SOCCER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 83, 9 April 1934, Page 5

SOCCER

WANGANUI ASSOCIATION NEW SEASON OPENS. SATURDAY’S GAMES. The Wanganui Football Association opened their 1934 season on Saturday in blazing sunshine, which proved rather tolling on the players, though it was much appreciated by the spectators. The games played on Victoria Park constituted the first round of the Association Shield competition. On number one ground Thistle overcame Aramoho by five clear goals, while on the other ground Athletic over ran Eastl/.ookc to tho tune of seven goals to two. Aramoho and Thistle. Aramoho and Thistle lined up on tho No. .1 ground as follows: Aramoho. Chesnut, Davidson, Proudfoot, Nixon, Rusling, Cave, Tasker, Fisher, Mclnnis, Cunningham and Duke. Thistle.—Walker, Rowat, Head, Kidd, Wilson, Dickson, Upton, Dashfield, Heath, Puddle and Thomson. The referee was Air. Phizacklea. Aramoho won the spin of tho coin and set their opponents to defend the pavilion goal with the sun in their eyes. Heath set the .game a-going and Thistle at once made for Chesnut but the ball was put behind. Aramoho made progress on the right, Tasked shooting past. Again the blues got moving on the left but Davidson intercepted. Not to be denied, they came again to secure a corner which was cleared and the greens were away to Walker’s and where Duke shot wide, Aramoho again returned but Head cleared. A minute later Tasker shot over. Thistle opened up play a bit. Dickson, drawing his opponents, slipped out to Thomson whose cross was perfectly timed and placed, Heath heading past Chesnut. This success gave the needed confidence and Thistle were again knocking at Chesnut’s charge. The left was again in evidence and another cross was just missed by Dashfield. Aramoho took a turn at attacking, securing a fruitless corner. A nice shot from Tasker found Walker waiting. At Chesnut’s end Kidd gave Dashfield a chance but his shot went the wrong side of the upright. Aramoho had again a turn at Walker but could not finish. Walker fielded all that came his way. Duke put wildly past on two occasions when well placed. Keeping well in the vicinity of Walker at this period the greens lost their chance when Afclnnis shot over. Thistle got moving on the right, Kidd letting Dashfield away, but that player parted to Upton, danger being averted by Chesnut running out to clear. Dickson tried a long drive but his elevation was too great. Keeping round Chesnut, Thistle had two attempts, through Puddle and Heath, but they went past. Wilson, putting tho ball well up the centre for Heath, saw Proudfoot deliberately handle. From Dickson’s placed kick Dashfield headed past Chesnut. Thistle were in the greens’ territory when the interval was called. —Thistle 2, Aramoho 0.

On resuming, Thistle took up the running, Kidd being the first to make an attempt but he missed. Heath shot over. Aramoho broke away on tho right and came the nearest to scoring so far, Tasker’s shot being caught by Kidd, the upright saving the situation. Duke got the rebound and put over. Two corners in succession fell to Thistle but brought no results. Again the greens tried their luck but Duke put over from a Tasker cross. Mclnnis, who could make nothing of Wilson, changed places with Duke. At Chesnut’s end again, the. Thistle had no luck. A free kick for Aramoho was cleared by Rowat. Thistle again swarmed round Chesnut, who have from Heath and Upton, Dashficld giving relief when he put past. Upton again secured a nice ball across, and Thomson, running in, boat Chesnut all the way. From tho kick Aramoho made ground. Tasker shot past with an open goal. Kidd let Upton away for that player to beat Chesnut with a nice shot from the sideline. With tho exception of a few breaks away by tho greens, Thistle were attacking and it. was no surprise when Heath made the total five from a Thomson cross. There was nothing further of interest till time was called: —Thistle 5, Aramoho 0. Athletic and Eastbrooke. These teams lined up on No. 2 ground, Eastbrooke fielding throe juniors. The teams were:— Athletic: Barron, Wade, Thomson, Robinson, Crumbley, A. Dear, 8011, Boyack, Beckett, E. Wilson, F. Dear. Eastbrooke: Stokes, Cooper, Taylor. Archibald. Jones, V. Clapham, Alackio, Ward, Killeen, L. Clapham and Quinn. The referee was Air. G. Fairclough. Athletic won tho toss and set their opponents to face the sun. From the kick Eastbrooke forced the play on the right but Thomson relieved. Boyack, getting possession, worked his way down but Cooper drew him up and returned to Quinn, who forced a corner which was cleared. Eastbrooke camo again and Ward had [the honour of scoring the first goal in the senior code in 1934. From tho

centre Athletic made ground but Crumbley missed. Alackie, on the Eastbrooke right, showed that he knew the game and gave Barron a hot on to hold. Quinn again tested Barron but found him quite safe. Athletic got down to within shooting distance but could not finish. Once they did find their range Stokes was kept busy saving shot from Crumbley, Dear and Beckett. E. Wilson fastened on a loose ball and slipped into Beckett who shot into an empty goal. On level terms again the whites played with more confidence and Stokes was called on to save from Bell. Eastbrooke were again testing Barron but he was on the alert. Athletic took up the running and gave the Eastbrooke defence no quarter, Stokes proving himself a hero. Beckett again scored from a gift from Boyack. There was no further scoring before the interval, av lien the score was: Athletic 2, Eastbrooka 1.

On resuming, Athletic made their presence felt. An F. Dear cross was put over by Beckett. Athletic were in their element bombarding Stokes from all quarters but to no avail. A cross from Quinn should have counted but tho ball was carelessly kicked against Barron. Bell and Boyack worked nicely down the right, Bell’s parting cross being met by E. Wilson right on the goal line for the number three. The same player jnit on another a minute later. Keeping up the pressure Beckett added to the total. Eastbrooke at this stage came into the picture but could not finish. At last Killeen found the goal from the right. Athletic again scored, a cross from F. Dear deceiving both Taylor and Stokes to

bounce through. The whistle sounded with the score: Athlettic 7, Eastbrooke Junior Games. The new junior formation played their first round games on No. 1 ground. Thistle met Alarists, who could only field about seven players. {Thistle had matters very much their own way and ran out easy winners by eight goals to one. On No. 2 ground. Rangers met Technical College. The College were not able to field their best eleven but still made a good fight of it. Rangers eventually won by three goals to one.