Gillespie’s Heady Play
The first goal scored by Bethlehem against the New York Giants here last Saturday was one of a variety seldom witnessed on the home pitch and could well be described as one of the outstanding features of the game. It was the goal on which Tommy Gillespie charged John Brown, the visitors’ goalie, when the latter made the mistake of holding the ball instead of trying to punch it out of harm’s way. To gather in a ball in the manner Brown did invites disaster and Gillespie was wide awake to sense the situation. The speedy wing forward was onside when the ball was lobbed to the goal mouth but moved forward in time to sweep Brown into the net. Such a play is a creditable performance to any forward who can catch a goalie in that position.
Not So Cocky
Waded through the rank and file of the Eastern League soccer teams to include two victories over Bethlehem and one over Hakoah, National champions, probably had a tendency to create the impression and justify the boast of the American Soccer League clubs that the playing in the Eastern League was inferior to that of the outlaw organization. The triumphant march of the Whalers was suddenly checked in New York on Sunday afternoon when Hakoah conquered in the second meeting by the one-sided and decisive score of 6 to 2. Insofar as comparative merit is concerned there may be quite a few more surprises when the Whalers appear in the round robin series to determine the league championship. A series in which Bethlehem, Hakoah and probably the New York Giants will be the contending factors.