SOCCER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18276, 3 October 1927, Page 12

SOCCER.

VILLA ALWAYS BETTER. NOMADS HAD NO CHANCE. There was no doubt as to the superiority of the Villa team when they beat Nomads in the final of the English Cup at English Park on Saturday. The score was two to nil, but should have been more in favour of Villa. Followers of the game here to take notice when Villa beat Western in the semi-final, but there were few who thought that the team would beat the redoubtable Nomads. From the kick-off, Villa proved the better team, and gave Nomads no chance. Combination was almost perfect, and in all departments the players gave an exhibition of remarkably fine football. Specially noticeable was their passing and ball control. Under the well-ordered attacks of the Villa forwards, the Nomads’ offensive broke down completely and in the second spell it was the full-backs and goalie alone who saved the team from a bad beating.

M’Dougall, Graham and Muscroft were, luckily for Nomads, at the top of their form, and rose nobly to every occasion.

Scragg was the only Nomads half whose work was good, and in the forwards Wilson was well above the rest. Apart from these men. Nomads did not look anything like the team they

undoubtedly are. Part of the Nomads defeat may be attributed to the fact that throughout the who'le game J. Frickleton got the ball about three times. In the second half he might as well have been on the grandstand as a spectator. On the one occasion in the second spell when he did get a chance he nearly scored. With the starving of Frickleton. a good deal of Trotter's sting was drawn, as these two rely to a great extent on each other in their movements.

There was very little to pick and choose between any of the Villa players. They were all good, and time after time proved the superiority of their combination.

The Villa half line was very pretty to watch. It fed the forwards in approved style, and kept the whole team together. Nearly all the Villa movements were the result of good initial work bv one or other of the halves.

The forwards were busy and handled with the greatest certainty. Their passing was a delight. Perhaps the best of a very bright bunch was A. Leslie, the centre, a young player who gave a splendid exhibition in his place. The goalie, T. Jackson, was very bright. On play, Villa thoroughly deserved their win. as they were far too good a team on Saturday for the Nomads. In spite of Villa’s good display, the game was not particularly interesting to watch. It was far too one-sided.