Association Football Notes

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17830, 26 April 1926, Page 12

Association Football Notes

By

" NESTOR”

Under ideal conditions on Saturday last the Canterbury Football Association continued its senior grade qualifying round for the Hurley and Davies Shields. The six winning teams were in scoring mood, for they ran up the huge aggregate total of thirty-three goals. Four goals only was the response made by the losing teams. The introduction of the new off-side rule has a decided tendency to speed up the game, but to its influence cannot be ascribed the wide margin of superiority demonstrated by Saturday’s winners. Rather does it indicate, in the main, that the losers were outclassed by superior football. The strong teams can be expected to pile up big scores at the expense of the weaker combinations until the process of elimination is completed. Easily the best game of Saturday's programme was that between Technical Old Boys and Thistle, at English Park. So qlean was the play that not a single free kick was awarded to either side during the whole ninety minutes of a particularly strenuous tussle which was a treat to watch. The odd goal in three won Technical the points. Western took a strong team to Kaiapoi to fulfil their fixture with the local eleven. It was a ding-dong struggle from start to finish, Western winning by six goals to two. In their match with Villa A, on the Institute ground, Sunnyside were only a single goal up at the interval. As Villa have a habit of doing when playing against the Greens, they went to pieces in the second session and were finally defeated by seven clear goals. At Richmond Domain. Lyttelton could not strike form against Nomads and were trounced to the tune of seven goals to nil. New Brighton had a walk-over against Villa B at Richmond Domain, and they won with case by six goals. Five goals to one maiked Addington Workshops victory over a weak St Albans team at Spreydon Reserve. The position of the teams is shown in the following table:—

A GREAT GAME. The match between Technical Old Boys and Thistle, played at English Park, was an excellent contest from start to finish. It was entirely devoid of questionable tactics, and the fact that not a single free kick was awarded to either side for any kind of an infringement speaks for itself. Technical were a trifle lucky to land the points by the narrow margin of the odd goal in three, for the Scots showed the better ability in creating openings. To Technical defenders can be attributed the winning of the day. For Old Boys, Kirk in goal was in excellent form. His agility and sense of anticipation are well developed. He should remember that it is dangerous to attempt to clear the ball forward when hard pressed just wide of goal. Throw it behind for a corner. Cawtherav played a clinking game at right back. He exercises sound judgment and tackles fearlessly. His partner. Booth, was equally good, though he has a propensity to hamper his custodian’s line of vision. Muirson, on the right, was the pick of a fine intermediate trio. He was brilliant alike in defence and attack. For a centre-half, C. Teichert was inclined to take up a position too far back. He should remember that he is a vital link of the attack. J. Teichert connected well with his wing, and as a defender was always in the picture. The forward line played well to a man, though they have not yet realised the effectiveness of the formation under the new off-side rule. Advanced wings with the centre-forward in readiness for the sharp centre is now, more than ever before, essential if goals are to be scored. O’Loughlan was in great form. Brainy and tricky, he snapped up every chance to bang at goal. Smith, on the wing, would improve his play by driving to the centre before being tackled. Phelps at centre was progressive. and distributed the ball with good effect. Broadbelt was conspicuous for his good combination and initiative. Bridgens on the left was artistic and deceptive, though he has a propensity to carry the ball too far before centering. For Thistle, Jackson in goal was erratic. The Scots should not have been a goal down at the interval. Cummins is an acquisition as a defender. Better control in his clearances would improve his play. Atkin at right back was safe as a tackier, and he placed the ball well. At centre-half. Walker fetched and carried with rapidity. 11 is disposal of the ball to the best advantage was a feature of his play. Dick was very effective both in attack and defence. His service to the centre was always full of possibilities. Middleton was the weak link of the line. Of the forwards, Johnstone at centre was the generating force. His strategical play often had the opposing defence in a quandary. The combination of M’Dougall and Smvthe on the left was excellent. Deft footwork, and a ready conception of positional play, was always in evidence on this wing. On the right Ellis was too conservative. His liking for solo play was not always in the best interests of his side. M’Kinven is undoubtedly a clever footballer, but he is apt to over elaborate. Ilis shooting was not of the best. EAST FOR ADDINGTON. Only tight St Albans players turned up for duty at Spreydon Reserve for tfceir match with Addington Works. 'I :**re is some good material in the St ATbans team—what there is of it—but it requires reinforcement. If St Albands cannot field a full eleven, then it is the plain duty of the C.F.A. to reinstate them as a junior combination. With the existing bye in the junior competition, this would undoubted!}' be the wisest course to follow. As at present constituted, the team is simply a chopping block for opponents, and it is only a matter of time when the players will give the game up in disgust. In spite of the big odds against them. St Albans refused to surrender, and played out the game to the last kick. Dawkins, in goal for Addington, had an easy day, and the only goal that beat him was due to sheer misjudgmerit on his part.

