NUAFC 1968-2018

1978
worked through by Ngaruawahia United but the final touch
went too far ahead. The Fraser defender mistimed his
clearance and the ball glanced off his boot. The loose ball was
snapped up by Neil Gorman who drew the keeper out and
placed the ball behind him and across to the far netting. 1-0 to
United.
Then the rest of the half was dominated by Fraser,
with mid-fielder Graeme Kenny setting up dangerous attacks
and some penetrating runs. Captain Mel Riches tested keeper
Grant Prendergast with an off-target back-pass, but Grant’s
size belied his quickness to drop on the ball and prevent a
possible equaliser. United’s attacks were quickly smothered
by the Fraser defence and by one or two non-existent off-sides
and the score-line stayed at 1-0 after the first 45 minutes.
At the start of the second half Fraser had the kickoff
and scored immediately in exactly the same manner as
United to equalise. This appeared to be the beginning of
Fraser’s come back, but shortly afterwards Fraser’s dangerman
Graeme Kenny was substituted off and the tide turned for
the home team. They had far more control in mid-field with
the ensuing goals building up from this area.
Winger Philip Bullivant was fed the ball from
defence, took it 50 metres and angled a hard shot from just
inside the penalty area. The keeper looked to have it covered
but spilled the ball at the feet of George Sunnex who had
rocketed through for just that purpose. His shot, from two
metres out nearly necessitated the netting being replaced. 2-1.
Neil Gorman’s frequent raids paid off when he was
fouled in the area and Danny Duffull took his first penalty of
the season. 3-1.
Fraser nearly pulled one back when their striker
ripped through the defence and was looming down on
United’s keeper. Just how Mel Riches made it back and tidied
up the situation before the striker could set up his shooting
foot must go down as an unsolved mystery!
Following United’s penalty the referee had cause to
speak to the Fraser keeper and caution him for words used on
the field. Following Duffull’s second scorcher of a goal to
make it 4-1, the keeper again was spoken to and, following an
exchange of words with the referee, was ordered from the
field. Following this incident one or two other Fraser players
took exception verbally to the decision and play was held up
while the referee spoke to the offenders.
At this stage it seemed to be a walk-over for United
and Duffull again saw his shot netted via a defender but was
ruled no goal for an off-side infringement and the Duffull hattrick
was averted.
The final score of 4-1 could have been two higher
with Sunnex and Duffull being unlucky with good-percentage
shots. This result was one of the best scored by the 1st
division team this season and one of their better games.
Players to stand out - Grant Prendergast, Mel
Riches, Maurice Frankhouser, well supported by good
performances by the other eight.
Award for the most vociferous supporter was shared
by Joe Templeton and Keith Ridley, just pipping Rodney
Hill for honours.
The Huntly Press
Wednesday 20th September 1978
Ngaruawahia Scares East Coast Bays
Over this past soccer season, East Coast Bays won
their way into the Northern League 1st division by winning
the second division. They, along with Ngaruawahia United,
were entered in the post-season Tokoroa tournament along
with nineteen other teams from national, northern and Waikato
leagues.
Ngaruawahia played three matches on the Saturday in
their efforts to go forward to the semi-finals this weekend. In
these games they scored seven goals to one with John Brown
netting six and Mike Liddle the other.
1978
United eliminated Wanderers of the northern league
3rd division 2-0, the same score they had beaten them by in
the previous week’s friendly. United looked a most
enterprising team compared with Wanderers stereotyped and
uninteresting performance. Goals came in the 45th and 50th
minutes.
Also in this preliminary round Mount Wellington
beat Claudelands Rovers 3-2, and Tokoroa “B” surprised all
by downing Tauranga City 1-0, Tokoroa saving a penalty.
In the 1st round proper Ngaruawahia 4 beat Tokoroa
“B” 0; East Coast Bays 2 beat Mount Wellington 1; Fraser
were given the game against Melville with an own-goal (1-0)
and Manukau City took Pakuranga Town.
Ngaruawahia having two games behind them to East
Coast Bays one, were determined not to let their tiredness drop
their standard of football, in an effort to get through to the
semi-finals. However there were two factors that were to
determine the outcome – extra-time and the referee stopping
his watch whenever the ball went out of play!
Ngaruawahia started well and pressured the Bay’s
goal for the first 10 minutes with shots coming close,
especially John Brown’s brutal angled shot being tipped
around the bar by the keeper.
In the 15th minute the Bay broke through and there
was only keeper Shaun Finn to beat. A mighty reflex save
gave away a corner and Ngaruawahia were forced to soak up
the resultant pressure, which they did well.
John Brown broke away in the 27th minute and
United were ahead. The second half saw a worried East Coast
Bays team trailing the 4th division Ngaruawahia country boys
and some niggling play crept in. On three occasions the Bay
thanked their lucky stars with desperate clearances off the line
with the keeper well beaten.
The time was up (no injuries) and all the pressure was
coming from Ngaruawahia who refused to play a negative
game by packing their defence, but went out for further goals.
But the whistle did not come.
Then came the equaliser from a break-away 1-1.
With no extra time, penalties were taken and the unlucky
Ngaruawahia team lost by 3 penalties to 4, and lost the chance
of a place in the semi-finals.
An inquest by referees and organisers into why the
game went longer than scheduled was held, but the result was
upheld by the Tokoroa committee.
If nothing else came from the day, it was that
Ngaruawahia have nothing to fear in 1979 from any
opposition; and under the continued guidance of Dave Hall,
should fare well with an excellent chance for promotion to the
3rd division in 1980.
All players had exceptional games. Team: Finn,
Dornan, Williams, Tozer, Burt, Paul, Cargo, Liddle,
Gorman, Brown, Mc Laughlan, Murray and Heappey.
This weekend Ngaruawahia Meets Taupo in the
northern league (south) playoff in Tokoroa.
Its Been a Great Year For Ngaruawahia AFFCO
The Ngaruawahia-Affco United soccer club have had
a good year to look back on in 1978. Perhaps not in honours
won, but more importantly in the con­solidation of teams and
the development of players within the teams.
The cream of any sports club is its senior team, and
that team’s “glory” is a direct reflection on the development of
the other teams in junior and senior grades.
With Dave Hall’s appointment as senior coach at the
beginning of 1978, the northern league squad have slowly but
deliberately moulded themselves into enterprising footballers
capable of taking on any team and acquitting themselves well.
This showed up in the Tokoroa tournament when they downed
Wanderers (3rd division) and scared the pants off East coast
Bays (winners 2nd division).
The club’s Waikato 3rd division took their title, and
the 1st division grew in strength as the year progressed. All
junior grades were well supported and the Ladies teams gave
good entertainment and football.
81