Wednesday, August 25th 1976
Blaze of Goals by Fraser
Waikato 1st Division
Ngaruawahia United, trailing league leaders Fraser by one point, finished the round among a blaze of goals, against Fraser. The eight goals scored in the encounter had the supporters present at Fraser High School applauding as each one struck the netting. The only sad part of the 90 minutes was that Ngaruawahia only netted one of them!
Fraser, utilising the foibles of their small ground to the utmost, played Ngaruawahia off the pitch, being faster to the ball on every occasion and more enterprising and constructive in their attacking plays. Fraser was also superior in their control of the ball in the air and gained several goals in this manner.
Ngaruawahia appeared as a learner team and were not a patch on their former selves, as when they beat Claudlands 1-0 and drew 2-2 with Hamilton. Fraser thoroughly deserved their 7-1 win and their position at the top of the table.
Delta Drycleaners player of the day went to United goalkeeper Murray Liddle who had a torrid time throwing himself at the shots blasted towards him from the eager Fraser strikers. On three occasions Fraser struck the pipe-work of the goal and Liddle recovered to intercept the following shots.
United have done better this season with only three losses behind them and seven draws that could easily have gone either way. Fraser has been the only team to have taken Ngaruawahia twice, the other being Hamilton once.
Hamilton and Cambridge are still to meet each other this Saturday and either of them will have to have a large winning margin to take the lead on goal average off Fraser who are on 23 points, Hamilton and Cambridge 21, Claudlands and Ngaruawahia 20.
The defeat occurred in Ngaruawahia’s 13th game, the previous 12 being without loss.