NUAFC 1968-2018

1972
According to plan Ngaruawahia stepped up
the pace in the second half to double the scoring. With
the forwards keeping just onside while Hamilton attacked
they were able to outsprint the defence when a long clear
-kick came their wa y. Neil G or man locked, onto
one of these t o g a i n t h e t h i r d g oal.
George Sunnex manufactured the fourth
when he worked the ball onto the goal-line 24 yards
from the goal and drove a curiousl y fl ighted ball
that dipped under the keeper and then rose to deflect
off Neil Gorman's chest into the net for the final
score.
Steve n M ark sci ssor-kicked a wa y
Hamilton's only promising shot off the line t o keep
Ngarua wahia's net clean of balls.
With two games played compared with all other
teams three matches (apart from Cambridge)
Ngaruawahia hold second place in the table.
Ngaruawahia XI held to a draw
Huntly Press
13th May 1972
In spite of a round trip of 7 00 m i l e s t o pla y for
his team, Ngaruawahia United's ace defender, Ian
Todd could not prevent Te Kuiti from taking a match point.
Ngaruawahia and Te Kuiti drew 1-1 in the
Waikato Second division soccer competition.
Te Kuiti certainly did not deserve to lose the
match as it played skilfully and with determination.
Ngaruawahia, missing Geoff Brunning, had no
strike in the forwards and there was a complete lack of
penetration.
Neil Gorman put Ngaruawahia ahead when
he hip-trapped a right-wing cross from Mike Liddle
and swung a snap shot across the goal into the net.
Te Kuiti had to wait until five minutes into the
second half before its centre forward, took a low, hard
cross to flick it powerfully into the net with his head from
six yards out.
Shades of National League
Waikato Times
13th May 1972
Despite a round trip of 700 miles to play
for his team, Ngaruawahia Unit e d ’ s d e f e n d e r ,
I a n Todd, could not prevent Te Kuiti from taking a
match point from table leaders Ngarua wahia
wh en they drew 1-1 on Saturday in, the Waikato
second division soccer competition.
Te Kuiti certainly did not deserve to lose the
match as they played skillfully and with determination.
Ngaruawahia, missing Geoff Brunning, had no strike
in the forwards with a complete lack of
penetration. Neil Gorman put Ngaruawahia ahead
When he hip-trapped a right-wing cross from Mike
Liddle who swung a snap shot across the goal into
the nett.
Te Kuiti had to wait until five minutes into
the second half before their centre-forward took a
low, hard cross - to flick it power­fully into the nett with
his head from six yards out.
The match was clean and hard with several Te
Kuiti players sustaining injuries.
The only negati ve aspect of the whole game
was the vocalising of the Te Kuiti spectators who
urged their t ea m on t o wi n wi t h the
recommendations of some very dubious tactics.
Needl ess t o sa y, the T e Kui ti p l a y e r s
c o n t i n u e d t o play good football.
Ngaruawahia's draw. enabled Hamilton to take
the l ea d by on e poin t. Cam bridge notched its
first point with a draw away to Waikeria 4 7 3. A
determined Otorohanga squad got the match of
Cameron and held them to a 1-1 draw. Hamilton and
Fraser had relatively easy wins over their opponents
with Putaruru taking Te Awamutu.
In a , fr i en dl y Sun da y match at Centennial
Park, Ngar uawa h i a pla ye d A ffco and
despite the form of Ian I n n e s i n A f f c o
g o a l , Ngaruawahia ended up, with a 6-1 win.
John McGuinness saved Affco from a duck
with United's scores coming off the boots of
Joe Murphy, Tony Armstrong, Charlie Gorman
(2) and Mike Liddle (2).
Vela Ensures Another Win
Huntly Press
3rd June 1972
Peter Vela ensured Ngaruawahia another win
when it met Otorohanga in soccer at Ngaruawahia.
Always searching for and driving with the ball he
was a constant threat and was unlucky not to net three
shots, other than the one he obtained in the first
half, to score the only goal of the match.
This 1-0 win was no indication of play.
Ngaruawahia camped in its opponent's half for the best
part of the game. Otorohanga was no serious threat to the
Ngaruawahia defence, even though it looked as though it
was at sixes and sevens from the sideline.
Rex Nightingale was never once fully tested
in goal. Shortly after kick-off a quick raid by
Otorohanga resulted in a race for the ball between
Nightingale and Otorohanga centre forward and the
ensuing collision had no effect on the solid Ngaruawahia
keeper. The forward kept a more respectful distance
thereafter.
The link-men and forwards received sufficient
ball to prove dangerous but good keeping by Otorohanga
kept the net clear. In the second half Otorohanga pulled out
all stops. This game was its one chance to move into the top
six teams to escape being drawn into the B division when
the competition is split. It could not pull it off and is
almost certainly in the bottom echelon..
Ngaruawahia's win and the obliging draw from
Hamilton and Fraser sees Ngaruawahia ahead of t he
field by t wo clear points with one game in hand still.
With only one round to play the teams in the top and
bottom sections are already obvious. Otorohanga can
move up only if Te Kuiti loses and Otorohanga wins by
an astronomical margin.
Fraser, playing on its home ground against
Ngaruawahia on Saturday, will be looking forward with
tireless play and a small field to cramping the leader's
style.
FOOTBALLING EVENTS FROM 1972
Poland beat Hungary 2-1 in the World Cup Finals.
Mount Wellington top the table in the NZ National
League, pipping Bay Olympic on goal difference.
Ian Ormond of Blockhouse Bay tops the National
League goalscoring record with 22 goals.
in the NZ Chatham Cup competition finals Mount
Wellington and Christchurch United needed two replays
to find the winner. First encounter was a 4-4 draw.
Second encounter was a 1-1 draw. The third round was
won by Christchurch 2-1. All three games were played
in Auckland.
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