SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 139, 15 June 1932, Page 5

SOCCER

—By

“Hampden.”

The first games in the second round of the Wanganui Association Cup were played on Saturday. The Eastbroke and Woollen Mills game ended in a draw, one all. Athletic, who were on the top of their form, defeated Thistle by six goals to two. By their victory Athletic have brought themselves to a level with Thistle on the points table. Tho position at a glance is as fol-

On No. .1 ground Eastbrooke and Mills staged a dour struggle- Right from the start it was anyone’s game. ’Brooke showed great improvement in concerted movements. An old-timer in Webster turned out at centre for Eastbrooke and played a very good game, apparently putting in some practice for the Charity Cup. (Rumour has it that a bird built its nest in one of the old-timer’s football boots. A ease of egging tho player on!).. Scott in Eastbrooke goal was in top form on Saturday. He clutched and • fielded the ball like a veteran. Taylor and Faulkner played a good game at back- In these two ’Brooke have a pair of backs in the making. Of the halves Woods in the pivotal position was the best man on his side. He worked hard and it was no fault of his that his side did not win. Maxey played his best game this season. On the other side Stokes played a hard game. Webster, in tho centre, kept his men on the move and had hard luck with his shooting. Garner was the live wire in the front line. His scheming wag always dangerous and he brought the best out of Wickham who is another good boy. Quinn put over some nice balls and in conjunction with Wilson was as good a wing as any on view. With Killeen and Jones introduced to this lot Eastbrooke should do well For the Mills Chestnutt in goal was very safe. In fact, his saving bordered on the miraculous. Tasker and Proudfoot were the better pair of

backs. Proudfoot is coming back to his usual and was possibly the best back on view, with Tasker closely following. Of the halves Nixon pleased best. This lad will make good in the game with more attention to placing the ball on to the men in front of him. Kerwin was not so effective as usual, while Ansley is a goalkeeper and was out of his element. iDuke was the best forward, with Ritchie just a shade less effective- Mills require a little more punch in their finishing. Duke and Ritchie were the only two forwards who did any shooting. The right wing was again weak. Mclnnis plays a hard game in the open but loses control when near goal.

On No. 2 ground the Athletic and Thistle game was the big attraction. Athletic were fortunate in being able to field the strongest team they have, while TJjistle were heavily handicapped by the absence of Gilbert and Falconer, with Little unfit. >This handicap proved too much for them, but even at full strength it is doubtful if they could have held Athletic on Saturday’s form.

In a team which played as one it might bo out of place to single out any one for special mention. All the same Boyack was the one man who stood out above his fellows. The Wilson brothers took advantage of Thistle’s weakness on the right and did most of the damage, though they , scored none of the goals themselves. The others have never played better.

Thistle did not make tho best of the chance. They seemed to allow their handicap to weigh too much on them and their play suffered accordingly. Of the lot only Walker and Wade played to form, Walker being especially good. Wade was over-wrought owing to the weakness of those in front. Barbour appeared to hesitate a shade too long before making up his mind what to do. Little, as already, stated, was unfit, as was plainly seen by his play. Dickson and Kidd were not suited to their new position. Levey had a hard day as ho was playing half and forward at the same time Kitchen, while scoring two goals, did not fit into the scheme of things, which was not to bo wondered at, this being his first game with Thistle. Heath, for once, was off the mark, missing tho forward passes of Gilbert. Thomson had to go back too often to be effective, while Bain seemed to slip badly.

Tho Association Cup will bo advanced another stage on Saturday, when tho following games are to be played: Eastbrooke v. Thistle on No. 1 ground. Athletic v. Woollen Mills on No. 2 ground. Saturday’s results put more life into this competition and it is now possible for all four teams to finish .evel. Eastbro,oke and Mills have only each to beat the leaders, a not impossible task. Thistle will bo out to show that Saturday’s form was only a slip, while Eastbrooke arc about duo a win. Tho last time Athletic met Mills they were very lucky to win- They will be out to keep their placo at the top, while Mills will bo out to do what they should have done the last time arid get away from the bottom of the tabic. Both games should bo well contested. On the Scottish League Second Division an unusually close finish occurred for championship honours between East Stirlingshire and St. Johnstone, both teams finishing with 55 points each. Tho East Stirlingshire won on the goal average by a decimal fraction. Goal Record. Macfadycn, of Motherwell, broke the existing record of 39 goals scored in Scottish League football, having scored 52 goals in the 38 league games.

lows: G. W. L. D. p. Thistle .. .. • ■ 4 3 1 0 6 Athletic .. .. .. 4 3 1 0 o Eastbrooke . . . . 4 0 9 2 Mills . . .. .. .. 4 0 J J