The Huntly Press
Wednesday 31st May 1978
GAME OF CONTRASTS IN NGARUAWHIA
Ngaruawahia United provided a well-grassed pitch for their Northern league match against Ngongotaha in the Southern section soccer competition. In six matches, this was United’s second home game of the season, one previous encounter being postponed when opponents Taupo were committed to an Adidas match.
With a strong showing behind them in drawing 1-1 with Unicol the previous week, United were looking to climb above Ngongotaha, who were placed 1 point and two positions clear on the table.
The visitors started well and made United look like a weak Waikato 3rd division side. Neville Sharp netted for Ngongotaha after only 5 minutes. The goal looked perfectly legal but the linesman had signalled for an infringement and the goal consequently disallowed.
Ngongotaha continued to pressure United with well-constructed buildups down the left wing and through the centre. However the United defense held solid through Bowers, Magee and Sturm with Finn in Goal, as well as two missed chances.
United was not above making spasmodic forays from Jeff McLaughlan, Jeff Tozer and Mike Heappey coming close. During these brief eqisodes the visitor’s defense looked decidedly suspect, but United could not capitalize on this point with passes and tackles going astray. The first half was competed with no goals from either team. Too many watching, it was just going to be time before Ngongotaha started their scoring.
Second half
The second half saw the beginning of a complete reversal of forms – United started to click and spar with Ngongotaha collapsing Within the first five minutest United started an attack down the left wing with 460
McLaughlan snapping an infield pass to Mike Heappey who cracked it first-time into the net to start United’s scoring. Thirty seconds later an identical move saw the ball strike the lower edge of the cross-bar and it was scrambled clear. United were all fired up by then. Passes were finding men and tackles and challenges were becoming more effective. A busy George Paul had an effective shot well smothered shortly before Mike Heappey netted his second after working the ball through the defense and blasting from 5 metres. 2-0 to United. Two minutes later Jeff McLaughlan had a chip shot tipped over the bar with the keeper at full stretch.
In the 70th minute Jeff Tozer followed Mike Heappey’s example, worked the ball through towards the right-hand upright and scorched home a far-post
shot. It took Ngongotaha 80 minutes to gain their goal when a free kick slid through to Jim Reeder at the far post and he was untroubled to slid the ball under Finn’s diving body. In the last minute Jeff McLaughlan was rewarded for his hard work an own goal from the visitor’s defense. His far-post shot had goal written on it all the way, but a despairing attempt at a block with a foot by Ngongotaha merely changed the direction of the ball into the net. United won 4-1. Tony Armstrong substituted Jeff McLaughlan in the last 30 seconds and did not even get a sniff at the ball. He is now called “short sub.”
United now move from 5th to 3rd on the table and meet Turangi at home. First encounter resulted in a 4-0 win to United over Turangi, who are still bottom of the league with a single point from a draw with Tauranga. Other division results: Unicol 1 , Fraser 1, Turangi 1, Tauranga ?
Huntly Junior Soccer Re-Started
The weather was kind to our boys last weekend, at the restart of the competition, after the school holidays.
The 7th grade did not play, due to a bye and it’s hoped they will be able to field a team next weekend. 9th grade B. had one of their hardest games of the season, at home against Ngaruawahia-Affco, losing 4-0. In the first 5 minutes the visitors scored a goal, after a great individual effort by one of their players. Fifteen minutes later after a mix up in front of our goal, the opposition banged in their second goal followed by a third, again due to a defensive mistake.
In the second half our lads started to exert themselves much more and were holding the visitors in their own half. Leon Currall, captain for the day, along with fullbacks Ebin Wilson and Clifford Brett deserve a special mention for their play in breaking up the opponents attacks. Darren Abraham played well in the forward line and showed determination in winning the ball. Three minutes from time, Huntly failed to clear the ball and front of goal and Ngaruawahia snatched their fourth and final goal.