Officials       

The great game at the Crystal Palace on Saturday ended in a draw—two goals all—after a most exciting struggle. Considering the weather in the morning, the attendance was surprisingly good—the official return giving the figures as 18,520—and visitors to the Palace were rewarded by a welcome change. The rain ceased, and the wind lost some of its gustiness by two o'clock, and as the game progressed the sun shone out, making matters comparatively bright; but nothing could in any way compensate for the the mud which predominated the match.
   Favoured by the wind, England had the better of the early play, and from a free-kick Bloomer sent in a shot which Rennie only saved at the expense of a corner. Good kicking by Oakley and Iremonger was followed by a dashing run down the left wing by Smith and Hamilton, the latter shooting splendidly. From two corners Sutcliffe got the ball away, and England set up a strong attack. The ball would not go through the slush, and passing along the ground was scarcely possible, but the English halves fed their forwards well, and constantly put the ball into goal. For some reason that could not be seen a penalty was given against Scotland. Needham took it, but shot the ball straight to Rennie, and nothing came of a succeeding corner. Needham did great things both in attack and defence, and Iremonger saved England once when Oakley slipped. For some little time the Scots had the best of matters, and Sutcliffe stopped a hard low shot from McColl, who got the ball from Hamilton. Then G.O. Smith and Foster dribbled away until stopped by Drummond. Strong runs were made by both sets of forwards, Campbell and Walker being prominent, although checked by Oakley, while Bloomer and Bennett put in a skilful run to the Scottish line.
   A lovely dribbling by Foster and a pass to Blackburn helped England to force the play, which was full of incident and excitement. Rennie had to save from Bennett, and a long shot by Frank Forman went only just wide. Then came a grand shot by Foster, which Rennie managed to keep out from the corner of his goal. Rennie's splendid work was quite one of the best features of play. Oakley and Needham frustrated some efforts by the Scottish forwards, and once McColl was actually stopped by the mud; yet he got in a pass to Hamilton, who could not overcome Forman, however, and G.O. Smith, Bloomer, Foster, and Blackburn, took the ball the length of the ground. Only a goal kick ensued. From a big kick by Oakley, Bennett, Bloomer, Smith, and Foster got right down by means of splendid passing. Wilkes shot without effect, but from some most exciting loose play right in the Scottish goal the ball came to Blackburn, who put it past Rennie. He was very close in, but appeals for off-side were useless, and England scored the first goal of the match amidst great enthusiasm. This was about eight minutes before half-time.
   The ball still went in favour of England. Blackburn forcing a corner, and Wilkes sending in a shot that was well saved. Iremonger came out prominently in checking Smith and Hamilton, and from a kick by Oakley, G.O. Smith and Foster dribbled down. But the Scots became dangerous, and Sutcliffe had much trouble in keeping out shots by Walker and McColl. From a throw-in Foster dashed off, but the Scots defended grandly. A mistake by Iremonger  let in the forwards, but Sutcliffe averted the danger, and at the other end G.O. Smith shot hard along the ground, Rennie getting the ball away very smartly; and at the interval England had still only one goal to their credit.
   The sun had burst through the clouds shortly before change of ends, and in the second half of the game England had to face the sunshine as well as the wind. With the scene brighter and the Scots making a uphill fight, the second half of the game was even better to watch than the first, and much enthusiasm was shown by the spectators. At once the Scots attacked, Smith and Hamilton taking the ball down, before McColl put in a grand shot. Sutcliffe turned the ball over the bar. Nothing came from two corners, but England continued to be hard pressed, Needham being very conspicuous in defence. The Englishmen broke away, and from a pass by Foster, Bloomer put the ball through, but he was offside. Fast and even play followed. Foster shooting wide of the goal, and the Scotchmen being stopped for offside. It was not long, however, before Campbell got across to the left wing, and with a splendid long shot beat Sutcliffe, the ball going into the corner of the goal. Thus, before ten minutes had elapsed in the second half, Scotland had equalised, and so well did they play that their success seemed pretty certain. Needham, Foster, and Blackburn made some attacks, and from a pass by G.O. Smith Bennett shot just too high. But generally the play went in favour of Scotland.
   A blunder by Iremonger looked fatal, when McColl raced through, but Oakley got up and charged him off the ball as he shot. So England were saved for the time being, but they were often in serious trouble. Their right wing did practically the only attacking, and Bennett sent in a long left-foot shot that just failed, Rennie giving a corner. Keen and even play followed, until the Scots settled down to many strong attacks. McColl shot wide, then Sutcliffe saved from Hamilton, and after Blackburn had missed a fair chance for England given him by G.O. Smith, Scotland scored their second goal. Walker raced down the right wing, and, centreing from the corner, put the ball right in front of goal. Hamilton headed it, and the ball skidded along the slippery turf too fast for Sutcliffe to get near it. Thus with quarter of an hour to play Scotland were a goal to the good, and they pressed so strongly that their victory seemed assured. England had become rather ragged in their combination, but they struggled hard, and pluck gave them the goal that saved them from defeat. Bloomer dashed down on Drummond, and receiving the ball on his body raced through and beat Rennie. Only about ten minutes remained for play, but there were chances of a deciding goal coming to each side. England did best in this last period, and as the whistle sounded for the cessation of play Rennie had the ball in his hands from a shot by Bloomer. This incident gave a smart finish to a brilliant struggle, which left England champions of the season at Association football.