ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17878, 21 June 1926, Page 12

ASSOCIATION.

GOALS GALORE. Marksmen were in good form in the ninth round of the Canterbury Football Association's senior grade competition, pla\*ed on Saturday last, for an aggregate of twenty-seven goals was registered in the four games set down for decision. Tall scoring was to be expected under the excellent ground conditions prevailing, and the fast exchanges produced spectacular football. Chief interest was centred in the meeting of the Technical Old Boys and Western at English Park. In a game which created the greatest enthusiasm Technical Old Boys collected the points by the comfortable margin of J goals to 2. Playing at Richmond Park. Thistle took another step upwards at the expense of Villa. Had the latter not played two men short they would not have been beaten by 5 goals to 1. Lyttelton have yet to record their first win, but they are showing consistent improvement. By playing New Brighton to a two-goal draw they shared the points for the third week in succession. Playing on the institute ground, St Albans were overwhelmed by Sunnj’side. Ten clear goals represented the winners’ margin of superiority. Kaiapoi and Nomads had byes. There is a sharp dividing line in the competition, as the following table indicates:—

VILLA UNLUCKY. It was unfortunate for Villa that they could only muster nine men in their match against Thistle. Through circumstances entirely out of their control neither Berry nor Courtney was able to appear. Consequently a brace of points which might make a world of difference to Villa’s future prospects went to their opponents by the comfortable margin of five goals to one. There is no gainsaying the fact that had Villa been fully represented they would at least have given Thistle a closer game and might easily have won. The Scots were leading only by the odd goal with thirty minutes to go, and had the two absent players (who are the backbone of the attack and defence) been available Villa very likely would have held the winning hand at the finish. As now constituted, the Thistle defence is almost equal to any in the competition, but the same cannot be said of the attack. Innumerable goal-

Matches Goals Oh. P. W. L*. D. For Apr. Pts Tech O.B. .. :* 8 3 — 52 13 3 6 Sunnyside S 7 1 — 49 S 3 4 Thistle .... 9 7 2 — 20 It 34 Western .... S 5 2 1 34 3 7 3 1 Nomads 8 5 3 — 16 9 10 Villa 8 2 5 1 12 28 5 New Brighton 8 2 5 1 21 35 5 St Albans ..8251 8 38 5 Kaiaj>oi .... 8 1 6 1 17 29 3 Lyttelton .. $ — 5 3 31 it 3