SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19648, 6 September 1926, Page 4

SOCCER

WOOLLEN MILLS v. Y.M.C.A. MILLS FOR THE FINAL. By their victory over Y.M.C.A. on aSturday, on Cook’s Gardens, Woollen Mills qualified to meet Eastbrooke in i the Charity Cup final. I Both teams fielded strong elevens, Thompson, an Auckland rep., making his initial appearance for Mills at centre half, and Leckie taking the place' of McDonald as leader of the attack. Y.M.C.A. introduced McKay at back and Allen in goal. The Play. Mills kicked off with a slight breeze in their favour, but Y.M.C.A. were first to become dangerous, Jackson missing narrowly from a good pass by McCullum. Gilroy and Proudfoot beat the Y.M.C.A. attack back to their n w nterritory, where Jamieson received from Davidson, to run down and cross a beauty which McMillan cleared cleverly. Play was mostly confined to midfield after this, very little concerted action being shown. Thompson and Proudfoot took a hand in attack for Mills, the latter being spoiled when well placed by one of his own team. O’Toole and Stoddart carried play to the other end, where Hope was called upon to clear. Chasing the ball well out from goal he was penalised for handling, but nothing accrued from the free. After half an hour’s play Afills opened their account. The ball came across from the right and a melee in front of Allen resulted in Thompson scoring, the ball striking the upright and entering the net, well out of Alien’s reach. Y.M.C.A. retaliated strongly on the right, Ward, McCullum and Stoddart being conspicuous, but the Woollens’ defence stood firm and no further score was registered when half time arrived. Mills 1; Y.M.C.A. 0. Y.M.C.A., with the wind behind them, on resuming, were early making tracks towards Hope. The keeper carried the ball too far and a free kick was awarded. The Mills’ defence got tangled up somehow, and Lowe, slipping the ball to O’Toole, let this player equalise the score. Y.M.C.A. tried hard to press home their advantage, Stoddart and Jordan gaining ground on the left, where a corner was forced without result. Stoddart narrowly missed with his head, from a cross by O’Toole. Afills rearranged their attack, Thompson moving into the van. and Leckie dropping back to the halves. The Woollies began to assert themselves. Fine forcing work by B. Gilroy allowed Jamieson to cross but McKay kicked clear. Thompson . returned the sphere, however, and Allen did well to save for a fruitless corner. Y.M.C.A. got going on the right but Mills again returned to the attack, and superb play by Cowan ended in Thompson getting clean through to place the Draw Lads in the lead. This reverse seemed to sting the Y.M.C.A. and a strong rally in which Lowe, O’Toole, and McCullum took part was beaten back by Gilroy and Leckie. Cowan was the prime factor in the goal which placed the issue beyond doubt. Thompson again received from Cowan, and staving off a challenge from McMillan scored his hat trick for the day. Y.M.C.A. strove hard to reduce the leeway bpt full time arrived: Mills 3; Y.M.C.A. 1. The score represents the run of the game as Mills were always the livelier lot. Best for Woollies were: Hope, B. Gilroy, Thompson, Cowan, Jamieson. Y.M.C.A. were best served by McMillan, Lowe, Ward, McCullum, and Stoddart. Air D. Stiratt’s decisions were prompt and fair. S.S. TREBARTHA v. UNITED TALL SCORING. This game, staged at the eleventh hour betwen the Soccer team from s.s. Trebartha and a United Wanganui eleven, although one-sided, proved a most enjoyable game to the men who go down to the sea in ships. At the start the United attacked on

the starboard side, and Mackley rattled the rigging before Nock had found his bearings. For most of this half the seamen were << hove to” and although battling hard could make little headway. Goals came to the United in quick succession, Mackley, Simpson and Fairclough being the scorers. In the second spell the seamen, with the wind in their favour, crowded on all sail and Rice, receiving from Mnrtyn, rushed along the port side to beat Ritson with a good effort. United again attacked strongly, and Ansley “shivered the timbers” ere Mackley placed the landsmen further ahead. ' Preece, Bennett, and Nock were prominent for the seamen in repelling many United attacks. Towards the end the visitors came again and Campbell, getting to the leeward of Fyfe, McLeod and Richards, scored twice in succession. The game end with the adore United 8, s.s. Trebartha 5. When the official score was announced many of the spectators thought this was hardly “dead reckoning,” but the seamen were positive that the navigator had steered a straight course, and are hopeful of again meeting a local team in the near future. Mr T, Cooper was referee.