WA's FIGHTING EXHIBITIONS AGAINST ABERDEEN, CHELSEA

WA's reputation of the past few years, of providing unexpected opposition in their clashes with overseas sides, continued in 1974 with two fighting exhibitions against Scotland's Aberdeen and England's Chelsea. In by far the most exciting game was the one against Aberdeen with the visitors winning 5-3 in torrential rain. Right from the start the Scots paid us the compliment of opening the game out and attacking from the back. This attitude played havoc with WA's defence, but also provided our boys with the opportunity of retaliation. Retaliation came through strikers in the mould of Ray Ilott (superb), Dave O'Callaghan (nippy), John Sydenham (speedy) and John Davidson (tenacious).

Those who braved the conditions, and there were about 6,000, saw a match that will long live in our memories. WA opened the scoring through O'Callaghan in the 18th minute, but it was not long before Aberdeen settled down and shortly after half-time took a 3-1 lead. The lead, however, was short-lived when Davidson pegged one back for the home side immediately. Hopes of a draw for WA were quickly dashed when substitute Duncan Davidson scored two goals in four minutes against a defence which had lost concentration. The home crowd was given some consolation in the 81st minute when Ilott scored the goal of the match . O'Callaghan collected a deep through ball on the wing and, with the thin Aberdeen defence retreating, quickly held the ball till Ilott had got back onside. Then he released an inch-perfect high cross from 50 metres and Ilott diving low scored with a magnificent header from about two metres.

The match against Chelsea was an anti-climax because the visitors, wary of WA after hearing of their performance against Aberdeen, played a defensive game. With only seconds of the first-half remaining WA's defence was caught out trying the offside game and allowed Ian Hutchinson to score from a curling cross from Brian Bason with a low header. But as the second-half progressed, Chelsea looked unlikely to add to their score, while WA, through Ilott and Davidson, almost snatched a well deserved equaliser. The State's attack lacked power and penetration against a negative visiting side, but it was the defence's turn to shine, particularly 19-year-old David Jones, of Kwinana United.

The only other encounter for the State came with a clash against South Australia in Adelaide where WA, after leading 2-1 at half-time, finally lost 3-2. There was also an interstate tour by Morley-Windmlls, who travelled to Adelaide to play the 1973 SA champions, Hellas. Windmills should have won with ease, but lack of finishing power prevented at least four goals. The final score was 1-1. A highlight of the year was the visit to Perth by the English Schoolboys team, who beat WA 2-1 before a good crowd of 4,000 under lights at the Lake Monger Velodrome in some of the wettest conditions imaginable.

TEAM versus Aberdeen: Peter Mitchell, Mike Palmer, Bob Taylor, Mike Quayle, Geoff Cole, David Jones, Denis Barstow, Bruno Madaschi, John O'Conneil, Reg Davies, Stephen sceats, Jeff Williams, Dave sneddon, John Davidson, Dave O'Callaghan, Ray Ilott, Ernie Hannigan and Peter Garnham.

TEAM versus Chelsea: Peter Mitchell, Mike Palmer, Bob Taylor, Mike Quayle, Geoff Cole, David Jones, John Davidson, Jeff Wiiliams, Denis Barstow, Dave O'Callaghan, Ray Ilott, John sydenham, Stephen Sceats, Dave Sneddon, Reg Davies, Peter Garnham, Bruno Madaschi, Mike Palmer.

TEAM versus South Australia: Peter Mitchell, Mike Palmer, Bob Taylor, Jim Sambrook, Geoff Cole, Dave Jones, Denis Barstow Reg Davies, Stephen Sceats, Jeff Williams, Ernie Hannigen, Alf Blackmore, Ray Ilott, Dave O'Callaghan, Peter Garnham.