The Huntly Press
Wednesday 20th September 1978
Ngaruawahia Scares East Coast Bays
Over this past soccer season, East Coast Bays won their way into the Northern League 1st division by winning the second division. They, along with Ngaruawahia United, were entered in the post-season Tokoroa tournament along with nineteen other teams from national, northern and Waikato leagues.
Ngaruawahia played three matches on the Saturday in their efforts to go forward to the semi-finals this weekend. In these games they scored seven goals to one with John Brown netting six and Mike Liddle the other.
United eliminated Wanderers of the northern league 3rd division 2-0, the same score they had beaten them by in the previous week’s friendly. United looked a most enterprising team compared with Wanderers stereotyped and uninteresting performance. Goals came in the 45th and 50th minutes.
Also in this preliminary round Mount Wellington beat Claudelands Rovers 3-2, and Tokoroa “B” surprised all by downing Tauranga City 1-0, Tokoroa saving a penalty.
In the 1st round proper Ngaruawahia 4 beat Tokoroa “B” 0; East Coast Bays 2 beat Mount Wellington 1; Fraser were given the game against Melville with an own-goal (1-0) and Manukau City took Pakuranga Town.
Ngaruawahia having two games behind them to East Coast Bays one, were determined not to let their tiredness drop their standard of football, in an effort to get through to the semi-finals. However there were two factors that were to determine the outcome – extra-time and the referee stopping his watch whenever the ball went out of play!
Ngaruawahia started well and pressured the Bay’s goal for the first 10 minutes with shots coming close, especially John Brown’s brutal angled shot being tipped around the bar by the keeper. In the 15th minute the Bay broke through and there was only keeper Shaun Finn to beat. A mighty reflex save gave away a corner and Ngaruawahia were forced to soak up the resultant pressure, which they did well.
John Brown broke away in the 27th minute and United were ahead. The second half saw a worried East Coast Bays team trailing the 4th division Ngaruawahia country boys and some niggling play crept in. On three occasions the Bay thanked their lucky stars with desperate clearances off the line with the keeper well beaten.
The time was up (no injuries) and all the pressure was coming from Ngaruawahia who refused to play a negative game by packing their defense, but went out for further goals. But the whistle did not come. Then came the equaliser from a break-away 1-1. With no extra time, penalties were taken and the unlucky Ngaruawahia team lost by 3 penalties to 4, and lost the chance of a place in the semi-finals.
An inquest by referees and organisers into why the game went longer than scheduled was held, but the result was upheld by the Tokoroa committee.
If nothing else came from the day, it was that Ngaruawahia have nothing to fear in 1979 from any opposition; and under the continued guidance of Dave Hall, should fare well with an excellent chance for promotion to the 3rd division in 1980.
All players had exceptional games. Team Finn, Dornan, Williams, Tozer, Burt, Paul, Cargo, Liddle, Gorman, Brown, Mc Laughlan, Murray and Heappey.
This weekend Ngaruawahia Meets Taupo in the northern league (south) playoff in Tokoroa.
Its Been a Great Year For Ngaruawahia AFFCO
The Ngaruawahia-Affco United soccer club have had a good year to look back on in 1978. Perhaps not in honours won, but more importantly in the consolidation of teams and the development of players within the teams.
The cream of any sports club is its senior team, and that team’s “glory” is a direct reflection on the development of the other teams in junior and senior grades.
With Dave Hall’s appointment as senior coach at the beginning of 1978, the northern league squad have slowly but deliberately moulded themselves into enterprising footballers capable of taking on any team and acquitting themselves well. This showed up in the Tokoroa tournament when they downed Wanderers (3rd division) and scared the pants off East coast Bays (winners 2nd division).
The clubs Waikato 3rd division took their title, and the 1st division grew in strength as the year progressed. All junior grades were well supported and the Ladies teams gave good entertainment and football.