TROWBRIDGE MISSED CHANCES
At Trowbridge 3.004 spectators saw the home side practically outplay Street in the first half, and had the forwards showed a little more steadiness in front of goal the side must have gained a substantial interval lead. In the second half, however, Street, having taken time to perfect their combination, often had the home defence difficulties, but their forwards only accepted one scoring opportunity, the match ending draw 1-1, the same as the corresponding match last season.
Trowbridge missed their clever schemer Ken Abrahams, at inside left, especially in the shooting department. Cousins, former Bristol City and Bath City goalkeeper, is too experienced a goalkeeper to easily beaten, and by coming out his goal every time the home forwards swept down him in the first half he appeared to mesmerise the marksmen, who generally shot straight him. One felt certain that Abrahams' guile would have resulted in more than one goal from these glorious openings. The Town forwards nevertheless, combined neatly and cleverly, and had the experienced Street defence, which included Kearney, late of Bristol City, well and truly puzzled. The visitors' goal had huge slices of luck, apart from Cousins' brilliant goalkeeping, two shots, one from Maher, the other from Compton, rebounding from the goalie's body. Two of the best shots of the game came from Maher and Compton - the former sizzling grounder which Cousins got his hand to, and the latter a perfect drive which was lust fraction too high.
Trowbridge's goal was scored after only six minutes play. Maher, following some delightful play by Hadden, sent in a low ball and it looked a scorer all the way, but a defenders legs were in the way and the ball was deflected wide. Just after this Trowbridge forced corner, and from Haddon's well-placed kick Maher again fastened on the ball and sent it low and sure into the net. The rest of the half resolved itself mostly into a duel between Cousins, the Street defence and the Trowbridge forwards. Early in the second half Adams missed the chance of a lifetime - shooting wide with an open goal after Tuck and Vince had been outwitted. Trowbridge lost much their cohesion, as Street got into their stride for the first time. Then we saw their forwards, fast, intelligent and unselfish, knocking hard Trowbridge's goal, and about minutes from the end Baker equalised with a delightful shot which a full-length leap by Vince failed to save. On the whole a draw was quite a good result.
WAS IT A GOAL?
Many Trowbridge supporters considered Referee W T. Elliott (Swindon), recently promoted to English League status, was unduly harsh in not allowing a goal to Trowbridge in the first half when Cousins scrambled away a ball which looked a considerable distance over the goal line. The linesman that side flagged a goal, but Mr. Elliot apparently unsighted, allowed play proceed and ignored a protest made by the Trowbridge player Webb. The home captain, right-back Sheppard, made no appeal, but had done so and the referee had consulted the linesman Mr. Elliott may have allowed the goal. On the whole Trowbridge's display was convincing. In defence Haycock and Lovesey, the wing halves, played extremely well all through, but Dennis Tuck was not quite so effective as we have seen him. Late in the game, the however, there were instances of the home defence being left with wide spaces, and they appeared to lose their grip. Compton's enthusiasm kept the Street defence busy. Some of his headers were splendidly timed and only lust wide the target. Time and experience should make a great goal-scorer of Compton. Haddon, as always, was much more effective on the right wing, and he will be more so when better acquainted with Maher's tactics. It is a pity this pair do not have more training together. Webb was not entirely "at home" at inside-left to Toothill, the former Bristol Rovers and Melksham R A.F. player, who lost much of his effectiveness when heavily charged in the first half. A welcome spectator was Mr. Charles Horton, who was hon. treasurer of the Trowbridge club for very many years. He the father of Mr. Clifford Horton, former Town forward.
Report from The Wiltshire Times
|
