Wednesday June 16th 1976
Kelly’s Heroes
Super-sub (Greg) Kelly blasted in four well-taken goals in Ngaruawahia High School’s 8-1 win over St Pauls in the Waikato second division soccer competition.
The conditions were cold and the ground heavy.
Philip Jerry drove in the first goal for Ngaruawahia when the solid four-man defence line of St Pauls let a ball slip through and Jerry was driving through to put the ball away. St Pauls equalised from a well-constructed through ball and Ngaruawahia found themselves, at half time, still lucky to be in the game.
A slight rearrangement at the turn, with Kelly coming on for Farrell and a shuffling of positions, saw Ngaruawahia drive in seven more. Kani Te Wiata had moved out to the right wing with the halfback line adding Kelly; Barakat moving from halves to backs.
The switch brought immediate results with Te Wiata netting a fine oblique shot from a good Jerry pass. Alistair Bell maintained his good scoring momentum with one, and Kerry Barakat topped off the eight.
Perhaps the hardest of the competition to come is Hamilton Boys High and this match will probably lower the Ngaruawahia 7-1 goal scoring average. Grant Prendergast (Jumbo) has shown improvement in each game and should provide formidable opposition to Boys High strikers.