NUAFC 1968-2018

resulted in a 3-2 win to the Dynamos at
Ngaruawahia on Sunday. Mac Koni,
Bruce McIntosh and Dan Solomon
netted for the home team.
Ngaruawahia Unlucky in
Soccer
The Huntly Press
Wednesday July 6th, 1977
Ngaruawahia-Affco United
were extremely unlucky to come away
with only one match point against
league leaders Central of Auckland in
their Northern League 4th division
encounter at the Ngaruawahia High
School. However much Central looked
like footballers it was United who
provided the exciting scoring
opportunities that should have given
them the match.
With the wind United came
close in the opening minutes when an
accurate centred ball from Mike
Liddle found Charlie Gorman right in
front of the Central goal, and he headed
over the top from 2 metres out! From
early on United looked dangerous on
the through ball and stretched the
Central defence.
It was Central who netted first
when a right-wing corner was nodded
back to the halves. The United
defenders had come off their line and
watched the shot nestle into the bottom
left corner beyond the diving keeper.
George Sunnex showed his worth on
the left wing when he fought for
possession shortly after the opening
goal, took the ball right up to the
Central goal-line and then drove his
shot sharply across the face of the goal
to see it go in off the legs of the keeper
for the 1-1 halftime score. Charlie
Gorman nearly had another in this half
when he raced the keeper for a floating
through ball, won it, and saw it skim
just wide of the post from his glancing
header.
Mike Liddle again proved his
value for United when he chased a
through ball almost to the right-wing
corner and centred over the keeper for
George Sunnex to knee into the roof
of the net from on the line for a 2-1
advantage that looked to be lost when
keeper Rod Hill fouled a Central
striker and then smothered the resultant
penalty. Not satisfied with this save,
Rod gave the impression that it might
be nice to save another, and was caught
pushing a Central attacker while trying
to get at a corner. Central equalized at
2-2.
Player of the day Ken
Murray enjoyed his spoiler role in
defence and in one instance
materialised from seemingly nowhere
to hook a ball clear that was on its way
over the line from a fierce shot that
eluded the United keeper. Haniff
substituted Coyne at right back and
showed his ability to shoot for goal
from 40 or more yards, as did John
Brown whose direct free kick from 45
yards out cracked off the crossbar and
eluded four United forwards.
George Sunnex nearly had
his hat-trick when he collected in a
loose dropping ball and pushed it wide
from 3 metres out. United deserved the
2 points but were reasonably happy
taking one off the team that had beaten
them 3-1 previously. The return of
Phillip Bullivant gave some bite to
the forward line with Eddie
Carrigan showing renewed confidence
over last week.
John Brown had a quiet day
in mid-field, the Central players not
allowing much room for him to gain
effective distribution. Malcolm
Sowerby worked tirelessly in his own
unobtrusive manner, supporting and
distributing.
If the general tightening up of
United’s game can be attributed to
anyone, that person must be Ken
Murray, who was everywhere. He had
the confidence-boosting ability to be
exactly where he was wanted to assist
in the smothering of numerous Central
attacks. Central’s desire to get the ball
in as close as possible was their
undoing, allowing the “tackle and
cover” defensive movement of United
greater scope with Ken Murray
mopping up any and every loose ball
putting his forwards away on attack.
Referee Terry Woods allowed
the game free flow, and controlled it in
a manner that apprehended rough play
but permitted a fast, flowing pattern
with solid, legal tackles that both teams
appreciated.
Cargo Steady in 2-0 Loss
An example of the up-andcoming
talent in the Ngaruawahia-
Affco United Soccer Club was
illustrated on Saturday by Jason
Cargo, captain of the club 2nd
division. Immediately following his
second division match against
Morrinsville (lost 0-1) he turned out for
the 1st division squad against
Claudelands Rovers as a defensive
sweeper. He effectively stopped
Rover’s drives through the middle of
the field, thereby preventing potential
scoring opportunities from the
attackers.
Rovers, lying 4th, and United,
propping up the table, met at
Ngaruawahia on a firm surface and it
was Rovers who were the favourites
and proved their superiority by netting
in each half. Goalkeeper Sandy
MacDonald was kept on his toes but
had confident support in Burt, Cargo
and Frankhouser in front of him.
Rovers took their first from an acute
angle that flashed home at the far post.
United’s nearest moment can
and went when an angled drive was
1977
reflexed off the line by the Rovers
defence with the keeper well beaten.
Ngaruawahia nearly equalised from the
tenacity of Steve Williams when the
keeper fumbled and recovered to tip the
second shot over the bar.
Rovers second goal came
from an off-side movement that went
unobserved by the referee when he was
30 metres downfield, and who overruled
the linesman.
United players to stand out
were Paul McLennan, Ian Todd,
Jason Cargo and Sandy MacDonald
who was awarded the Delta
Drycleaning Player of the Day for his
confidence-boosting goalkeeping.
Third division lost 0-1 to
Morrinsville and 4th division went
down 0-5.
Ngaruawahia-Affco
Concedes Six Goals
The Huntly Press
Wednesday July 13th, 1977
After scoring first from the
penalty spot via John Brown,
Ngaruawahia United were found
wanting in defence and conceded six
goals to Otara Rangers in Auckland.
Keeper Rodney Hill and his
defence offered goal after goal to the
Otara strikers who obliged with four in
the first half and two in the second. It
was not the same Hill who had played a
blinder of a game against High School
Old Boys, who came of the pitch at
Otara. He seemed to lack confidence
when handling the ball and this
contagion affected the rest of the team,
degenerating them into a defensive
muddle.
Ken Murray was again
awarded player of the day but gained
little support from his fellow defenders.
The Otara wingers had a field day,
being able to run at will. Perhaps
United blamed the small mud-covered
pitch, but Otara made the most of it to
climb 7 points clear of United.
This Saturday United are at
home to Tokoroa. At last meeting
Tokoroa waltzed in nine goals to none
in an impressive performance and
United will be only too eager to wipe
that memory off the slate.
Penalty Kicking Competition
The Ngaruawahia-Affco
United Club will be holding a penalty
kicking competition amongst its own
players on Sunday. First, second, third
and fourth division plus the ladies team
and the northern league squad will be
competing for prizes in the competition
that will boost the building fund.
Each entrant will take a predetermined
number of penalties against
his or her own keeper, and in this way
all teams and players have an equal
opportunity to win.
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