SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 187, 10 August 1931, Page 5

SOCCER

WANGANUI MATCHES ASSOCIATION FIXTURES VISITORS FROM MANAWATU (By “Hampden”) The clerk of the weather appeared to have relented on Saturday, and in ideal weather the Wanganui Association Cup competition was put forward another stage. Eastbrookc and K.P.’s added two points to their total at the expense of Thistle and Athletic respectively. Eastbrookc defeated Thistle by Ito2 on Victoria Park and K.P.’s got the verdict over Athletic by the odd goal in five. On Victoria Park Eastbrookc and Thistle met on the Victoria Park ground under ideal conditions. The teams were: Eastbrookc.—Johnstone, Wood, L. Clapham, Garner, Gillon, Maxey, Upton. Killeen, Jones, Taylor and V. Clapham. Thistle. —Ritson, Tasker, Barbour, Kidd, Falconer, Dickson, Fairclough, Little, Heath, Payne and Bain. Eastbrookc won the toss and played with the sun at their backs. From the kick-off it gave promise of being a very fast game. The “jags” were playing their usual close game, w’hile the ’Brooke went in for the hard kicking and long passing game. The first thing of interest was when Heath got through and fired a shot which beat the goalkeeper all ends up, but unfortunately for him hit the under-side of the bar and bounced straight down. Everyone thought it was a goal, but the referee ruled otherwise. So confident was Heath that the ball was through that he turned to come away, in place of following up and making sure. However, he was not the only one who thought the ball was through, as one of the ’Brooke backs lifted the ball up in his hands and kicked it to the centre of the field, which should undoubtedly have earned a penalty. How-

ever, in the excitement of the moment he referee failed to observe, this and so Eastbrooke got •off lightly. Before 'he effects of this disappointment had worn off Thistle, ’Brooke got away on the right and a cross by Upton was accepted by Jones, who, from close in, gave Ritson no chance. Two minutes after this ’Brooke again got down and Jones, getting the ball in what seemed an offside position, tested Ritson, but the keeper was there. However, Claphain secured and put his side two goals up before Ritson could recover himself. Nothing daunted by these reverses, Thistle were soon round Johnstone, where Heath, Dickson and Little each had an attempt. Then Bain, getting possession, put in a beauty which iust got the wrong side of the upright. Eastbrooke had a raid, but were soon back on the defensive. Heath again had hard luck, the ball actually stopping dead on the goal line with Johnstone veil beaten. The ball seemed to refuse to go through this goal as Heath got thriugh, his parting shot grazing the bar. However, the pressure Thistle were putting in at this time told its ■ile and Heath scored. This put new ife in the “jags” and a nice forward pass by Falconer let Bain away to ■ring the teams level with a beautiful -hot from the touch-line. Before the ball was centred the histle went for the interval with the •'■ores 2 all. With the scores standing level the .mine gave every promise of being a ■gular “scorcher” in the second spell, i’histle were the first to catch the eye, ■mt were soon on the defensive, as 'Brooke’s backs, by strong kicking, ■vere giving their forwards every hance and Falconer had to give away t corner for safety. The ’Brooke were mt to be denied and Taylor beat Bit--on with a nice shot. Eastbrooke were now having the better of the argument and Ritson played the game of his life, saving shots from ■ ill directions, ably assisted by Tasker. I’histle woke up again and were soon testing Johnstone. But the ’Brooke’s luck was still holding. First Little just missed by inches. Thon the ball, rebounding off him, went over the bar with Johnstone well out wf his goal. ’Brooke got going again and a little hesitation on the part of Barbour saw I pton nip in to score Eastbrooke's fourth goal. Thistle were playing hard, but their luck was out. Bain got away on the left and beat all opposition only to see his parting effort hit the upright and past. Wood and Johnstone were saving their side now, Johnstone saving a beauty with all the Thistle forwards round him. ’Brooke were now playing a winning game and gave the Thistle defence no rest. The final whistle went with the score:— Eastbrooke 4; Thistle 2. On Cook’s Gardens The game on Cook’s Gardens, where K.P.’s and Athletic met, was a very poor one. There seemed to be no life in it until about 10 minutes before time. With the game standing level. Then both sides put in all they knew to get on top. This honour eventually fell to K.P. ’s, who thus ran out winners by 3 goals to 4. The best for Athletic were Edgerton, Thomson and Roland. K P.’s were best served by Mar tin, Nelson, Jamieson and Donhoim. Junior Gaines On Victoria Park Woollen Mills had ns their opponents the Eastbrookc juniors. This was a well-contested game. Hip teams being very evenly matched '’he Mills had •• slight advantage in weight. There was no scoring in the irst half, but both scored one in the second period, the game finishing one all. Eastbrooke are a very smart lot and with a little more playing together will bp hard to boat. The players taking the eye were Faulkner. Bevan, S. Stokes and Wilson, of Eastbrooke, and Adams. McT’ityre, Duke and Cunning ham. of Mills. The other junior game, between the Athletic, and Technical College, was a rather one-sided affair, owing to the difference in size and lack of experience of the Tech. boys. Athletic ran out winners by 3 goals to 1. School Football The visit of the two teams of schoolboys from I’almerston North created a considerable amount of enthusiasm among the boys. The Primary Schools game was the better of the two games played and the Wanganui boys did well to draw with a team much bigger and heavier than themselves, scoring 2 goals each. In the secondary school game Wanganui were swamped by a team of boys who were both bigger and heavier and had more experience in the game. Result: Manawatu 9, Wanganui 0.