Match Report – Southport Guardian – 18/11/1885

“In the first match Southport scored 4 to 1. Taking Southport all in all, we have never seen them to better advantage. The ball was less often out than usual, the goalkeeper stood his ground without a single excursion, Mayall kept his own side as back capitally and Griffiths never missed any of his few chances. The centre play was good, and the forward play showed marked advance in combination….Judging the Wanderers by their former match with Southport – we have never seen them in any other occasion – our opinion is that they are improving at such a rate as to promise very well indeed for the future.”

(Southport Guardian, 18^th November 1885)