ASSOCIATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18514, 14 July 1928, Page 5

ASSOCIATION.

CHATHAM CUP SEMI-FINALS PLAYED. The semi-finals of the Chatham Cup were played this afternoon at English Park, when Western met St Albans and Thistle met New Brighton. The grounds were fairly heavy, but otherwise conditions were good. WESTERN V. ST ALBANS. Western started to attach from the kick off and pressed hard for some minutes. A. pretty movement initiated by E. Colville saw the ball in the possession of Clements, but a pretty shot was cleared by Williams, and St Albans went well up attacking hard., Tennant got possession but his shot went high. The next minute Donovan just, missed with a pretty shot from a long way out. St Albans kept up their attack, but were unable to get into a very good position, although they kept the Western defence woi king hard. The game was a fine open one with plenty of long passing and many pretty movements. An attack by St Albans saw some lightning passing among the forwards, a beautiful strong shot from Donaldson being just cleared by G. J. Colville. Western then got to work and the game for some time continued near the St Albans goal. St Albans put up a strong attack and were within striking distance when the whistle went, leaving the score:— Western 0, St Albans 0. Western attacked from the kick off, but St Albans put in a strong bid and the game became very fast with both sides attacking hard. Western attacked hard, but two good shots in quick succession were cleared. Western continued to attack hard for some time but St Albans returned, and after a prolonged attack Tennant put in a beautiful shot and opened the score for St Albans. St. Albans kept up their attack strongly for some time, but Western returned and two short shots were barely cleared by Williams, who was playing a good game. The Western attack was kept up strongly for a long time, but St Albans’ defence was too good. The Western attack broke, and St Albans came well down. Cullen got possession and passed to Tennant, who put in a hot shot which was cleared cleverly by G. J. Colville. St Albans w'ere on the attack when time was called w'ith the score:— ST ALBANS 1 WESTERN 0 THISTLE V. NEW BRIGHTON. Thistle opened up against the wind, with the sun at their backs. The opening stages lacked sparkle, until Woods lobbed a short one on to the Brighton upright. Then Brighton went down. Sharr racing a Thistle back to the ball to beat Gwillam, coming out, with a long ground shot. Play got brisker, with the Brighton forwards showing some pace in quick break-aways. Thistle were hard pressed when a nice cross from Knight was hooked to goal by Graham, but Sharr’s header just missed. Thistle swung into attack, and, -showing nice team-work, got in front of their opponents’ goal, but a strong drive from Woods cleared the l?ar. Brighton’s forcing tactics were making it hard for Thistle to settle down, hut eventually the Scots got to close quarters. Middleton saved w r ell before Arbuthnot hooked a short one through, with the goalie on the ground. Half-time carao a minute later with the score:— Thistle 1, New Brighton 1. Thistle were early on attack in the second session. After several fruitless movements A. Sutherland dropped a long one to goal. Middleton made an attempt to punch clear, missed, and picked the ball from the net. Thistle had the upper hand now, hut bad marksmanship kept the score down. A dull period, with Thistle constantly on attack, ended when Brighton thrust down the centre. They failed to gain anything from a couple o'f free kicks. A short spell with Brighton attacking, and Thistle returned for Woods to notch a tame goal with a short-range header. Final score:— THISTLE 3 NEW BRIGHTON I Referee: Mr W. Campbell.