Match Report – 31/03/1917

EVERTON GIVE TWO TRIALS

March 31, 1917. The Liverpool Football Echo

Bee’s Special

On Visit of Southport to Walton

March didn’t go out like a lamb, March went out a d–. Now perhaps we can expect some decent weather. Everton at home to Southport Central decided to try some new locals, St. Helens being their apprention work. Central, who have wobbled down the league ladder ever since Christmas had a strongly-built side chosen, and their ranks were so formed that there was some belief in their ability to “turn the corner” today. After a snowy morning came dullness, but the turf was in good order when the following teams referred by Mr. L. P. Hitchen turned out before a good sixed crowd. Everton; Fern (captain), goal; Smith (West Brom) and MaConnachie, backs; Fleetwood, Wareing and Williams, half-backs; Murray, Jefferis, Gault, Twiss, and Donnachie, forwards. Southport; W. Wright, goal; Dorward and J.H. Wright, backs; Rigby, Fay and Abrams, half-backs; Hooper, Rigsby, Kirkman, Toms, and H. Scholfield, forwards. MaConnachie suprise appearance was very welcome. There was little of moment in the early work. Hooper, sliced badly, and Jefferis and Gault gained the applause of the crowd. There was much crying and little wool until Murray started a raid. He dribbled closely and well, and though checked by big Abrams he would not yield. His pertinacity brought his side a goal for an upward past from Murray to Gault gave the home centre a reasonable chance of scoring. The shot should have been saved by Wright who blundered badly for once in a way. He should certainly have gripped the ball, which slipped from the hands and rolled over the line. Southport, disappointed at this unexpected blow, bestirred themselves, to some purpose and made the game much more interesting Toms, by back heeling gave Kirkman half a chance and the same player went near with a swift shot. Toms who is a lieutenant tried to snap a goal with a left hook, and when Rigsby with a beautiful swinging pass, made a way for Hooper the Nottingham man found Fern safer than Wright, who had to negotiate an awkward lob shot from Jefferis. Murray for an inexperienced player, centred well. He was not too strong and he was wise in preventing waste he did not centre behind the goalline. Southport for a time pegged back the Everton forwards and when Fay took a free kick against Wareing, MaConnachie fell back into goal and chested the ball away, an escape which was followed at the other end by another narrow escape. For Donnachie sent centre to Murray let the latter so close in that he should have screwed wide. However, in twenty six minutes there was another goal, Wareing giving a penalty by a foul on Kirkman. Hooper was a surprise selection for the taking of the penalty kick with Abrams in the side. At any rate, the judgement was all right, as Hooper easily netted. With the score equal, Everton put on increased pressure, and Gault was the main shooter. Gault scored a second for Everton.
Half-time Everton 2 Southport 1
Goalkeeper Fails to Turnout
W Wright the goalkeeper, failed to turn out in the second half, and little Dossy Waite founded the gloves, spotted the green jersey and went into the goal area, and for a time enjoyed a peaceful rest. It appears that goalkeeper Wright knocked his left thumb up, and the directors had no option but to retire. Rigsby went right half back and Rigby at full. The crowd enjoyed the one hand of the new Southport goalkeeper, but I am told that he is quite a useful custodian. Jefferis seems to think so, as he congratulated him, upon his initiative save. Of course, Everton found their task pretty easy, and they were keen on increasing their lead, but for the moment they were defied. Wright footing out a low shot by Gault. Donnachie went very lame, but continued to play, and MaConnachie as a consequence became more daring and more than once moved very far up the field. Gault went in for a series of pot shots in the hope of catching Wright in difficulties but he was not quite on the target. Young Scholfield had been quite out of the picture, and his runs and centres had yet to be seen. He made a hash of a good opportunity with severe results as straight away the ball was put out to Gault, who although off side was allowed to go on and score.
Goal-scorers.
Gault scored for Everton after eight minutes play
Hooper scored for Southport from a penalty after twenty six minutes play
Gault scored a second for Everton at 40 minutes
Gault scored a third for Everton at sixty minutes
Kirkman scored a second for Southport 67 minutes

THE NEW BOYS

April 2, 1917. The Liverpool Echo

Bee’s Notes

Everton were not nearly at full strength although MaConnachie appeared and played good football alongside the enthusiastic smith. Murray took the eye with his sharp-like movements. He has not much bright, but like Williamson and others, he made up by his crafty footwork. His centres were especially good and what I liked best about him was his methods of planting the ball across the goalmouth rather than hammering it. His centres helped Gault to perform the hat-trick, one point coming from the offside position –a difficult problem that often faced Mr. Hilchen. Twiss was not often in the limelight, but A. Williams was strong against a good wing.
The Best of the Six
Half a dozen goals were scored, and no goal exceeded Kirkman. He was at the time of scoring appearing at outside right –his position with the Wednesday club and this germ of a goal but new life into a game that threatened to dwindle out of interest through the non-appearance on the second half of Wright, Southport goalkeeper. Abrams did not once again produce his best till late on, any more than Fay who was somewhat nonchalant. Young Scholfield was quite out of the running and in view of his form at Anfield his Saturday’s display was not explainable. Hooper scintillated at times and the fact that he was called upon to take a penalty when such a spot-artists as Abrams was in the field spoke volumes for his success in practice trials.

EVERTON’S EASY VICTORY

Liverpool Daily Post – Monday 02 April 1917

Everton won their first game in the subsidiary competition easily enough.  Southport Central put up a very poor resistance, although there was much good and clever work of a quiet order.  The visitors received an early reverse when Gault scored at the end of eight minutes.  The custodian handled the ball, but failed to stop it from rolling over the line.  Southport equalized through a penalty, Hooker claiming the goal with a shot that Fern had no chance of saving.  Another goal from Gault gave Everton the lead at the interval.  At fifty-seven minutes Gault got a third point, this making his ninth goal during his short term with the Everton club.  Kirkwood from the outside right position scored the best goal of the day with a beautiful ball that circled into the top corner of the net just out of Fern’s reach.  The closing stages were contested in semi-darkness, and Jefferis notched a fourth goal.  Southport had the misfortune to lose their goalkeeper at the interval, and during the whole of the second half J.H. Wright filled the breach with great credit.  Of Everton’s new players, both Williams and Murray made a good impression.  Little was seen of Twiss, and the Everton left wing was rarely in evidence.  Both sides were well balanced, but there was a lack of spirit and vigour that the made the game a very ordinary one.  Result;- Everton 4 goals, Southport Central 2 goals. 

NOTES AND NOTIONS
April 7, 1917 The Liverpool Echo