Wednesday 11 August
Cup Clincher for Ngaruawahia United
Waikato Division 2, Waitemata Cup
A banana shot by George Sunnex commenced his team’s 3-1 win over Putaruru on Saturday. Ngaruawahia United A.F.C. met Putaruru and United’s home ground on a firm pitch and under the scrupulously fair eye of a Huntly referee.
The match was the final game in a series of four for the Waitemata Cup between Mangakino, Te Kuiti, Waikeria, Putaruru and Ngaruawahia. Having lost only one point to Te Kuiti when they drew 1-1, Ngaruawahia heads the table with 7 out of a possible 8 points, undefeated.
However it was Putaruru who chose to play into the sun at the kickoff and were first to score. A nimble feat of dribbling and a close range shot had the Ngaruawahia backs and keeper at a loss. George Sunnex should have had the equalizer when his side-foot shot three feet from goal missed. Many more opportunities went begging for United in the first half but the Putaruru goalkeeper was safe.
After the turn Ngaruawahia began to dominate play and had the Putaruru players well discouraged with short passes. A ball cut back to winger Sunnex was hit with determination. The ball headed towards the Putaruru keeper then curled away towards the post. This caught the diving keeper unaware and United had equalised. From this point on it was nearly all Ngaruawahia.
On occasions the whole the United forward and half-back lines were caught napping on rapid breakaway forays by Putaruru but the defence of Frankhauser, MacDonald and Mark with Nightingale in goal, eclipsed and threat this may have been.
Ken Chisholm latched on to a loose ball in front of the goal and slipped it home amid threshing legs to give United the lead. Time and again United’s forward line hammered the goal with no further success. Late in the match an indirect free kick was awarded to United inside the penalty box about 16 yards out. Sandy MacDonald came forward to take the kick. His shot was aimed between the crouching keeper’s ankles and it spun through the keeper’s grasp for the final goal.
United had the pleasure of playing against a former United player, Sonny King, who now resides in Putaruru.
Ngaruawahia enters a new competition for the Collett Cup this Saturday by meeting Te Kuiti at Ngaruawahia at 2.00 p.m.