NUAFC 1968-2018

1974
Hamilton would still have taken the
game 3-2
Ngaruawahia wa s at a decided
disadvantage against Hamilton when
it came to ball control and Hamilton
had , all the say in mid-field.
Saturday's matches were the first
in the second round replays.
Waikato 2nd Division
Soccer
June 29th 1974
You make your own luck in soccer,
so it is said. And Fraser, with some
help from the referee, did just that
when they defeated Ngaruawahia by
two penalties to a field goal.
The first penalty taken by Fraser was
the result of a hand ball by fullback,
Dave Hall who deflected a shot that had
his keeper beaten. No argument—one nil.
The second came in the second hall
when fullback Ian Todd of Ngaruawahia
was penalised for allowing a Fraser
forward to back into him during a
corner.
Several good fingertip saves
were made by the Ngaruawahia
keeper and Sandy MacDonald
scissor­kicked away a ball that
was on its wa y over the goal
line. The Fraser keeper was
hardly extended as most of the
shots coming its way were high.
Ngaruwahia's goal was hotly
disp u t e d b y F r a s e r , w h o
claimed that the ball had not
crossed the line but the r e fer e e
was right up with play and
ruled it over.
Th e danger -man of th e Fraser
front line, Fisher, was ordered
from the field midway through the
second spell for continuing foul
tackles that culminated in him
kicking the keeper. His role as
striker was soon take ov e r b y
a n ot h e r for wa r d bu t the drive
had gone and the last 20 minutes
of the match saw all of the Fraser
team and 10 of the Ngaruawahia
team camped in Fraser territory.
The referee seemed to be nursing
the Fraser team along and
allowed many blatant fouls to go
un-heeded. The surprise came
when he awarded a direct free
kick in the penalty area and
allowed Fraser to form a wall
against it!
A Ngaruawahia player was
cautioned for placing his foot
where a Fraser player could step
on it!
Despite all this, Fraser showed
drive, determination, skill and
elation at beating Ngaruawahia
who could just not beat the odds.
Still with a chance
July 13th 1974
Ngaruawahia still has a chance
in the Marshall Cup soccer
competition. Only two points
behind Hamilton and having on e
gam e in hand they have given
Hamilton the challenge of
winning all of their next six
games.
T e Kuit i had scor ed in all
games this season until they met
Ngaruawahia for the second time.
Their first encounter was 1-1.
Player/coach, Dave Hall, is
slowly moulding Ngaruawahia
into a fluid side with each player
being able to i n t er chan ge a s
th e gam e flows, giving the
opposition no on e striker t o
con centrate their defence on.
Geoff Brunning cooll y
vol l e yed a ba l l pun ch ed clear
by Te Kuiti goalie and wa t c h e d
i t r i s e i n t o t h e r o o f o f t h e
n e t t o p u t Ngaruawahia up 1-0.
Shortl y a ft er Ch arles G or ma n
notched a 30 yarder from
immediately in front that sped
inside the left upright.
Ngar uawa h ia kept up,
constant pressure and played
som e good possessi on football
in the muggy conditions,
interpassing and developing
attacks from the fullbacks who
were often in striking positions.
Phi l l i p B ul l i va nt bea t t h e
T o Kuit i keeper t o a back-pass
to give his team th eir thir d
goa l . He wa s later substituted
by Alan Rose.
George Sunnex moved on for
Ian Todd who was suffering
from cracked ribs incurred the
previous week.
D a v e H a l l , t i m e a n d
again, proved his worth as a
defensive player and one wh o set
up pr obi n g a t ta cks on T e
Kuiti’s goa l , wi th good
r esults.
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