NUAFC 1968-2018

1978
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 15th March 1978
Through to Semi-finals in Soccer
Scoring ten goals and having only one scored against
them in three games, the Ngaruawahia-Affco United soccer
team won its way through to the semi-finals of the Cambridge
pre-season tournament last Sunday.
In the tournament, entrants not in the Northern
League were given a goal lead before the kick-off.
Ngaruawahia’s opponents were Matamata, Te Awamutu and
Cambridge ,and as all were non-league teams, Ngaruawahia
started each game by being down 0- 1 .
Matamata were the only team to score against United,
and Cambridge took United almost to full time before John
Brown hit home the equaliser.
Results of Ngaruawahia-Affco United’s games –
Matamata 2 United 4; Te Awamutu 1 United 5; Cambridge 1
United 1.
The three other successful teams to make it through
to this Sundays semi-finals were Auckland University,
Claudelands Rovers and Rotorua Suburbs. Ngaruawahia meets
Suburbs at 11.00 a.m. on Sunday.
All games are being played at Cambridge.
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 22nd March 1978
NGARUAWAHIA UNITED MAKES
FINALS
Last Sunday Ngaruawahia-Affco United soccer club
accepted a cheque for $150 from the Cambridge pre-season
soccer tourna­ment organisers when they finished as runnersup
to Auckland University in the final.
The previous week United had made it through the
preliminary games with two wins and a draw and last Sunday
met Rotorua Sub­urbs in the semi-finals.
The game was only 15 minutes old when Suburbs
conceded a left-wing corner and it was Malcolm Burt who
floated over an in-swinger right onto the head of Mike
Heapphy who had had risen above the defence and the keeper
to head into the centre of the goal for the only score of the
game.
Jeff Tozer had the effective task of marking the tall
Suburbs striker out of the game. Goalkeeper Sean Finn was
the mainstay of the United defence and pulled off many
spectacular saves and punching clear with authority. He kept
the net clear for United to go through to the final with a 1-0 by
-line.
Two hours later the finalists, Ngaruawahia­-Affco
United of the Northern League 4th Division and Auckland
University’s newly promoted Northern League 2nd division
squad, met in an exciting final.
Although United had more opportunities to score
than did University, it was the University team that made the
most of theirs and ran out as fitter players. United’s midfielder
Mike Liddle cracked off one good shot that the Varsity
keeper did well to turn around the post.
Varsity won the match with a well-taken goal that left
three United defenders prostrate.
Ben Henkel led an enthusiastic band of supporters
for United which must have added a bit of curry to the play.
United showed an improved team on their 1977 efforts and
should do well this season in the League.
United’s squad comprised Finn, Coyne, Williams,
Murray, Burt, Liddle, Tozer, Dorman, Gorman, Brown,
Carrigan, Heapphy, Cargo and McLaughlan, coached by
Dave Hall.
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 29th March 1978
Third Division Soccer Tournament
at Ngaruawahia
Eight Waikato teams gather at Centennial Park
on Sunday April 2, for the first round of games in
the Ngaruawahia-Affco United Ronnie Johnson
memorial trophy tournament.
Cambridge, Fraser, Hillcrest, Morrinsville,
Ngaruawahia, Te Aroha, Tokoroa and Unicol will be
providing a feast of games to sort out the top four for the semifinals
on April 9.
Twelve games in two groups will commence at 9.30
am and conclude at about 5.00pm. The two top teams in each
group will advance to the following weekend.
The entrants are based on whether or not the
teams played the 1977 season in the Waikato 3rd division
competition. Games are of 65 minutes duration with
10 minutes between matches, played on two pitches.
All set for Northern league matches
With a successful run in the Cambridge pre-season
tournament behind them and several pre-season friendlies
played to sort out weak spots, Ngaruawahia­Affco United are
all set for their foray into the newly formed Southern section
of the Northern League.
Under the influence of Dave Hall, the squad already
look a lot better than their 1977 image. Defender Eddie
Carrigan has shown early form in his skilful ball control in
tight situations with goalkeeper Sean Finn a proud addition to
the team. Sean represented Waikato last season in goal. Mike
Liddle is still looking good, and is showing some more mature
aggression that will serve the team well in mid-field.
A couple of schoolboys who are being closely
watched for a senior berth are Dean Haggie and Glen
Solomon – excellent ball distributors. Jason Cargo, who had
several games for the Northern League last year is currently
the backbone of the 1st division team (Reserves) and will,
in all probability, become a regular for the seniors. Ken
Murray, who excels in a defensive sweeper role shows added
confidence in the overlapping fullback role and becoming a
striker.
United travel south to Turangi for their first match on
Saturday. Other teams in the southern section are Rotorua,
Ngongotaha, Taupo, Tauranga, Fraser and Unicol.
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 5th April 1978
GORMANS SCORE THREE
Neil and Charlie Gorman featured exclusively in the
goal-tally when Ngarua­wahia-Affco United defeated Turangi
3-0 in the first round of the Northern league soccer
tournament. Charlie netted the first before being injured off
with a broken ankle and brother Neil waited until the second
half before adding his two opportunist goals.
United found the Turangi team full of life but lacking
in experience, a factor not assisted by their relative isolation.
Their two players to stand out were the keeper and K. Fleet,
striker. The pitch was hard and dry (whose wasn’t) and it was
United who found the breaks going their way.
The 3-0 scoreline does not give a true indication of
the run of play as United’s keeper Sean Finn had the best
brought out of him on occasions, one particular volley he
acrobatically tipped over the bar.
In the first half Mike Heapphy squared a ball into
United’s new lanky striker, Jason Cargo, who was robbed of
the ball by the Turangi backs. The back-pass was intercepted
by Cha’s Gorman who walked it into the net for the only goal
of the first half.
Mike Heapphy spent the best part of the match
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