SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 133, 8 June 1931, Page 5

SOCCER

(By ‘‘Abbotsford”) Bright and interesting football was the order on Saturday when the Wanganui Association continued their Shield competition. On Cook’s Gardens Athletic over came Eastbrooke after a good game by the odd goal in three. ’Brooke were rather weakly represented, but the reserves drafted into the team showed promise of better things to come. On Victoria Park K.P.’s continued their winning way when they vanquished Thistle by three clear goals. Thistle had to take the field without Dickson, who was on the injured list, and his steadying influence was greatly missed. In the junior game Eastbrooke overcame Athletic, thereby drawing level with Woollen Mills. A play-off will be necessary to decide who will hold the Shield. ATHLETIC AND EASTBROOKE Teams were as follows: — Athletic.—Chesnutt, Thomson, Thomas.] Hughes, Riley, Bell, Boyack, Holland, R. Wilson, E. Wilson. Eastbrooke. —Scott, Maxy, Spence, Killeen, Woods, Mundy, Garner, Jones, Adams, and V. Clapham. Both teams played one man short and adopted the one back game. Athletic had a favouring wind in the first spell, but Eastbrooke, per Killeen, soon tested Chesnutt with a long shot which was cleared, and the Athletic forwards forced a fruitless corner. Woods was next prominent in beating the opposition and sending over a good shot in front with which Garner just failed to connect. Continued pressure by the Athletics was first relieved by ‘‘hands,” and then Riley sent E. Wilson off, the latter’s shot being saved by Scott giving away a fruitless corner. Still continuing the aggressive “hands” bv Killeen in the penalty

area gave Athletic a good chance, Boyack faking the kick which Scott just tipped on to tho crossbar to rebound, Boyaek foolishly stepping over the ball for R. Wilson to score, but offside by Boyack nullifie 1 the shot. Maxy meantime was defending well. Bell, well fed by Riley, had some excellent chances, but shot wildly and Scott saved well from Boyack. A breakaway by the Brooke saw a good chance lost by Jones shooting well over. A determined white attack was again spoilt by bad shooting, but from play on the left wing R. Wilson opened the scoring with a good shot which gave Scott little chance. Soon afterwards another penalty kick was given by Killeen for “hands,” and taken by R. Wilson, only to see Scott again save at the expense of a corner, which was cleared. E. Wilson soon tested Scott again with a good screw kick from the goal line, the goalie saving brilliantly. Holland later made a good opening for Boyack, but the elevation was again too great. Eastbrooke raised the siege, first a bye kick and then two corners resulting in no benefit to the attackers. Another bombardment of the Eastbrooke goal was met with stubborn defence, in which Maxy showed up well. Play fluctuated for a time, bad shooting mainly preventing scoring. Athletic tried hard to take advantage of the wind and improve their position, one shot from Boyack being well cleared by Scott and another hitting the upright and being sent upfield. On resumption Athletic forced a corner and then faulty defence let Mundy through to hit the crossbar with his shot. Scott saved from Bell at the other end and Garner shot over from a rapid transfer of play. Riley sent in a nice lobbing shot, enabling Holland to fasten on and score from close in.—Athletic 2; Eastbrooke 0. Both custodians were called on to save, Chesnutt saving a good one from Spence and Scott tipping a beauty from E. Wilson over the bar. A “pile-driver” by Boyack found the goalie beaten, but Spence had anticipated well and saved on the goal line. Good work by Mundy was spoilt when he elected to shoot instead of crossing to Jones, who was in front unmarked. Eastbrooke seemed to be tir-

ing and Athletic harassed the blue de fence, but Spence and Maxy in particular proved stumbling blocks. A dying effort by the ’Brooke was rewarded when Mundy made way on the right and shot, the goalie partly clearing, but Jones was handy and scored from close in front. Time was called soon after with Athletic the victors.—Athletic 2; Eastbrooke 1. Referee Bert Phillips made quite a good job of his first important game, some difficult decisions being correctly and promptly given. K.P.’s AND THISTLE Thistle started, but were soon on the defensive, K.P.’s left wing being very prominent. The attacks of the reds, however, were met with a stubborn defence, Tasker being prominent in the blue rearguard. Thistle eventually got out of their difficulties, but their attacking movements were poorly supported and soon fizzled out and K.P.’s left wing continued to be dangerous. Gilroy and Meikle combining well, but lack of penetration prevented a score Just on half-time Meikle got tho ball into the net, but offside nullified the point. Half-time arrived with the scoresheet blank. Even play ruled at the opening oi the second spell, but K.P.’s gradually got control of the game, and after a quarter of an hour’s plap opened the scoring from a penalty kick, Neilson being the marksman. Shortly aftei Ritchie found another gap in the blue defence, and registered a second goal, while just on time Meikle scored the third goal for K.P.’s. The result was: K.P.’s 3 Thistle •• 0