The Huntly Press
Wednesday 22nd March 1978
NGARUAWAHIA UNITED MAKES FINALS
Last Sunday Ngaruawahia-Affco United soccer club accepted a cheque for $150 from the Cambridge pre-season soccer tournament organisers when they finished as runners-up to Auckland University in the final.
The previous week United had made it through the preliminary games with two wins and a draw and last Sunday met Rotorua Suburbs in the semi-finals. The game was only 15 minutes old when Suburbs conceded a left-wing corner and it was Malcolm Burt who floated over an inswinger right onto the head of Mike Heapphy who had had risen above the defense and the keeper to head into the centre of the goal for the only score of the game.
Jeff Tozer had the effective task of marking the tall Suburbs striker out of the game. Goalkeeper Sean Finn was the mainstay of the United defense and pulled off many spectacular saves and punching clear with authority. He kept the net clear for United to go through to the final with a 1-0 by-line.
Two hours later the finalists, Ngaruawahia-Affco United of the Northern League 4th Division and Auckland University’s newly promoted Northern League 2nd division squad, met in an exciting final.
Although United had more opportunities to score than did University, it was the University team that made the most of theirs and ran out as fitter players. United’s midfielder Mike Liddle cracked off one good shot that the Varsity keeper did well to turn around the post. Varsity won the match with a well-taken goal that left three United defenders prostrate.
Ben Henkel lead an enthusiastic band of supporters for United which must have added a bit of curry to the play. United showed an improved team on their 1977 efforts and should do well this season in the League.
United’s squad comprised Finn, Coyne, Williams, Murray, Burt, Liddle, Tozer, Dorman, Gorman, Brown, Carrigan, Heapphy, Cargo and McLaughlan, coached by Dave Hall.