SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 109, 11 May 1931, Page 5

SOCCER

ON COOK’S GARDENS A SPLENDID DRAWN GAME WANGANUI AND H.M.S. VERONICA My “Abbotsford.” Cook’s Gardens on .Saturday was the 1 rendezvous of soccer fans, the occasion being a representative match with the team from H.H.S. Veronica in op- ! position to the local team. Previous 1 games in which Navy men had taken part have been productive of good football and much was expected from this game. Nor were the fans disappointed. Right from the first whistle the pace was a “cracker” and each end was visited in rapid succession. The Navy men were first to score and hold their lead for a fair length of time before Wanganui equalised. Before the end of the spell came, however, the navy men had regained their lead and crossed over leading by two goals to one. Although holding rhe balance the red and blacks must be considered lucky as both scoring attempts should have been saved. The second spell saw the locals in rampant form and after Killeen had equalised the pace was faster, if that was at all possible. Positional play was much In evidence and Holland eventually got the lead for Wanganui. This was held right to the last minute when the Navy men equalised following a corner kick. Thus ended a game which had been full of thrills from start to finish, such a game as supporters of the code used to see in the days long gone. How the Play Went. Wanganui won the toss and defended the south goal. Dickson soon tested Campion who held the ball but was penalised for “steps,” the resultant free kick being cleared. The Navy soon got into their stride and forced two corners in rapid succes sion. The second was well kicked by •Stanford and was seized by Chapman, who scored with a snappy shot which Chesnutt touched but failed to hold. The Wanganui forwards, well served by their halves, troubled the sailors’ defence, two corners being forced. Bain and Holland’s shots were cleared. Boyack and Bell were well stopped by Willis, but Holland again tested Campion, who cleared and Sparrowhawk nearly scored with a fast one. Wanganui were combining well, Kidd being the only weak link at this stage, and the forwards gave the sailors’ defence plenty to do, Barton shining with fine clearances, well placed. Grimes tested Chestnutt, who gave away a fruitless corner.

Wanganui forwards had a great chance, the only on-side man getting through, well supported, but the defence was sound. Pegging away, Killeen and Holland nearly succeeded and then Dickson sent in a rocket shot which was brilliantly saved by Campion amid applause. The Navy then had a spell of attacking, one fine cross by Milne being neatly back-heeled by Sparrowhawk, close in, but luckily cleared. A regular bombardment of the Wanganui goal ensued, Gillon being prominent in defence. The locals even tually raised the siege and Killeen profited by a slip of the defence, from a throw-in on the Navy’s left wing, and equalised from close in front.—Wanganui 1, Veronica 1. Wanganui had the better of the play for a time, Willis and Barton being equal to the occasion and clearing repeatedly. The Navy rapidly transferred play and Sparrowhawk shot, Chesnutt holding for a second only to let the ball slip from his hands into the net, thus putting the visitors ahead by 2 to 1 with the game 33 minutes gone. Rapid exchanges followed the resumption of play, Grimes shooting past at the local end and Dickson and Kidd shooting over at the other end. Tow corners followed at the Navy end and then Chapman sent his right wing away, Stanford shooting past. Again pressing, a corner resulted, Dickson transferring play to Bain, but Willis cleared. Give and take play followed with Milne and Stanford showing good understanding, but Milne shot past.

Half-time saw the score unaltered— Veronica 2, Wanganui 1. Wanganui took up the aggressive on resuming, Kidd now shining in defence and the whole team combining well. Holland missed a difficult chance and a well placed kick by Kidd was headed past by Killeen. Campion brought off a great save from Holland and Dickson had no luck with another good shot. After a short-timed transfer of play Campion again cleared his goal but the relief was only temporary, Killeen scoring from a header by Boyack.—Wanganui 2. Veronica 2. Wanganui looked like winners at this stage but their finishing efforts failed. One great shot by Dickson landed on the cross-bar with the goalie beaten. Both local wings strove Lard but the sailors’ defence withstood the attack and latterly enab’e-Q their forwards to trouble Neilson and Proudfoot, who de fended well, though one good chance was badly missed by Grimes not steadying himself for the shot when he only had the goalie to beat. Chapman was prominent in finding his front line but the local forwards were given possession, Killeen being unlucky in putting the ball too far forward for Campion to clear. Gillon and Dickson fed the forwards nicely at this stage but they could nut score. The Navy left wing transfererd play, Tadman proving a hard man to stop, but two fruitless corners only resulted. A rapid transfer of play by well placed passing ended in Dickson accepting a back pass from Bain and shooting accurately. Campion cleared with difficulty and Holland siezed on his return and banged the ball into the net. — Wanganui 3, Veronica 2. •Spurred on by the shouts of their shipmates in the stand, the sailors now put lots of vim into their play. The whole team was striving bard to equalise, Milne and Stanford being nearly successful, but. Neilson was looking after the nippy centre-forward and the play was at last transferred. A fast ground shot by Bain was well cleared by Campion who just later stopped an other good one from Holland. Barton was disabled for a few minutes at this stage but soon recovered. Boyack had a good attempt from Bain’s well-placed c,orne r kick. With full time very near Wanganui looked certain winners but shots from Bell and Holland lacked direction and Chapman sent his forwards away. Chesnutt camp out to save and was dispossessed of the ball, giving the sailors a good chance but Neilson cleared. Bain forced a corner at the other end but nlay again was transferred and a corner forced. This was well placed and Sparrowhawk accepted a headed pass to score the equaliser a minute front time. A closely fought, clean game thus ended with the honours even. Mr S. Stewart was the referee.