MANCHESTER UNITED v. SOUTHPORT CENTRAL

ENGLISH CUP.
QUALIFYING COMPETITION (FIFTH ROUND).

For the third time this season Manchester United appeared at Clayton in an English Cup tie, their opponents this afternoon being Southport Central, who, at present, are the leaders of the Lancashire League Competition. Fortunately the weather had cleared, and there would be some 6,000 present when the teams faced each other in the following order:—

Manchester United: Birchenough, goal; Rothwell and Read, backs; Dowie, Griffiths, and Banks, half backs; Scholfield, Richards, Pegg, Beadsworth, and Peddie, forwards.

Southport Central: J. Garvey, goal; F. Spink and T. Smith, backs; J. Sinclair, G. Gillett, and F. Bell, half backs; J. Shadbolt, J. Atherton, A. Kelly, and Lang, forwards.

Referee: Mr. C. E. Sutcliffe, of Burnley.

Southport, who were without Atherton and Tasker, brought a train-load of supporters with them. Manchester United had to take the field minus Hurst and Lapton, their places being filled by Peddie and Scholfield respectively. There was little advantage in winning the toss, there being an entire absence of wind, but the heavy rain had rendered the ground very sticky. In the first minute Peddie caused Spink to head away, and then some good work by Scholfield enabled Dowse to get in a capital shot, which the old Newton Heath goalkeeper, Garvey, struck aside. There were two corner followed, and from the first Gillett and Shadbolt broke away, but a fine kick out by Rothwell, well timed, saved United’s citadel. Shortly afterwards the United were awarded another corner from Gillett, but it came to nothing. Mulligan got well down, and his centre was checked by Read, and play continued in the middle of the field, Garvey making a clever save from Banks. Smith stopped a good hot from Griffiths, but Smith dropped it and a second hot found its target. Southport opened up and got away nicely, and there was a matter of considerable difficulty in keeping out the combined forwards. An opening was presented by Dowse, who was playing a good game. Smith got the ball away. Then Peddie put in a good centre, and Banks, being handy, netted. Bell made good use of his charge. There was a corner, and Smith in a heavy effort to stop the charge, was touched on the head. Smith resumed. Pegg received the ball from Richards, but the first-named failed to score. Mulligan had shot wide, Sinclair caused Birchenough to use his hands. After Griffiths had floundered, Dowse made the ball out of the right, but Mulligan got a couple of free-kicks, and Shadbolt and Gillett worked for some minutes. Birchenough, however, was only once called upon, and then for five minutes the United men gave the opposing defence a warm time. Some capital football was shown, and Garvey, running out, fell, but gathered the ball, and before he could rise, Read again Scholfield sent in, but, fortunately for Southport, Smith got the ball out of danger. Dowse put men to the attack by shooting wide, and then Sinclair at the opposite end gave the Central men some assistance, but both left wingers failed to gather the ball. The Southport men were playing hard and fast, and they made several fine efforts to get on level terms, but to no purpose. Taking up the attack again, Bell and Dowse played smart, useful, and good level balls, many of which completely troubled the custodian. A moment later the ball passed over, but it beat Garvey in its flight from the head of Pegg, but the custodian gathered from an awkward return. Southport again returned in the same fashion, their play followed up suggestions from their rear, with Mackenzie standing well in evidence.

There would probably be 5,000 present when the second term commenced. Play opened up generally, and for the first minute Shadbolt had a splendid opportunity of drawing level, but he waited too long and was robbed by Read. The next time the ball was taken up field by Scholfield, Beadsworth failed to find the net, and the ball only Garvey in front of him. Then there was a big struggle in the full two spaces for Smith. A free-kick brought welcome relief, but this too did not travel any distance, and when their best efforts had been made, Peddie spoiled their effort to cross by good defice. During another attack on the Southport goal Peddie put in one at express speed which, however, caught Beadsworth and cannoned out of danger. Then Scholfield with a shot from the line forced Garvey to concede a corner. Try as they would the visitors could not get the ball away, and ultimately Banks put on a second point. The restart showed little visitors to get away, but their forwards combined to no combination, and they were easily checked by the home defenders. Play was almost continued in favour of the United, and Pegg put the ball into the net on several occasions after the back had kicked clear for the third time. Although no time ensued the Central tried again, but not the Birchenough having to cut a dropping shot from Lang. The efforts of the visitors were rewarded a moment later, Sinclair got within and beat Birchenough with a long shot. Having set their success the visitors warmed to their work and made more head way to the centre, where Read and the backs halfed all dangerous shots. At the restart Peddie forced a corner, but it was not improved upon, and then Southport on their home forwards Birchenough to use his hands. The home continued going strongly, and a fine penalty kick was given against Southport, but Garvey saved splendidly from Pegg. Two minutes did however, was not long in coming. The next spell and it rebounded from Garvey, Beadsworth dashed in and put the ball in and United had only to a point. Central twice responded, and the home custodian was now remained in play. No further scoring taking place, Manchester United won by four goals to one.

Manchester United … 4
Southport Central … 1