Officials       

The recent rain had made the ground very wet on the surface, and the going promised to be fairly heavy. The Scotchmen were the first to step out and their appearance was a signal for a loud cheer, to which the visitors from over the border gave full vent. The Englanders followed, and were received with an outburst of cheering and cries of 'Good old England.' Before the serious business of the afternoon was entered upon the teams were photographed. There were 35,000 spectators present when the match started. A loud cheer went up when it was seen that England had won the toss, and Captain Smith chose the advantage of the wind, playing towards the City goal.
  Play started in an exciting fashion, for within a minute of the kick-off N. Smith conceded a corner, and shortly afterwards Fred Forman was knocked off the ball when close in the goal mouth. Christie attempted to set his forwards going, but England were soon making progress toward the Scottish goal, where Settle made a splendid attempt. England were forcing the game, and another corner was taken on the right after Doig had handled the ball from a foul. The N. Smith when hard pressed by Forman gave another corner, but this also was unproductive, three corners having fallen to England in five minutes. Another rush by the English forwards spelt danger for the Thistles, for Needham lifted the ball in and Bloomer just headed the wrong side of the post. A brilliant burst away on the part of the Scottish forwards looked ominous. for Hamilton and Campbell took the leather well in, and Robinson came out and speedily fisted away a shot from Hamilton and saving a return from McColl. Another dashing attack by Scotland was ended, amid cries of disappointment from the Scottish section of the crowd. Scotland held the advantage for some time, and at length Thickett changed the scene of operations with a long kick. A foul to England resulted in the representatives of the Thistle conceding a corner, but again England reaped no advantage. The home team now pressed hotly. Needham neatly pulled up Campbell and Hamilton, but McColl made a gallant effort to put through, which was, however, baulked by Thickett. A smart pass from McColl to Morgan was negatived by Thickett, but Robertson sent to the front, and Hamilton, who secured, put some sting into his shot, which went a foot wide of the post when a goal seemed almost a certainty. Then a foul to England enabled them to get up, and Gibson gave another fruitless corner. The next minute Fred Forman missed with a beauty, the ball going wide by inches only. The reward of England's pressure came a minute later, and with a long shot G.O. Smith struck the upright and the ball bombed into the net. Enthusiastic cheering followed the first success of the Rose, the point being a lovely one. Then Frank Forman tricked Morgan, and G.O. Smith narrowly missed scoring again. The Scottish goal had a remarkably narrow escape from a corner, but Storrier whipped the ball out of danger in the nick of time. Again the English right forced the ball out, and a fine piece of tackling by Crabtree followed, which was much to the taste of the home spectators. This was followed by a fine piece of work by Fred Forman, who successfully dodged Gibson and shot, the leather passing slightly wide, and only wanting a touch from Settle to push it into goal. The Scottish forwards came along in a line very prettily, passing cleverly, but Bell shot yards wide. England, however, still held the advantage, the forwards being faster and showing more dash than the visitors, and Frank Forman was playing a powerful game at centre-half. Splendid work on the English left followed, but Fred Forman again only just failed, and Frank Forman shot over the next minute. The English team still pressed, and showed more cleverness in their method than the Scotchmen. Thirty-six minutes from the start a nice centre by Athersmith was pounced upon by Settle, who scored a beautiful goal amid tremendous cheering. Doig was twice called upon after this, and then a nice pass-out by G. O. Smith was placed wide by Fred Forman. By a fine effort Scotland forced their way to Robinson's charge, but Thickett and Crabtree were all there, and the ball rapidly travelled to the other end. A fast and exciting scrimmage took place in the mouth of the Scottish goal, but the charge was saved in a somewhat lucky fashion. England continued to attack till the whistle blew for the interval.
   Restarting with the wind, Scotland were early on the aggressive, and some very effective play was witnessed, Robinson having to handle twice in the first few minutes. The home goal was surrounded; the ball was bobbing about everywhere, but still the defence prevailed, and the goal was maintained intact. At length Athersmith secured possession, and carried the ball well along, but Bloomer was robbed, and the Scotchmen going down the field with irresistible dash again stormed the English goal, and amid a scene of great excitement Morgan opened up the scoring for Scotland six minutes from the re-start. The ball being forced through in a scrimmage, the Scottish throat giving vent to a yell which shook the grand stand. Athersmith cleverly ran through and passed forward to give Bloomer a chance. The Derby man was offside, but he sent in a shot which Doig saved brilliantly touching the ball out while lying full length on the ground. The Scotsmen held a distinct advantage for some minutes after this, but without further disaster to the English goal, and the home forwards breaking away finely, G.O. Smith gave over to Fred Forman, but the Forester was unable to turn it to account. Then some splendid passing work between McColl, Morgan, and Bell was witnessed, and the last-named swung the ball over to the right and Campbell, standing offside, placed the ball in the net. A brilliant rush by the English forwards followed, but Settle sent yards wide of the mark. Retaliating strongly, Scotland again got to work and Robinson saved finely from Bell. A shot from Morgan shortly afterwards went on the wrong side of the post. Fred Forman receiving from his fellow club-man Frank, a nice run on the wing followed, but his centre was intercepted by Smith, and the advantage was lost. Gibson was penalised for tripping Settle, but the free kick came to nothing, and Scotland again made tracks for the England goal. A free kick close up was awarded to them, but Robinson saved twice from Bell and McColl. Needham cleverly tackled Morgan and Bell, but the ball was soon returned, and Thickett conceded a corner. The leather after an exciting scrimmage was got away, and another incursion into the Scottish territory followed by means of good play on the left wing—a somewhat unusual occurrence in this half. Athersmith got in a fine effort, but his centre went begging. Another dashing run by the Scottish forwards succeeded, only to be neutralised by Hamilton sending over. The attack was resumed, however, but Needham's tackling once more sent the Englishmen racing away in the direction of Doig's charge. Nothing, however, came of it, and the Scotsmen speedily transferred, making a grand attempt to draw level, Robinson saving brilliantly in the last minute. The Englishmen again carried the ball to the other end, but when the whistle blew play was in midfield. There was not a great deal of difference in the play, but England undoubtedly had the advantage.