NUAFC 1968-2018

1978
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 17th May 1978
NGARUAWAHIA SOCCER
NORTHERN LEAGUE
With the match against Taupo being postponed
(Taupo playing A.T.G. Waiouru in an Adidas cup game), and
Fraser being in a similar position, a friendly was arranged at
Ngaruawahia between the two teams.
In their previous encounter in competition, Ngaruawahia
United had come from behind in the last few minutes
for a 3-2 win. No doubt both teams were using the occasion
for experimentation with positions and players, and as nothing
hinged on the result (with the exception of club pride) a more
relaxed atmosphere was present.
Dave Hall, United’s coach, watched closely the two
“new boys,” Barkley Magee and Doug Sturm, both past
players of United. Both were run in the back-line alongside
Tim Coyne and Graham Bowers, veteran defenders. Midfielder
Geoff Tozer was moved forward to partner Tony
Armstrong as twin strikers.
United showed a good bustling defence and
intelligent build-up, centred around Jason Cargo and Steve
Williams. Fraser were, in total, better ball players but could
not overcome United’s pressure, despite having a large slice of
mid-field possession.
Geoff Tozer netted United’s first, and Ken Murray
curled a shot onto the bar for Tony Armstrong to head home
the rebound for a 2-0 first half. Jason Cargo came close in the
second when his header from Liddle’s cross was scrambled
off the line, and Ken Murray’s snap-shot was beautifully
saved.
Tim Coyne kneed the ball into his own net when
Sean Finn misread a crossed ball and the defence tried to
clear the bouncing ball. Final score 2-1 to United.
1st DIVISION
United met Hamilton’s National. League Reserve
team and held them to 1-0 at the turn before bravely going
down 6-0. There was no argument that Hamilton would win,
the only doubt being the winning margin. United had more
control of the match than the scoreline suggests with Glen
Solomon having a good foray in centre-field .
As better ball-players, Hamilton patiently opened up
the weaknesses in United’s defence for scoring opportunities.
Mel Riches, playing his second match for the squad was a
steadying influence in the backs. Ian Innes had a courageous
day in goal, facing two penalties and saving one, the other
squeezing in under his arm.
The game was played at a fast clip and gradually
United’s fitness was shown as suspect. New signing from
Cameron, Dick Anderson, had a solid match in the backs and
looks like being hard to remove in future games. David Bell
showed up well as did George Paul.
United were given more than a chance of building up
good attacks, only to crumble against the Hamilton back line.
3rd DIVISION
Against Te Awamutu, United made almost no
showing on Saturday with a 4-1 loss. It was a team of
disjointed puppets playing a young fit squad who used the
wind to advantage. A 1-1 halftime result was quickly taken to
2-1 and held until the last few minutes when two more were
added by Te Awamutu. Trevor McLaughlan kept United’s
score-sheet from coming away blank.
Andrew Williamson played a good game with Kevin
Dooley a solid defender. Ricky Duffull had a good first half
but faded out in the second. Big scorer Staf Magee was
marked out of the game by a wider and taller defender who
occasionally took pity on his efforts to score by patting him on
the head every so often in sympathy, with “that’s all right, old
son.”
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 31st May 1978
Game of Contrasts in Ngaruawahia
Ngaruawahia United pro­vided a well-grassed pitch
for their Northern league match against Ngongotaha in the
Southern section soccer competition. In six matches, this was
United’s second home game of the season, one previous
encounter being postponed when opponents Taupo were
committed to an Adidas match.
With a strong showing behind them in drawing 1-1
with Unicol the previous week, United were looking to climb
above Ngongotaha, who were placed 1 point and two positions
clear on the table.
The visitors started well and made United look like a
weak Waikato 3rd division side. Neville Sharp netted for
Ngongotaha after only 5 minutes. The goal looked perfectly
legal but the linesman had signalled for an infringement and
the goal consequently disallowed.
Ngongotaha continued to pressure United with wellconstructed
build-ups down the left wing and through the
centre. However the United defence held solid through
Bowers, Magee and Sturm with Finn in goal, as well as two
missed chances.
United was not above making spasmodic forays from
Jeff McLaughlan, Jeff Tozer and Mike Heappey coming
close. During these brief episodes the visitor’s defence looked
decidedly suspect, but United could not capitalize on this point
with passes and tackles going astray.
The first half was competed with no goals from either
team. Too many watching, it was just going to be time before
Ngongotaha started their scoring.
Second half
The second half saw the beginning of a complete
reversal of forms – United started to click and spar with
Ngongotaha collapsing Within the first five minutest United
started an attack down the left wing with Jeff McLaughlan
snapping an infield pass to Mike Heappey who cracked it first
-time into the net to start United’s scoring.
Thirty seconds later an identical move saw the ball
strike the lower edge of the cross-bar and it was scrambled
clear. United were all fired up by then. Passes were finding
men and tackles and challenges were becoming more
effective. A busy George Paul had an effective shot well
smothered shortly before Mike Heappey netted his second
after working the ball through the defence and blasting from 5
metres. 2-0 to United.
Two minutes later Jeff McLaughlan had a chip shot
tipped over the bar with the keeper at full stretch.
In the 70th minute Jeff Tozer followed Mike
Heappey’s example, worked the ball through towards the
right-hand upright and scorched home a far-post shot.
It took Ngongotaha 80 minutes to gain their
goal when a free kick slid through to Jim Reeder at the far
post and he was untroubled to slid the ball under Finn’s diving
body.
In the last minute Jeff McLaughlan was rewarded
for his hard work an own goal from the visitor’s defence. His
far-post shot had goal written on it all the way, but
a despairing attempt at a block with a foot by
Ngongotaha merely changed the direction of the ball into the
net. United won 4-1.
Tony Armstrong substituted Jeff McLaughlan in
the last 30 seconds and did not even get a sniff at the ball. He
is now called “short sub.”
United now move from 5th to 3rd on the table and
meet Turangi at home. First encounter resulted in a 4-0 win to
United over Turangi, who are still bottom of the league with a
single point from a draw with Tauranga.
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