SOUTHPORT v. ASHTON N.E.

Central played their second League engagement at home, on the Scarisbrick New-road enclosure, their opponents being Ashton North End. There was a fair field of spectators. Smith, Halsall, and Heywood were given a rest, their places being taken by Pearson, Settle, and Lever.

Teams: SOUTHPORT—Gee, goal; Pearson and Sellers, backs; Heywood, Lever, and Tattersall, half-backs; Hallows, Kirwan, Astley, Mellor, and Settle, forwards.

ASHTON NORTH END—O’Brien, goal; Marsden and Dyer, backs; McKay, Stone, and Fitzgerald, half-backs; Bradbury, Paterson, Malavir, Bullock, and Ware, forwards.

Referee: Mr. Hammond, Heywood.

Central lost the toss and played against a moderate breeze. The visitors commenced in a promising fashion, and Gee was called upon to save shots from Bullock and Bradbury. A neat piece of work by Tattersall put the Central forwards in possession, and Hallows raced away down the right, but was pulled up by Dyer. The home left were the next to show promise, but Settle failed utterly with his shot. The Ashton forwards made the best of their way to the other end, but the Central backs were playing a splendid game and drove them into their own quarters again. Hallows put in another brilliant run, but Dyer put the leather outside. From a free kick by Hallows, close in the Ashton goal, the Central nearly scored, but Astley made very poor use of the subsequent opportunity. Dyer barely managed to save with THREE OR FOUR OPPONENTS on the top of him, and then at the other end the Ashton forwards were pulled up for offside, when splendidly placed. The home right wing forced a corner, from which an exciting scrummage took place in goal. Mellor and Settle both missing good openings. Play slowed down very considerably, Ashton for a time holding the upper hand. Ward put the ball into the net, but the point was disallowed for offside. A few minutes later Gee barely managed to tip the ball over the bar, and immediately after Bullock put in a grand shot which beat Gee, who had misjudged his kick. Several of the Ashton men were displaying questionable tactics, Dyer being cautioned by the referee. O’Brien saved a long shot from Tattersall, and from a corner which ensued the Central had very hard luck in not equalising. The home forwards seemed to be utterly disorganised. After Gee had saved a shot which struck the underside of the crossbar, Stones met the leather and banged it into the net.

Half-time—Central 1, Ashton 1.

Central exerted pressure on the restart, Kirwan and Astley failing in their shots at goal. A steady bombardment of the visitors’ citadel was kept up for several minutes, and attacks were made in rapid succession, but the defence was very safe. A breakaway by the Ashton forwards resulted in the ball being run over the line. O’Brien was then called upon to save a stiff shot from Hallows, but the homesters by no means had matters all their own way, Gee having to deal with a particularly warm customer from Bullock. After a time Central began to pull together in better style, and forced several openings, but the shots that were properly directed were always returned by O’Brien. On one occasion he saved when it looked impossible to clear.

A THIRD GOAL was added by Patterson with a brilliant shot which concluded a dashing run. After many attempts Kirwan at last, five minutes from time, beat O’Brien with a slicing shot, and a minute later Mellor put another through.

Result—ASHTON N.E. 3, CENTRAL 2.