Officials         

   The dull weather held fine, and the company numbered about 25,000. The ground was slightly moist, and greasy on the surface, but otherwise in good condition. Scarcely any wind. William Scott, the Irish captain, won the toss, but gained little advantage thereby. Shepherd kicking off. The Irishmen dashed away, but first Pennington cleared, and next McDonnell sent over the line. Following further attacks, not very serious, by the visitors, the ball was moving out to Simpson, but too hard, that player racing up just too late to keep the ball in play. Still play went in Ireland's favour, and Crompton, kicking weakly, the home goal was in some danger until Lacey sent behind.
   Again was Crompton weak, but Pennington came to the rescue. At length the English forwards got to work, Simpson centring for Burnison to clear. The next minute, however, from another centre by Simpson, Evans shot in, Scott saving then and also when directly afterwards Evans headed into Scott's hands. Just afterwards, Shepherd, essaying a long shot, wend wide. Simpson next returned Shepherd's pass in great style, the latter looking sure to score, but slipping almost in the goalmouth, and Scott being thereby enabled to clear. The Irishmen, however, played with plenty of dash and with Crompton beaten Thompson sent in a good shot just over the bar. Following a brief delay, while McAuley recovered from a slight injury came the first free kick to England, but nothing of account resulted from it. Wedlock brought off some smart work, both in attack and defence. Thompson, eluding Crompton, had a shot at goal, but Williamson saved without difficulty.
   Play had lasted twenty minutes, when Wedlock, making a fine opening for Shepherd, the latter took steady aim and scored for England. Scott having no chance. A corner to England was forced by Evans, but poorly taken, and then Woodger, when well placed, kicked hard, but wide. Some exciting work followed at the other end. Williamson saving a long shot from [McAuley] next at close range, and then from a long dropping shot from Lacey having to jump up, and reach the ball just under the bar. Before he could get the ball away, Williamson was charged, but he succeeded in clearing.
   England were soon attacking again. Simpson outwitted McCann, and making a fine opening for Shepherd, who shot very hard, Scott knocking the ball down, and getting it away—a desperately narrow escape for Ireland.
    In some further attacks on the visitors' goal, Scott threw away without much difficulty. Thompson next again tested Williamson, and then came further pressure on the visitors' lines, Simpson being really wonderful in the accuracy of his centring, but altogether the English front rank did not come up to expectation. From one of Simpson's openings Evans tested Scott, forcing a fruitless corner.
    Play continued in favour of England until Crompton, passing back right across his own goal mouth, placed his side in great danger, Sturgess coming to the rescue again. Crompton blundered, but happily he and Warren had an excellent understanding when Crompton, instead of clearing, put the ball right in front of Williamson.
    Sturgess kicked away, but Crompton again made a blunder, and it was with difficulty that the home men survived this attack.
    Half-time came with the Englishmen enjoying a lead which they just deserved.
   Fortunately the backs were not severely tested, and it seemed as if under pressure we might have had a repetition of Hampden's debacle. The halves were fair, and the forwards not up to expectations. The Irish defence was great, and of the forwards Lacey and McAuley were the best.
   Sturgess very nearly made a vital mistake when play was resumed, for he mis-timed a lovely centre from Thompson, and let Lacey in. The United half recovered himself beautifully, however, and got the ball away.
   Evans hadn't had many chances in the first half, but he quickly got to work now, and Shepherd should have scored from his lovely centre. The Newcastle man could only turn the ball past. The came Ireland's turn.
   For a time the English defence was simply whacked, there's no other word for it, and only bad luck kept McDonnell and McAuley from scoring. Later, in the midst of an exciting scrimmage, Hanson headed the ball past Williamson, who turned round and scooped the lather out. Ireland claimed a goal, and indeed the crowd at the back of the goal seemed to support the view, but all the Irishmen got was a corner. Whether the ball was over or not, the movement was worth a goal and as the game proceeded it began to be obvious that it was a mighty good job for England that they had got an early goal.
   To be perfectly candid our haves were a failure and the backs weren't much better, and Pennington almost gave Ireland a goal when he missed the ball and allowed Lacey to put in a centre full of malice.
   Somehow or other the danger was removed, but not before Williamson had had a busy moment. The English forwards were getting a fine view of the contest, particularly the lefty wing, for when we did get on the move the leather invariably went to Simpson or Fleming. These two were doing all right, but every time the ball came across, one of these sturdy Irishmen got it away. Shephered was eclipsed. - 'Looker-On.'