SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 106, 8 May 1933, Page 4

SOCCER

WANGANUI MATCHES ASSOCIATION SHIELD. MILLS AND ATHLETIC WIN. The final games of the first round of tho Wanganui Football Association’s Shield competition were played on Saturday. The attendance suffered as a result of the showery weather. The game between Mills and Thistle was played on No. 1 ground, Victoria Park. In spite of the rain which had fallen the ground was in good condition but the surface was slippery. Mills camo out on top by five goals to two, as they deserved to, especially in view of Thistle’s weak team. On No. 2 ground Eastbrooke played Athletic, and even if tho spectators did not get quality they were provided with quantity, no fewer than thirteen goals being scored. Of these Athletic secured eight and Eastbrooke five. The ground was thoroughly soaked and there were several pools of water in evidence. Thistle and Mills. Thistle found difficulty in fielding a team, playing throughout with ten men. The tennis lined up as follows: Thistle.—Walker, Little, Barbour, J. Thomson, Chambers, Kidd, Dashfield. Heath, Thomson, and Bain. Woollen Mills.—Chesnut, Tasker, Cooper, Nixon, Kerwin, Cave, Rusling, Munroe, Duke, Meiklc, and W. McInnis. The referee was Mr. G. Fairclough. Thistle won the spin of tho coin and shot into tho pavilion end. Mills made ground on tho left but W. Mclnnes sent well over. Thistle, at the other end, forced a corner which was cleared. Duke, fastening on, went ahead but Walker cleared. W. Innis again sent over when well placed. Thistle had a spell of the play and Heath tested Chesnut with a lovely shot, only to see the goalkeeper handle it nicely. Fortunes fluactuated, neither side being able to claim an advantage. Rusling was prominent with a good run on the right but Walker saved his parting effort. Mills took a better grip of the game but Walker defied all their efforts. A fruitless corner fell to Thistle from tho clearance. Mills got away and a weak clearance enabled the oncoming Meiklo to score with a nice shot.

Thistle came down the left, Bain being prominent with a well-placed centre to Heath, who was only kept our. by force of numbers. Walker brought off a daring save, picking tho ball from the foot of Duke. Heath went through but Bain failed to pilot the ball into the goal. Thomson put out to Dashfield, who put in some good work and sent across a perfect centre which gave Heath the chance he was waiting for, and the scores were level.

Meiklo hit tho upright with a strong shot and tho interval came with the score: Thistle 1; Mills 1. On resuming, Rusling was seen putting across a nice ball for Nleikle to beat Walker, tho ball striking the upright on its way. At Chesnut’s end Bain tested the ’keeper with a hot one. Tho next thing of notice was when Duke, well set, sent, high over. Then came a penalty for Thistle from which they should have drawn level, but Kidd, who took the kick, saw Chesnut save. Thi? piece of luck put the Mills on the run again and Duke beat Walker with a fast drive. Thistle had a spell of pressing but the defence was solid. Meikle got away and put on to Duke, who had no difficulty in beating Walker. Thistle, while having as much of the play, could not finish the work. A raid by Mills was checked by Barber, who potted to Kidd, to Thomson, to Heath, who scored from close in. A minute later Mills scored through Munroe, Walker having no chance. The final score was: Mills 5, Thistle 2.

Eastbrooke and Athletic. Eastbrooke fielded two newcomers in Gray and Johnstone, and started with ten player, L. Clapham coming on later to complete the eleven. Athletic fielded the usual eleven. Teams were: Eastbrooke. —Clapham, Stokes, Taylor, Faulkner, Jones, Wilson, Wickham, Grav, Killeen, Queenn and Johnstone. Athletic.—Barron, Thomson, Egcrton, Thomas, Crumblcy, A. Deer, Bell, Boyack, Beckett, Wilson, and F. Dear. The referee wa»s Mr. G. Langslow. From the start Eastbrooke made for Barron. Quinn was right through but the ball got into the water and stuck there, until someone waded in and cleared. Again Eastbrooke got through but failed to negotiate the 4 4 water jump.” Athletic got moving through Boyack and Bell. Tho ball was cleared but F. Dear fastened on and scored with a shot that gave the goalkeeper no chance. Athletic were in the ascendency and penalty award gave them their second goal. Eastbrooke failed to adapt themselves to tho conditions, with the result that Athletic were having all the play. Following a miskick by an Eastbrooke defender E. Wilson again had Stokes beaten. L. Clapham took up the position of goalkeeper for Eastbrooke, but it was no time before he had to acknowledge defeate to Beckett, who was lying handy. A couple of minutes later tho same player repeated tho trick. Although five goals in arrears Eastbrooko kept at it and Thomson was just in time to save a Quinn shot. Again tho ’Brooke got down through Quinn, Wilson and Killeen. Barron was seen doing a beautiful dive for a ball which never came, the water stopping the ball in its progress to the goal. A corner for Eastbrooke was fruitless. Athletic were away through Boyack and Bell, the latter’s cross going a-begging. Grey on the ’Brooke right came away on his own to secure a corner which was cleared. A nice shot by J. Wilson saw Barron save at the expense of a corner. Athletic had a turn but the ’Brooke defence had now stiffened up a bit and they were beaten off. East* brooke had a turn on tho attack and had their reward when Quinn scored with a good drive. At the other end, Wilson was through, but ran the ball over. Eastbrooke were more in tho game but their finishing was poor. Again Boyack and Bell by nice work got down, Bell giving Beckett a perfect cross and Athletic’s total went up to six. Shortly after the interval was called, with the score: —Athletic 6; Eastbrooke J.

Right on the restart Clapham had to save a hot one from Boyack, but the ball failed to travel and Beckett scored. Eastbrooke had still a fight, left in them. Gray, getting possession, forced his way through to score. This seemed to liven Eastbrooke up and Gray again came through but his cross was too strong. Athletic, led by Boyack, again

got round Clapham and Beckett, brought their total to eight. Eastbrooke replied to this with a goal from J. Wilson. Eastbrooke were now on the go but tho finishing beat them. Egerton was seen in a great run but Clapham was too many for him, and Eastbrooke were back at Barron, where Jones let Gray away and the latter went through to score. Again Eastbrooke, through Quinn, were round Barron, and safety only camo when the ball was put past. Kepping at it, ’Brooke again scored through Killeen. The final whistle sounded with the scores:—Athletic 8; Eastbrooke 5. Junior Gamas. Owing to the condition of tho grounds there were only two third grade games player. Rangers beating Marists by four goals to one, and East* brooke beating Thistle by three goals to one.