EVERTON “AWAY”

September 8, 1917. The Liverpool Football Echo

Clennell Scored Early on at Southport

“F.E.H” Special

Fleetwood Absent Through Inability to Leave Work
Sunshine and showers. We left Liverpool in smiling sweetness of a September day. Southport had nothing better to offer than a fine piercing rain which drenched most football enthusiasts who made their way to the headquarter of the Central club, and the confines of breezy Blowick. Home interest in the meeting was accentuated by the heavy beating which Southport suffered at Goodison Park and in spite of the weather, there was an enthusiastic crowd present when the opposing forces lined out. Everton were unable to field Fleetwood as they had hoped the trustful half-backs being kept at his war world but in his place there was a useful performer in the person of Williams. Southport had several last moment changes in their composition. J. Barton figured at left back, a position which last week at Everton was filled at different times by Hensley and J.H. Wright. In the forward line Sergeant Pownall took the place of Corporal Hooper. As inside left W. Hewitt of South Liverpool made his debut, while the pivot was the versatile footballer J.H. Wright. Fay, who was centre-forward at Goodison, was to day centre-half. Lieutenant Toms, who had been chosen to play was it is understood helping Barrow, against South Liverpool. Everton; Mitchell, goal Robinson, Thompson (captain), backs; Grenyer, Wareing and Williams, half-backs; Donnachie, Clennell, Gault, Jefferis, and Murray, forwards. Southport; Capper, goal; Dorward and J. Barton, backs; Sgt Rigby, Fay and Sgt Abrams, half-backs; Pownall, Caulfield, J.H Wright, Hewitt, and Schofield, forwards. The game commended ten minutes after the advertised time, Southport started against the wind, and they opened in their customarily vigorous fashion, trying in the first few exchanges to beat both Robinson and Thompson back upon their lines of defence. This spasmodic attack, was at once repulsed and Everton moved long the uneven ground with nice precision. The right wing par made capital play, and Gault tried to administer the finishing touch with an oblique shot, which Capper coped with at the cost of a corner. The place kick was well taken, and there was an exciting bully in the home goal before Dorward saved the situation. A stremous interlude of midfield work ensued, in which the Central players showed rather a smarter adaptability in taking in the conformation of the playing pitch, but their rather rough-and-reachy tactics were more than counter-balanced by the clear play of the Evertonians. Aided to a certain extent by the breeze the visitors kept their antagonists for a time constantly on the defensive, and both Donnachie and Murray were distinctly remiss in failing to take advantage of obvious openings. Wareing once paved the way to a pretty opening, and Clennell and Donnachie did their best to turn the movement to account. The watchful Dorward, however, anticipated the movement and cleared with perfect precision. A breakaway by the home left looked awkward when the Everton halves failed to hold them, but the situation was retrieved by Thompson, and we then witnessed a sustained series of attacks by the wearers of the blue jersey. Grenyer lobbed the ball up nicely, and Jefferis essayed a shot which was intercepted. Gault however, caught the return, and he was rather unlucky in not being able to steady himself before driving home a lusty shot. As it was the leather passed out to the left, and Donnachie made a fine attempt to draw first blood with.
A Shot That Failed
Central took up the running with much improved style, and Wright holding his wings well together, force the Evertonians to give ground. But the defenders made a resolute stand, and shots from Hewitt and Caulfield having been disposed of the visitors proceeded to take up the offensive again. The movement of this occasion was much more methodical and might have achieved success had not Gault in his anxiety put the ball over the bar. This was the nearest approach the Evertonians had reached, and it stimulated them further efforts. The swept down in fine fashion on the right and this time Gault sent in a wonderful drive, which Capper diverted in a miraculous way, and which Wareing a second later lifted over the bar.
Clennell Scorers
Everton were now having matters all their own way, and success came when Clennell seizing upon a pass from the right drove the ball into the far corner of the net. Having taken the lead, the Everton men proceeding to literally bombard the Southport goal, and half a dozen shots were luckily cleared. The Southport halves tried more than once to break-up the rapidly improving methods of the opposing forwards and they did so to the extent of rendering shots from Murray, Jefferis, and Donnachie nugatory when the players named with a little more steadiness might well have rammed the advantage home. Just before the interval the Central vanguard made a desperate afford to retrieve their lost position, and after a fine shot from Wright had been admirably fielded, Abrams put a regular daisy-cutter which passed outside.
Half-time; Southport 0, Everton 1.
Comments
The first half had been quite characteristic of Everton’s play on this sandy and windswept enclosure. At first they had been complete baffled by the peculiarities of the formation of the playing patch. Once they found their feet, so to speed, they promptly began to show superiority in both attack and defence. The work of the forwards was always vigorous and determined in effort, and if Gault failed to hold the wings he made amends by trying individual shots, more than one of which might well have found its billet. Murray and Jefferis were frequently well in the picture, but it was left to the ever-ready Clennell to notch the only goal. The half-back line was strong and weak in turn, but both backs played with confidence. Southport showed more dash and determination than actual skill, and it was mainly due to this that they were only one down at the interval.
Second Half
The rain had cleared off, and there were about 2,000 people present when the game was resumed. The Evertonians now had the wind in their teeth, and they tackled these conditions with a rare and refreshing vigour that looked like hearing fruit or the left in the first few minutes after the resumption. Dorward as ever proved a stumbling block, and the Sandgrounders moved off brisky by means of an adroit sotion on part of Fay. Schofield and Flewitt tried to put the finishing touches thereto, but Robinson was too smart for them, ad cleared well, getting the ball away neatly.
Goal Scorers
Clennell scored for Everton

