Wednesday, May 12, 1971
Wanderers Supporter Interferes
A goal from the boot of Allan Rose in the first half of the Wanderers-United clash at Centennial Park brought United its first points of the season.
Playing at home to a zestful Wanderers team, Ngaruawahia United showed themselves to be a most capable team at defence. Often were the defence called upon to extract United from precarious positions, and this they did quite coolly and confidently. They played with four defenders and found that the position of centre-back was having the dampening effect that was wanted against the opponents’ attack.
Ngaruawahia still could not find the attacking answer in their forwards and chances went begging although Harry Docherty came close on several occasions with swinging drives. United scored from a movement created by Malcolm Burt, who carried the ball down to the defenders’ goal-line and then cut it across for Allan Rose to right-foot into the corner.
Wanderers tried hard with their through ball, but were repeatedly smothered before any dangerous attack formed. Their goal to equalise came from a similar move to United’s, but at closer range. They had drawn one of the backs out of position and shot the ball into the gap for a forward to give Rex Nightingale no chance.
Rex Nightingale played an excellent game and coolly saved three times under considerable pressure. David Sidney worked very well at centre-half, supplying George Sunnex with good passes. Neil Gorman was not his usual snappy self, but made good openings for Harry Docherty.
An incident that occurred much to United’s annoyance was when a Wanderers supporter interfered with a throw-in by grabbing Allan Rose just as he was about to throw, thus curtailing a promising move. This was surely carrying the role of supporter to extreme lengths!
Team – Defence: R. Nightingale, M. Frankhauser, A. MacDonald, B. White; linkmen: M. Burt, A. Rose, D. Sidney; forwards: S. Bell, G. Sunnex, H. Docherty, N. Gorman. Reserves: T. Janssen, R. Berryman.