LANCASHIRE CUP. FIRST ROUND. SOUTHPORT CENTRAL v. PRESTON NORTH END

Notwithstanding the miserable weather on Saturday a fairly big crowd assembled on the Scarisbrick New-road ground to witness the eagerly-looked forward to match between the Centralites and Preston North End. It was rather strange that Central should have been drawn for the second consecutive time against the Prestonians in connection with the cup competition, but so far as Southport is concerned the fixture was a most popular one. Last year at Deepdale Central suffered a six to nil defeat, but towards the close of the season when the North End team disported themselves on the Scarisbrick New-road ground the tables were unexpectedly turned, the Southportonians returning the compliment by piling on six goals to one. Hence the interest which attached itself to this year’s encounter. The Preston committee sent the best available team, for although Blyth was ineligible owing to a bereavement, and Sanders, unable to play, good substitutes were obtained in Hunter and Boyd.

The teams took the field thus:—Southport: Goal, Abram; backs, Smith and Sellars; half-backs, Cunliffe, Stringfellow, and Tattersall; forwards, Hallows, Blundell, Lang, Kirwan, and Townley.

North End: Goal, Trainer; backs, Holmes and Dunn; half-backs, Hunter, Boyd, and Matthews; forwards, T. Smith (No. 2), Pratt, Brown, Pierce, and Halsall.Referee, Mr. W. Smalley, Blackburn.

The opening movements were decidedly in favour of the Centralites, who at the very outset evinced a determination to miss nothing for want of trying. Kirwan and Townley got away trickily, and the former transferring to Lang, the Central vanguard became dangerous. Boyd made an erratic kick, and Trainer only saved by fisting out. Southport still continued to attack, and some loose tactics by Dunn, Holmes, and Trainer almost ended in a score, the ball rolling just clear of the unprotected goal. Tattersall took the corner, but the North End backs cleared smartly. Central, however, came back cleverly, and Holmes had to concede a corner, which proved abortive. Then the Preston men revealed a little of their ability, and by good combination visited the Southport end, where Matthews put in a rattling shot, which Abram nicely negotiated. Central worked their way back and Cunliffe sent a swift one over the bar. Smith and Pratt afterwards became conspicuous, and the home backs had hard work to check some dangerous overtures. The North End forwards were playing with much more dash at this stage, and the game waxed in excitement. At length Brown, from a smart pass by Smith, notched the first goal after twenty-two minutes’ play. The Centralites continued to operate pluckily, Hallows galloping off, and Trainer fumbling the ball a grand chance was afforded. The Centralites swarmed in, but seemed to lose their heads in the excitement, and the opportunity was missed. Halsall relieved by a capital sprint, but refused to shoot, and simply ran behind. A minute later, from a free kick, Boyd sent in a superb shot, which Abram only partially checked, and Smith rushing in landed the ball into the net. With two goals ahead, the North Enders waltzed around the Central goal for a bit, and Pratt, after dodging several of the homebacks, put on a third.

By hard work Smith and Sellars cleared, and the home team livening up made some determined efforts to open an account with Trainer. Dunn and Holmes, however, were playing a sterling game, their huge kicking being somewhat disheartening to the Centralites. Just before half-time, after a spell of uninteresting play, Brown beat Abram with a swift shot, and the score at the interval read—North End, 4; Central, nil.

The Centralites missed several good chances, and should have scored at least twice. The score would then have more accurately represented the nature of the game.The rain had fallen heavily for the most part of the first half, and on resuming there was no prospect of any meteorological improvement. The Prestonians commenced operations on the Southport citadel, but the defence was capital, and nothing resulted. At length from a free kick Central were off, Kirwan and Lang dodging the halves in fine style. Cunliffe was within an ace of scoring, Dunn checking just at the crucial moment. After a very tame period, Southport had the best of matters, and a good shot by Stringfellow proved dangerous, but unfortunately not successful. Play fluctuated, and it was evident that there was to be very little further scoring. Individual play became the order, with the natural consequence that neither side for a time became troublesome. Pratt was most conspicuous for North End, but Jimmy Tattersall kept an eye on that burly forward, and more than once checked his ambitious career. However, on the whole the visitors were having the best of matters, for which they had to thank their backs, whose defence was the thorn in Central’s side. Abram, whenever called upon, was equal to the occasion, and the game ended four to nil in favour of North End.

The “gate” realised about £69. Had fine weather prevailed, £100 would easily have been cleared.

THE TEAMS ENTERTAINED.

After the match Mr. J. Fisher generously entertained the teams to a first-rate hot-pot supper at his establishment in Lord-street. At the conclusion, on the motion of Mr. I. Smith, seconded on behalf of the North End team by Mr. W. E. Ord, a hearty vote of thanks was accorded the host for his kindness.—Mr. Fisher in responding offered on any future occasion when the Prestonians paid them a visit to repeat the entertainment.