EVERTON WIN AGAIN

Liverpool Daily Post – Monday 10 September 1917

Although the margin was not so ample that of a week ago, Everton managed to secure a second victory over Southport Central in the return match at Ash-lane on Saturday. The game was not particularly good one, being for the most part on the scrambling side, but it served to indicate Everton’s marked superiority. The Park contingent rarely show to advantage on this lumpy and ridge playing patch, and the occasion under notice they experienced considerable difficulty in. keeping the ball under control. Their opponents, however, were much the same plight, and then suffered the additional disadvantage of being not nearly well-balanced side the Evertonians. The first period of the game fought at strenuous pace a strong wind and fine rain. The visitors were the first to settle down to a well-ordered scheme of play, and after Gault had tried several times wriggle through on his own account. Clennell, talking the leather from judicious pass from the right, drew first blood with well-directed shot that gave Capper little chance. This was the only incident of real moment the interval. In the second half Everton developed their latent powers of combination, and we had some rather pretty passing at times. The Southport forwards, nevertheless were rarely idle, and Wareing and his wings were not permitted to rest upon their oars. The Central’s anxiety to equalise was obvious, and it was only when the visitors doubled their lead that the home side appeared to give hope. This second goal came also from Clennell. The wonderfully agile inside left was sailing merrily along when was deliberately grassed in the penalty area, and taking the place kick, he netted neatly out of reach the home keeper. The work the Everton forwards generally was highly satisfactory. Gault led the way example if not altogether precept, and both Clennell and Jeffries added many clever touches. The wing men, too gave complete satisfaction, though Abrams put a curb the activities of Murray and his partner.  Williams cut conspicuous figure in the half-back line, showing both courage and resource, while Wareing and Grenyer were as reliable ever. Robinson proved a very effective partner Thompson, and Mitchell did all that he was called upon to do. In the home ranks J. H. Wright and Caulfield were perhaps the dangerous of the vanguard, while the midway line Abrams and Fay used their weight with conspicuous judgment. Result.-—Everton 2 goals, Southport Central nil. 

TWO MORE FOR CLENNELL

September 10, 1917. The Liverpool Echo

Bee’s Notes

Although the margin was not so ample as that of a week ago, Everton managed to secure a second victory over Southport Central in the return match at Ash-Lane on Saturday. The game was not a particularly good one, being for the most part on the scrambling side, but it served to indicate Everton’s marked superiority. The Goodison Park contingent rarely shot to advantage on this lumpy and ridge playing patch, and on the occasion under notice they experienced considerable difficulty in keeping the ball under control. Their opponents however, were in much the same plight, and they suffered the additional disadvantage of being not nearly so well-balanced a side as the Evertonians. The first period of the game was fought at a stremious pace in a strong wind and fine rain. The visitors were the first to settle down to a well ordered scheme to play, with after Gault had tried several times to wriggle through on his own account, Clennell taking the leather from a judicious pass from the right drew first blood with a well-directed shot that gave Capper little chance. This was the only incident of real moment up to the interval. In the second half Everton developed their latent powers of combination and we had some rather pretty passing at times. The Southport forwards nevertheless were rarely idle, and Wareing and his wings were not permitted to rest upon their oars. The Central’s anxiety to equalize was obvious and it was only when the visitors doubled their lead that the home side appeared to give up hopes. The second goal came also from Clennell. The wonderfully agile inside left was sailing merrily along when he was deliberately grassed in the penalty area, and talking the place-kick he netted neatly out of reach of the home keeper. The work of the Everton generally was highly satisfactory. Gault led the way by example if not altogether by precept, and both Clennell and Jefferis added many clever touches. The wing men, too gave complete satisfaction though Abrams put a curb on the activities of Murray and his partner. Williams cut a conspicuous figure in the half-back line, showing both courage and resource, while Wareing and Grenyer were as reliable as ever. Robinson proved a very effective partner to Thompson, and Mitchell did all that he was called upon to do. In the home ranks J.H. Wright and Cauulfield were perhaps the most dangerous of the vanguard, while in the midway line Abrams and Fay used their weight with conspicuous judgment.

TWO FOR CLENNELL

September 10, 1917. The Evening Express

By CRI

Following upon their runaway victory in the opening game of the season at Goodison Park against Southport, the Everton team were more fully extended at Ash-lane; still they again asserted their superiority and won by two clear goals. The playing pitch of the Central club does not lend itself to an exposition of clean crisp footwork at the best of times, and the prolific growth on Saturday was not conducive to a plan of campaign that skilful forwards desire, writes my colleagues “Rovers” The footwork of the Everton forwards stood out in marked contrasts to the spasmodic movements of the Central front line, and success in this direction mainly resulted from the able support that was touch coming from the half-backs, who were resourceful, both in imitating advances and in holding the Central forward sin check. The latter were not lacking in support from their halves, but they failed to utilize what came their way. Little judgment was shown in their efforts to get out of a difficulty, and even when the conditions were favourable there was little suggestion of their ability to extend the defence powers arrayed against them. While Everton were the superior side all round, their biggest asset lay in the complete understanding that existed between the forward and half-backs divisions Fleetwood was not able to assist his side, still Williams was a capably understudy and the effective triangular movements with the wingers was one of the features of the game. In this respect Grenyer collaborated with Clennell and Donnachie to such an extent that the Everton left wing pair were always a thorn in the side of the Central defenders and with Wareing successfully thwarting the onslaught of the home inside forwards, it was small wonder that Mitchell’s charge was not seriously threatened. Both goals fell to Clennell, one in each half. In the first instance he had completely baffled Dorward and fired in a ball that bounded off the far upright into the net, while his second success was the outcome of a penalty. This in the two games with Southport he had helped himself to five goals out of eight recorded by his side. \