SOUTHPORT JOTTINGS

The great football event of the season so far as Southport and district is concerned came off on Saturday, the rendezvous being the Scarisbrick-road enclosure.

Central and High Park were the contending forces, and this match was to decide which should have the privilege of competing in the fifth round for the Lancashire Junior Cup.

The High Park committee and their supporters had long yearned for a meeting of the two combinations, prophesying with a considerable swagger that when it did come off the colours of “the best local team” would be ignominiously and ruthlessly lowered.

The Central committee, on the other hand, while in no sense seeking the encounter, were not afraid of it, feeling confident that their team, mixed though it was, would hold their own.

Tommy and Harry Lea were unfortunately debarred from assisting the Central, they having earlier in the season played for High Park in one or two of the cup ties.

The interest manifested in the game was shown by the crowd which assembled, and the intense excitement which prevailed had never previously been equalled.

Central commenced with only ten men, but when the game had been in progress a few minutes the absentee turned up in a cab driven at express speed.

The absentee was Walter Ackroyd, a regular football enthusiast.

He jumped out of the cab before it could be brought to a standstill, nearly performing a summersault, removed his upper garments while running to the scene of the fight, and donned his jersey in sight of the spectators, who cheered tremendously.

It is unnecessary to enter into details as to the play. Suffice it to say that for the first twenty minutes the Park team had the best of matters, but after this the Central played splendidly.

No goals, however, were scored up to half-time.

In the second onset the the superior staying powers of the homesters asserted themselves, and eventually Iddon put the ball through, Mace adding a second point soon afterwards.

The supporters of the Central nearly nearly yelled themselves hoarse with delight, and a number of rattles were whirled around with lightning speed, until the owner’s armed fairly ached.

It was a great and glorious victory, and there is no doubt that the best team won.

The Parkites, it is averred, were not satisfied with the defeat, and are already itching for another battle.

May the Central committee gratify their desires.

Another and more pronounced defeat will await them.

It is earnestly to be deplored that one or two of the Park men showed a disposition to “foul” their opponents.

On of the Parkites (Weir) deliberately seized Wareing round the neck and pulled him back, while Worthington passed one of his legs around the neck of Mae.

The backs on both sides played a sterling game, and both custodians—Arthur and Hart defended well.

After the match the Central team were entertained by the committee to an excellent repast, at Alderman Fisher’s, in Chapel-street.

The shooting there, it is reported, was straight and sure.

A wag of a shopkeeper placed the following notice outside his door:—“High Park had all the best of the play, especially in the last twenty minutes.”

This sally of wit attracted a good deal of attention, and created much merriment among his customers.

The Central will have a strong team to meet Bury to-day in the Lancashire League competition.

Churchtown were again defeated last Saturday by Chorley.

The three new men tried by the lads have proved dead failures.

Consequently the committee have been obliged to go on another fishing tour, and they have succeeded in booking J. Crerar, of Lytham, who will be tried as centre forward to-day.