The Huntly Press
Wednesday 19th July 1978
Ngaruawahia High School Girls Soccer
Co-Leaders Trounced 3-1
The Ngaruawahia High School girls soccer team continued its unbeaten run of games by taking Hillcrest girls 3-1. Hillcrest and Ngaruawahia were joint leaders before the match, having won and drawn the same number of games.
Playing at home, Ngaruawahia went into a 2-0 early lead. Jo Keeley ran onto a through ball and snapped it past the Hillcrest keeper who came out to meet the challenge. The ball slipped into the bottom left corner, the only gap left by the keeper. The Hillcrest goalie was to prove the block against which many of the Ngaruawahia attacks faltered.
Jo’s second goal was very fortuitous when she worked the ball in from the left corner flag and her centering shot slipped under the keeper and into the goal 2-0.
Hillcrest came back when the local defense failed to clear a left-wing cross. It ran through and past three defenders. Keeper Diane Fairey had no chance with the close-range shot 2-1.
At this stage Hillcrest were more into the game. They passed the ball better and developed good attacking moves.
Ngaruawahia made two substitutions in the second half and the team looked much better. Sharon Mabbet played an improved game in defense, using her keeper with defensive back-passes that were safe and accurate. The forwards were given a lot of ball to work with from Robin Harris and Adriana Kaui but the last touch before shooting often put the ball too far ahead and the defense was safe.
The last goal came as Jo’s hat-trick, when she again broke through. The keeper came out to cut down the opportunity and Jo struck the ball between the keeper’s ankles to see it roll on casually through the goal 3- 1 .
Lynette Karina, Ngaruawahia’s barefoot winger, played well, although suffering from a cut toe. The strikers enthusiasm caught them off-side a number of times. Ngaruawahia only made partial use of the tonne of room available to them in mid-field when all of the Hillcrest strikers and halves were on attack.
The withdrawal of Fairfield No2. team leaves only Melville to play. This Saturday at 10 am, at the Ngaruawahia H.S. sees a friendly between Hamilton Girls High and Ngaruawahia. No doubt Ngaruawahia will not want to lose any matches this year – even in friendlies. The date the local girls have played 8, drawn 1, won 7, for 25 goals gained and 5 against – a good start for girls soccer at the school.
Soccer Results
Northern League
Lost 1-2 away to Ngongotaha. Ngaruawahia could not put away to goals that counted, having disallowed for infringements.
First Division:
Lost 0-2 to Hamilton in a scrappy game that did little for both teams. Jeff Coulshed, Hamilton’s volatile player clashed in a running battle on the ball with Ngaruawahia’s counterpart, George Sunnex, providing some excitement for spectators. Both Hamilton goals came in the first spell.
Third Division:
Defeated Te Awamutu 3-0 away.
Ladies:
The “A” team predictably downed the “B” team but by only 5 goals to nil. This helped Ngaruawahia “A” rectify the goal difference between them and Hamilton – now co-leaders with Ngaruawahia having the better goal difference.
Challenge:
The Sunday challenge between Northern League and a combined lst/3rd Division went 6-0 to the Northern League.