Match Report – Southport Visiter – 22/11/1881

BURSCOUGH V SOUTHPORT – These Association teams met at Burscough on Saturday last. The home team winning the toss, took choice and goals. Carruthers kicked off for the visiters, and the Burscough forwards taking the ball up, Woodstock put it through the posts a few minutes after the commencement. Nothing more was scored before half-time, although the visitors were hard pressed, and some good shots were prevented from scoring by the excellent goal keeping of Burnett. On change of ends the play on both sides became very fast, Coleman, Woodstock, Stretch, and Thorogood doing good work for the home team, and Melross making some fine runs for the visitors, which were prevented from taking effect chiefly by the excellent play of Stevens at back. The score remained unaltered except a splendid shot by Coleman, which was disputed by the visitors as off side, and a pleasant game ended in favour of Burscough by one goal and one disputed to nil.

(Southport Visiter, 22^nd November 1881)