As season succeeds season, so year by
year does the interest and excitement increase over those hardy
specimens of the genus homo who are sent to face each other,
and do battle for the honour and prestige of South and North Britain,
at the national pastime and game of football, and while in England and
Scotland lovers of this branch of sport and the public generally watch
with much solitude the progress of round after round, and ultimate
result of the English and Scottish Cup struggles all reach a climax
over the International event. This season the contest seemed to
possess greater public interest than was ever manifested in connection
with any football match in the history of the game. If there was the
faintest murmur over the slightest mischance in some quarters, it was
the enforced absence of Smellie, whose place as partner to the
redoubtable Watty Arnot was taken by M'Keown, whose play was splendid.
The coin was tossed, and England won. They
chose to open from the west end, and Scotland's centre forward set the
ball a-rolling. The left wing division of England at once seized hold
and ran afield, 'Watty the Wise' was there, however, and he turned the
rush. Aided by Kelly, the forward division of the invaders were
determinedly met. There was for a time some swift work from the
Englishmen. Groves, from a fine chance, sent a high shot over Moon's
crossbar, and there was a sigh of relief on one hand and
dissatisfaction on the other. Moon was soon after called upon to save,
which he did by punting out a hard one. A hand was thereafter given
against Kelly in mid-field, and the ball was carried to Wilson's
charge. After some fluctuating play Walters bothered Arnot not a
little, and eighteen minutes from the start England, at the feet of
Wood, got first blood. The shot was a regularly twisted one, that
nothing but a miracle could have stopped. Cheers were loud, and
matters looked bad for the home men. Daft, running in rare form,
passed all he met, and again was Wilson troubled, but the backs saved,
and play was transferred to the other end. Returning Arnot sent out.
Groves took the kick, and a corner followed, but
it was cleverly headed clear by Walters, and a run afield followed.
Again the Scotchmen assailed Moon, and Berry had a good run but it
went over the lines. Kelly, playing like a regular little demon, ran
again after the ball had been in the Scottish half, and sent it over.
Corner after corner followed across the English frontier, and the
visitors' backs clearing a visit was made to Wilson from a throw in.
Berry and Groves ran up, and 'off side' was given against Scotland,
and now came a tug of war. The Scotchmen had a corner from Walters and
Robertson sent in a skied ball that looked dangerous. Johnstone was
ready, and in an instant he rushed the ball through, equalising amid
waving of hats and handkerchiefs, the huge crowd swaying with
excitement. Kelly showed up well now, and Arnot, too, warmed to his
work, but whenever Daft got on him the Notts man passed the nimble
Q.P. representative. From a corner Moon had a narrow chance, but he
saved. No fewer than three corners followed in quick succession for
Scotland, but not one could be made to beat the two Walters, Shelton
also sharing honours by pretty telling work. Play changed ends, and
there was narrow work for backs and goal-keepers of both sides.
M'Call, of Renton, got in possession, and had a pretty run, getting
dangerously near Moon, who was all life and nerves together. A throw
in for the Thistle men and a foul against the sons of Albion made no
change in actual results. Kelly fed his forwards, and the ball was
played right across the mouth of goal. Still no scoring. Robertson
sent a long shot, but he could not do any good for his side against
such splendid defence as that being shown by the English backs. Daft
and Bassett seemed to force matters now, and the whistle sounded
half-time with the figures at ONE
GOAL
EACH.
On restarting Daft was at once on the ball, and mid-play followed,
M'Keown soon after taking advantage to send in one of his neat kicks.
Soon after Johnstone had a chance, but failed, and Shelton bothered
his vis a vis. A good run up by Daft was neatly repulsed by
M'Laren and Kelly. Again the English forwards pushed matters, and the
ball passed front of goal. Play changed ends, and Currey was lively.
Soon after a long shot from Currey was saved by Arnot, and a foul was
given against England. In a short time 'the Ould Gineral' saved from
an onslaught, and M'Keown transferred play to other end. Moon had to
come out and handle a slow message from Johnstone. P.M. Walters
defended with rare judgement and agility, and when the ball was sent
behind by M'Call all thought another point had been gained by
Scotland. Not so, however; but time after time the Thistle men had
hard lines, as the ball was banged backwards and forwards within arm's
reach of Moon, who was kept busy. Play five minutes from finish was
tremendously hot, all the work being in front of Moon. Daft excelled
himself several times. Moon had several times to run out, which he did
neatly, and his pluck turned the tide of affairs over and over again.
Ultimately the game finished in a draw of TWO
GOALS
EACH.
|
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Match Report
The Times, Monday,
7 April 1890 |
The match
between England and Scotland at Glasgow on Saturday resulted in a
close and well-played game. This year's game attracted more attention
than ever; but few anticipated the immense gathering of spectators at
Hampden Park. The numbers were variously estimated from 25,000 to
30,000. There were six Corinthians in the English eleven, which had
been chosen with great care. The late victories of the Queen's Park
and Third Lanark teams in London over the Corinthians gave the
Scotchmen additional hopes of success in the international. The
Glasgow clubs furnished the greater portion of the Scotch team, in
which Wilson, who played so well on the Oval a fortnight ago, filled
the important post of goal-keeper. The weather was fine, and with the
ground dry a fast game was the result. Choice of positions fell to
England, who, at first, had the advantage of the wind, and the
Scotchmen kicked off...
It was passed out to Wood, who effected a brilliant run, which he
finished up with a goal for England in a little less than 20 minutes
of the start...
The ball was taken towards the centre. Robertson, however, kicked it
close up to the goal, and M'Pherson, amid great cheering, brought the
score level...
It was a capital game and the interest was sustained throughout. The
combination of both teams was excellent, especially the left wing play
of the English. The goal keeping at both ends was very safe, and
altogether there was very little to choose between the sides.
|
|
Daily Mail, Monday,
7 April 1890 |
As early as 12
o'clock the crowd began to gather thick and fast in lovely weather and
a pleasing prospect before them.
Up till close on the time for starting, the immense strain round the
substantial paling kept the crowd in position, but at length the wave
became too powerful opposite the gate stand and burst. They rushed
into the arena and at other parts of the field the more unruly soon
followed their example and for some time the touch-line was a scene of
surging humanity.
The Englishmen, as is usually the case, shone out brilliantly at the
start, but towards the close of the day the hard work told on the
strangers, and in the last quarter of an hour they were lucky in
making it a draw. Their goal was again and again besieged in a way
never before seen at the close of an international. |
|
England
Football Online
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Match
Summary