At full-back, Mahony showed improvement. The introduction of M’Clean in the intermediate line lent added strength and allowed Brown to take up the centre forward position. Brown’s well-judged passes and shooting ability amply demonstrated his proficiency in every department of the game. Under his supervision, the Addington team should improve. Other outstanding forwards were Cromer and Hesketh, who played with improving combination. On the wings Pash and Farmer were prominent by reason of their ability to pick the ball up on the run. The new off-side rule calls for a sharp and accurate centre, and this should be practised. St Albans were well served by Cullen in goal. He is a trier all the time. Bunt was the outstanding defender, and with the forwards Grimes, Goode and Kearnej', bore the brunt of the game. NOMADS TOO GOOD FOR LYTTELTON. Nomads notched a 7 to 0 victory over Lyttelton at- Richmond Park on Saturday, and the score was a fair indication of the run of the play. Lyttelton played one man short, but the size of the score shows beyond doubt that even had they played eleven men, Nomads would have won, though the score might have been lessened. Nomads had a wonderful defensive force, against which successive Port attacks beat and failed, while the forwards showed initiative and combination. This team for some time has needed a shooting forward line that would take chances, and it had one on Saturday. The men dropped solo tactics, and shot at goal whenever there was a reasonable chance of scoring. Further. Nomads now have got some, weight into their team. As a whole, the game was fast and bright, and clean. T. Howarth and Norman, two new Nomads, played great games, in particular the former, who was at centre half for the first spell, and afterwards

went inside left. He has plenty of brawn, kicked well, and used his head in both senses. Norman, the lank}' centre forward, was cool and deliberate, and was responsible for most of Nomads’ goals. He was the pivot of a scoring forward line. .Chapman at outside left played with his usual dash and accuracy. He is a valuable man, though on the light side. Muscroft, first at half and then fullback, was again in evidence. He is reliable in almost any position. Jock M’Dougall, though he plaved a good game at full-back till he'went centre-half, was really wasted in the first position. He is a fine pivot for the defence. Graham was in great form. He had an annoying habit of being always in the way when Lyttelton thought they had a chance. Jim M’Dougall again demonstrated his great ability as a custodian. It seemed impossible to shake him from his coolness, and he played a number of successful tricks that were interto watch. For Lyttelton, D. Taylor, who played a lone hand at full-back, did well, but his judgment was frequently at fault. He seemed a bit “jumpy” at being on his own. M’Gilp and Batten, centre and left half respectively, were among the best .of the team. They both played keen energetic games, and it was'through no fault of theirs that the team was defeated. In the forwards Donaldson was the best. Possessing a fast turn of speed, he gave Nomads some anxious moments. His game at outside right was one of the best, individuallv, on the field. Taylor. the centre forward. was eager, but overdid it. His zeal was not tempered by discretion, and he wasted a lot of energy. Among the forwards Levi did not excel. While he had numerous chances, he could only take them up so far, and then invariably lost them. STJNNYSIDE HAVE EASY WIN. Villa played well in the first spell of their match against Sunnvside on Saturday. but in the second spell they fell off appreciably. Their combination was wretched, and it appeared as though some of the team were not taking the game seriously. It is possible that they were tired after the strenuous first spell, but tired or not, they could have prevented Sunnvside from scoring several of the goals which they piled up in quick sucTrotter was ordered off the field for allegedly striking the Villa goalie. The incident will no doubt claim the attention of the management committee of the Canterbury Football Association at its next meeting. M’Lachlan and Mizcn, two of the Sunnvside forwards, were hard workers. They were always in the forefront. and kept the Villa custodian busy throughout the game. M’Leod and Simpson too. did yeoman service, for Sunnysidp, while Morley, Villanders and Whitehead were prominent for Villa. Up to within a few minutes of half time there was no score. Then Trotter found the net with an excellent shot. He had had a shot at goal, but Courtenay. the Villa goalie, had saved the position. Trotter, however, once more secured the ball, and with a beautiful ’kick sent it home. VILLA B PLAY SHORT-HANDED. I It was unfortunate that Villa were not able to field a full team for the match might easily have been interesting and even. It was useless to expect that six men could make a showing against a full team. New Brighton attacked the whole time and their opponents were unable to withstand them. Wilson, who scored three goals for the winners, showed himself to be an aggressive and certain player. There was no doubt what was going to happen when lie got the ball near the Villa goal. The match was abandoned before, half-time, but Villa players deserve congratuation for their plucky stand against overwhelming odds.

Matches <loals W D la F A Pts. Sunnyside .... 2 0 0 3 5 0 4 Technical O.B. .2 0 0 15 1 4 Brighton .... 20 0 20 2 4 Western .... 2 0 0 8 2 4 Nomads ....101 7 2 2 Thistle .10 1 1 2 2 Add. Works ..101 .7 5 2 Villa A 101 2 8 2 Lyttelton ....002 i y o Kaiapoi 0 0 2 2 14 0 St. Albans .... 00 2 1 18 0 Villa B 00 2 0 6 0