcraft only to the point of usefulness. The forwards tried to work out plans, but the opposing half-backs were relentless interveners. Harbut displayed a fine turn of speed on the right, but both ho and Thompson on the opposite wing were somewhat neglected. At centro forward Hoy missed more than one fine opening through playing the individual game. He showed brilliance at times, buf made tho mistake of not varying his tactics. The shrewd Nomads’ defence made tho most of this failing. Cromer and Tomblin, the middle men, were of equal merit, and each displayed progressive but negative football. James M’Dougali in goal for Nomads again gave a faultless display His lithel.css and anticipation got his side out of more than one tight corner. Graham and Flood, the full-backs, vied with each other in exercising defensible ability. Tlieir placing and clearing of the ball was excellent-. John M’Dougall at left half, gave a good interpretation of his duties as an intervener —a trait in which he excelled. FT. M’Creanor was equally as good, and varied his service to the for wards by getting a line on tlie goal occasionally, F. M’Creanor was more robust than artistic, but placed a typical Cup tie game. The forwards did not work harmoni-

cusly together. C. Mullan was not a success at outside right,and his being changed over from the left flank was rather a, risky experiment. Watson proved himself a dangerous marksman, and ho combined nicely with his partner. A.s a tactician there was none better than Chapman. He made some great openings for his partners, ’and ono occasion. T. Mullan was not at his best, and has played much better football. Mr E. Campbell displayed excellent ability as re fe re e. SUNN YST.DE SURVI YE As an exhibition of the art of football the re-played Cup-tie between Sunnyside and St Albans at Ilagloy Park, was extremelv poor stuff. Both teams were below normal strength, and this, coupled with a strong cross wind, was probably responsible for the very mediocre display. Although Sunny si do won by two clear goals—and rather luckv goals at that —St Albans made a brave fight, and were indeed rather unlucky not to make a second draw of the match. It was a hard game, and there were no half-measures on either side. A game of shuttlecock was played with tho ball and skittles with tlie men. Tho violence of some of the charges was quite unnecessary. The game does not merit much description, because it resolved itself into a series of individual incidents more than combined movement, and such tactics do not- tend toward spectacular effect. 1 Callaghan had little to worry about in goal for Sunnvside, for he was well covered by Mitchell and Gould, a pair of resolute backs who left- nothing to chance. 'Hie half-backs were stern and unbending. The commanding figure of Thompson was ever in the picture. He distributed the ball well, but it may be that he considered this an occasion where defence was his primary duty. Batten shows consistent improvement. He was not only a splenopportunist of ability. Preston was useful but not very prominent. On the whole tlie forward line was disappointing. Their plav was of the kick and rush order, and individualism was constantly in evidence. M’Lachlan and Mizen the extreme men were the most prominent, and tlieir centres should have been made more use of than they were. Browning was the most dangerous of the inside trio, though Gibson came into the picture occasionally with some deft footwork. The work of Bond could not mark him as a successful forward. For St Albans Dobbs in goal was given a busy time, but he came out of the ordeal well. Bryan at full-back made one or two dangerous miskicks, but otherwise liis display was good. Seddon was the mainstay of the defence. He never spared himself and his clearances were clean and clever. As a spoiler Henderson was excellent, but he was not over troubled by tlie opposing centre forward. He had more time to attend to other players. V hard but a chivalrous tackier, he accomplished much to subdue all the inside forwards. Although be had a thoughtful and skilful player in Mizen to watch, Sutherland disputed every inch of the ground and never gave up. Moreover he plays the ball on the ground where it should be Pallant was prominent in some robust tackling and usually made his man part with tlie ball, but lie was not a success as a purveyor. Like that of their opponents the forward line was without cohesion. They presented a dull dead level of mediocrity, and there was hardly a man with a touch of resource. Colville was practically a passenger throughout the game, and was therefore unable to hold the line. Spiers and Donaldson wore responsible for some line individual bursts, but their zeal, at times, outran discretion. The Sunnyside defence should have been met with a constantly moving ball, for their stern tackling made individualism impossible. iiean was actually the most dangerous forward, for he never hesitated to shoot and on more than ono occasion Taylor narrowly missed goal. Mr E. Davy controlled the game.