NUAFC 1968-2018

1970
On Saturday, Ngaruawahia United AFC came within
a foot of winning their first match of the season against Te
Awamutu at Ngaruawahia.
Determined to score first in the match, United
commenced with vigour and good ball play until they were
rewarded in the tenth minute when a cross from Bill Heslop
on the left wing found a hard-running Clive Turner on the
edge of the penalty area. Without changing stride he powered
the ball up into the roof of the net to score his first goal of the
season.
Te Awamutu answered back with two quick
powerful goals from break-away movements in midfield. But
minutes from the end of the first half United retaliated.
United gained a free kick ten yards outside the Te Awamutu
goal area. The ball was chipped high into the air, the keeper
fumbled, and Charlie Gorman scored.
United played into the sun in the second spell and
lost a lot of the early confidence they had and allowed Te
Awamutu too much possession.
The visitors used the through ball very intelligently
and had Sandy MacDonald running in circles trying to keep
tabs on the centre forward. The visitors scored next with a
low hard drive through the legs of United’s keeper. Shortly
after, Jim McCaig followed a lofted ball into the opponent’s
area, unsighted the keeper and pushed the ball home.
With the score at 3-all both teams tried for the
winner, with Te Awamutu gaining it. Score 4-3 to Te
Awamutu.
Ngaruawahia Nearly Won
The Huntly Press, Wednesday 29th April, 1970
Ngaruawahia had two squandered chances during
the match when an inside forward was found wanting, failing
to follow up any through ball. Such was the case when the
ball was only just cleared off the visitor’s line in a gaolmouth
melee.
Jim McCaig and Charlie Gorman worked hard in
the forwards and assisted in every move. Barry White and
Maurice Frankhouser were kept extremely busy in the
backs trying to contain the surges of the Te Awamutu
forwards.
Ngaruawahia meets Putaruru in a home game next
Saturday on the High School grounds at 3:30pm. Any
supporters?
OWN GROUNDS
Much work has been done by members of the club
on their new ground at Centennial Park. Under the direction
of Joe Templeton, an international sized field was surveyed
and accurately marked out. The old, cracked cricket pitch in
the centre of the field has been lifted and the hole filled.
The small concrete-block building [on] the ground
has been cleared out and tidied up, with interior painting
started. A second marking of the paddock now needs doing to
give permanence to it.
Shortly the children at Waipa School will see the
posts up and then be able to try to emulate some of what they
see on TV on a Sunday afternoon.
On Saturday, Ngaruawahia United A.F.C. drew with
Mangakino 2-2 on the High School ground. Looking a far
better side than they did the previous week, United played, at
times, intelligent football.
The play see-sawed for the first ten minutes until
each team had found the other’s weaknesses. United gained
several free kicks within scoring range of their opponent’s
goal, but nothing happened.
United opened their account from a free-kick inside
the penalty box. George Sunnex chipped the ball onto the
head of Sandy MacDonald, who had his attempt blocked;
however the rebounding ball met Sandy’s left foot and the
ball was in.
With the incentive of a goal United moved on a pace
and had the visitors harassed. Two further hard drives from
Sandy were well covered by the keeper.
Ngaruawahia and Mangakino Draw
The Huntly Press, Wednesday 6th May, 1970
Mangakino scored soon after when the ball was
flashed under United’s diving keeper.
With more heart than they had to start with,
Ngaruawahia pressured the Mangakino goal into many
mistakes and earned another goal off the boot of George
Sunnex. Ngaruawahia thought they had another when a chip
shot from Sandy MacDonald was flicked over the bar by
Barret in goal.
Two minutes from time, Wills of Mangakino broke
free of the United defence and headed for the goal. His shot
crossed the goal, hit the upright and rebounded into play.
United’s keeper Rex Nightingale stood and watched him
replay the ball into the back of the net. Final score 2-2.
This week United travel to Putaruru to try to
increase their points total (which now stands at one) this
Saturday.
Ngaruawahia United’s home ground is at last taking
shape on Centennial Park, Ngaruawahia. Sunday mornings
find the senior club members hard at work levelling the field
and consolidating lines with oil.
At 2 p.m. each Sunday the town team have a practice
match against the High School boys. These matches are
keenly fought, last Sunday’s efforts giving Allan Rose a
broken collar-bone and an enforced lay-up for a few weeks.
Such matches bring out the best in the schoolboys and develop
them a little more quickly than otherwise.
Neil Gorman (shooting), Stephen Mark (tackling),
Mark Snowden (chipping) and Alan Cotter (tackling and
Field Takes Shape
The Huntly Press, Wednesday 20th May, 1970
dribbling) have been among the first to show out in these
practice sessions. Stephen Barr has so far this year been the
backbone of the team and is their driving force.
The boys are keen to see the support that was given
to them on Sunday by the number of spectators and their cars
that ranged along the fence outside the grounds.
The schoolboys recommence their matches on May
30, with the juniors playing at home and the seniors in
Hamilton.
United now await the mowing of the park by the
Council so they can get an accurate idea of the irregularity of
the field prior to filling.
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