NUAFC 1968-2018

1978
win over Putaruru at home. Trevor McLaughlan led the
scoring with two Bruce McIntosh and Ricky Duffull added
on. This keeps United in the top of the table and a good
position for the subsidiary competition break.
High School Girls
With several girls being unavailable through injury or
other commitments, Ngaruawahia High School drew 0-0 with
Fairfield No 1 team. The Ngaruawahia girls played like china
dolls for most of the game instead of putting their football
together.
High School Division 4B
Playing against at least four fourth formers and a
team vastly superior in size and kicking ability, Ngaruawahia
went down 1-4 with a solitary goal from Arthur Paul.
Ngaruawahia played better football than in previous games but
could not match the size of their `3rd form’ opposition.
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 28th June 1978
United Two, Finn Two
Having been humbled 6-0 by Rotorua Suburbs in
their first encounter, Ngaruawahia-Affco United’s Northern
League squad were out to show their form improvement in
their home soccer match on Centennial Park.
There had been doubt as to whether the game could
be played on the pitch as a council employee had, a few days
previously, under-sown the pitch and ridges were there to
make the field almost unplayable. However a light rolling
cured the majority of the problem and all was well,
Although no goals came in the first spell of 45
minutes, it looked that this must be United’s game. Rotorua’s
keeper, Lloyd Price, on three occasions stopped what should
have been certain goals. David Parker kept good tabs on
striker John Brown, preventing any effective attack from the
quarter. To give an idea of the play, United had 12 chances to
Rotorua’s 5, that with an ounce of luck, could have been goals.
Suburbs Peter Davies tested Shaun Finn in the
Ngaruawahia goal with a close drive from an angle, but Finn
was equal to the occasion. It was in this half that Suburbs
keeper Lloyd Price was injured in an aerial clash with winger
Jeff McLaughlan. Play was held up for some time but the
keeper played on, nursing what must have been badly bruised
ribs.
Three minutes after the incident a goal by John
Brown was disallowed for an infringement that went
unnoticed by many spectators.
From this let-off Rotorua came straight back and a
less than firm long drive was mishandled by Finn who was
unable to turn and recover the ball before it crossed the line.
Peter Davies nearly had Suburbs second when he ran well
through five tackles to shoot wide.
Barclay Magee set up United’s first goal by quickly
sending a free kick to Ken Murray. Murray laid it on for
John Brown to equalise from a close angle. Three minutes
further on Jeff McLaughlan drew the defence to him on the
left post and then snapped the ball across to Jeff Tozer for the
easiest of goals with Ken Murray also there to make sure
Tozer didn’t miss.
United gained the ball from the kickoff and worked a
time-wasting move in their own half that lead to a free kick for
Rotorua about 25 metres out. Herman Wys took it and chipped
for the crossbar. Finn, unable to tip it clear, heard the ball
rebound off the bar and felt it strike his back and go into the
goal for the equalizer, at 2-2.
United did not have time to go ahead as the fulltime
whistle sounded almost immediately after. United had twice as
many chances as Rotorua but still had to be satisfied with a
draw.
Ngaruawahia Soccer
With a string of losses behind them, Ngaruawahia­
Affco United’s 1st division squad looked forward to possibly
76
breaking the run with their match against Fraser. After their
previous close game against Hillcrest things were starting to
click. In the previous encounter with Fraser United had come
away with a 2-0 win at home.
Playing with a slight breeze, United started the game
but found themselves down 1-0 after ten minutes when a chip
over the defence found a Fraser forward who lobbed the ball
over the challenging Ian Innes in goal. While United were
still settling down Fraser doubled their score.
Glen Solomon had United’s better chance when he
got a break on the defence but skied the ball over the crossbar.
It was apparent that when Ngaruawahia began to move the ball
about. gaps were exposed in the Fraser defence but poor
finishing gave Fraser no real trouble, as Fraser’s reserve
keeper did his part well.
In the 15th minute all of United’s forwards combined
to give them their sole score, and from then on they applied
continual pressure, especially the combination of Tony
Armstrong and Phillip Bullivant.
Fraser’s final goal came from a break down the right
wing with the runner netting from a fine chip over the keeper.
Notwithstanding the possession and territorial advantage that
came United’s way, it is the goals that determine the outcome,
and Fraser’s counted. United ran continually with Tony
Armstrong, Phillip Bullivant and William Harding playing
prominent parts in the team. 3-1 to Fraser.
THIRD DIVISION
Staf Magee, Trevor McLaughlan and Bruce
McIntosh scored in the first half to give Ngaruawahia a 3-0
advantage at the turn against Te Kuiti but then in the second
half to come away with a lucky 3-2 win. The game was played
at Te Kuiti.
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 5th July 1978
Ngaruawahia Affco A
v Hamilton Women
Ngaruawahia-Affco ladies `A’ team could only field
10 players for their crucial match against Hamilton at
Centennial Park on Sunday.
Top-placed Hamilton attacked strongly from the kickoff,
putting the Ngaruawahia defence under considerable
pressure, and it seemed that a goal must soon eventuate. In the
5th minute however, it was Ngaruawahia’s left-winger Janice
Morris who collected the ball inside her own half and moved
it past several defenders before hitting a long, hard shot that
the goalkeeper was unable to hold.
As it turned out, this was to be the only goal of the
match, but the remaining 55 minutes contained chances for
both sides, with sound defence by the two teams keeping the
score down to a single goal.
The Ngaruawahia victory was a team effort but
special credit must go to the back four and goalkeeper Liz
Gorman.
Northern League
Ngaruawahia-Affco retained their 2nd position in the
league when they defeated Taupo 4-3 in a close game at Taupo
on Saturday.
Determined to pick up 2 points from the
game, Ngaruawahia changed to a 4-2-4 formation, relying on
the combination of John Brown and Jeff Tozer to provide
striking power up front.
Taupo were the first to score after a cross from the
right wing found a Taupo striker on the far post, leaving Sean
Finn no chance to save the close range header.
The equalizer came 10 minutes later when
Ngaruawahia were awarded a penalty which Jeff
McLaughlan hit confidently into the net.
The second half saw a repetition of the first with
Taupo again scoring and the equalizer coming from a
breakaway by Jeff Tozer.
In mid-field for Ngaruawahia, George Paul and Ken