The
English captain had been fortunate enough to win the toss, and he
decided that his opponents should play the first half of the game in
the teeth of a stiff wind. In the first instant Watt and his partner
looked dangerous, and the first impression was that they were going to
do great things. It was only a flash in the pan, however, for off went
Milward and Chadwick at top speed to the other end, the latter causing
first uneasiness by a fast low shot, which Arnott was lucky in
stopping. Again, after a bit of scrummaging about Wilson's domains,
Sellar rushed off, and a corner resulted to his side, but it went
begging. Before this pressure had been relieved, Holmes made a mistake
in delaying to tackle Sellar, but the Queen's man, fortunately
for England, landed his shot, a
terrifically swift one, just past the post. During the next few
minutes, Geary was fouled twice, but almost as soon as he had got over
the second one Milward banged the ball to him, and Wilson had a
dangerous high shot to negotiate, but he was successful. At this stage
and for some short time afterwards, the Englishmen were having all the
best of matters, shots by Chadwick, Goodall, Milward, and Bassett all
deserving to score. A capital bit of tackling by Arnott sent away
Watt, but Sellar and Rankine mulled a grand chance. As soon as the
ball had been kicked off after this Chadwick raced down and crossed to
Goodall, who lost no time in putting on the first point for England. A
claim for off-side was dismissed. From the mid-field kick, Rankine, by
good dribbling, got clear and called on Moon, who fisted away.
Chadwick next missed a grand opportunity of scoring by hesitating when
tackled by Begbie. Moon about this time had a few anxious moments, but
Holmes and Howarth time after time repulsed. At length Chadwick got
possession of the ball about twenty-five yards from goal, and with a
terrific shot called on Wilson. The Vale man missed handling the ball,
and it slid off his body and through the goal amid cheers. A claim
that the ball went outside was not entertained. M'Pherson pulled up
Geary when dangerous, and Holt thrice performed a similar operation
for Sellar at the other end. To half-time the game was in favour of
England, and at the sound of the whistle the record was:― ENGLAND 2
goals SCOTLAND 0 goals.
With the wind behind them Scotland were
again in favour, and the most sanguine Englishman said to himself that
his favourites would require all they had got to win. The Scotchmen
from the kick-off were soon busy, but Howarth, Holmes, and Holt were
so assiduous in their attentions that they could scarcely get a single
opportunity of shooting for goal. Moon, however, had one teaser to
stop from Sellar, and soon afterwards Hill filled his hands for the
first time. At length Milward and Chadwick broke away by some perfect
passing, the latter putting in a shot which Wilson had to give a
fruitless corner to save. The Englishmen were playing a much better
game than their opponents did against the wind, and time after time
the left pair and Goodall got through , but were not supported. For
Scotland Wall dropped the ball just over the bar, but from the
goal-kick Bassett got past the opposing halves and backs, but being
unprotected Smellie charged him off the ball easily. Berry next gave
Moon a hard shot to stop, but he cleared finely. At the other end
Goodall and Bassett were again conspicuous, Arnott finally getting rid
of a screw by the Derby County man in a lucky fashion. Smith fouled
Sellar when he was dangerous, and the free-kick looked very dangerous
for the Englishmen. Howarth, however, met the ball, and relieved the
pressure with a fine long kick. At the end of the half an hour's play
Watt got the better of Holmes by lying off-side, while Baird passed
the ball. The North-Ender, however, tackled him, and both lost the
ball, which was lying stationary between them. Moon, seeing this,
rushed out and kicked the ball, which rebounded towards the goal off
Watt. The Scotchman, spying his opportunity, rushed forward, and with
a fine screw put the ball between the posts before Moon could get
back. After this the ball travelled from end to end, but nothing
further was done.
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Match Report
The Times, Monday,
6 April 1891 |
Ewood
Park, Blackburn, was the scene of the 20th annual match between
England and Scotland on Saturday. The weather proved inclement, and
the torrents of rain which had fallen during the morning caused the
turf to be slippery. There was a great influx of visitors from
Scotland, and about 10,000 spectators were present. Large as this
number was, it would probably have been still larger but for the
chagrin felt by many of the Lancastrians that not a single place was
found in the English eleven for the Blackburn Rovers, who recently won
the Association Challenge Cup, and on whose ground the match was
decided. England were successful in the toss, and elected to have the
advantage of the strong wind...
For a long time the
Scotch kept up a gallant defence ; but after about 20 minutes' play
it was broken through by Goodall, who received the ball from one of
the left wings and shot it between the posts. There was a demur as
to whether the off-side rule had not been infringed, which, however,
was not sustained...
After
half an hour's play, a pass from Goodall to Chadwick enabled the
latter, by a brilliant shot, to place the second goal to the credit
of England. A trifling objection was raised, but negatived...
...A
few minutes later Watt guided the ball right up to the posts, and
after a little opposition screwed it through, thus scoring for
Scotland...
The defence on both sides was excellent, but the
winners' advantage lay in their superior forward game ; they passed
with great judgment, and their kicking was well-timed and accurate. |
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England
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Match
Summary
William Rose (