In brilliant sunshine A. G. Morris kicked off for Wales, who at once
gained a throw in on their right. From this Davies banged the ball in
front, but Crawshaw headed out, and a race was made for the other end. A
goal kick ended the attack, and Wales had another turn, but once more
Crawshaw headed away from Davies. Hands against England led to nothing, as
the leather was lifted over the bar by Matthias, and Becton twice shot
wide, when well placed. A free kick helped England, and both Needham and
Reynolds lifted the ball back into the scrimmage, only to see it placed
wide at last by Smith. The home country pressed hard after this, but
Trainer was not troubled, several shots being wide of the mark, and one
hot one by Bloomer was yards too high. More even play followed, though
England had somewhat the better of the exchanges, the forwards shooting
badly however. At length the Welsh right wing pair got off well, and
Meredith lifted the ball over to the other wing, where Hugh Morris got
possession and centred, only to see Davies offside close to the
goalkeeper. End to end play followed, long shots, and not very straight
ones, either, being the game indulged in by the home forwards, Bloomer
twice being at fault. Trainer got his first work from a long attempt by
Reynolds, and then the red and white got down smartly, and Lewis shot in
well from long range, but Foulkes cleared with little difficulty. The game
was neither very fast nor particularly exciting, England still having the
better of the play, though there was not much steadiness in the attack,
and aided by a couple of free kicks the Welshmen made a capital attempt to
open the scoring. Hugh Morris had a good opening, but dallied too long,
and when he did shoot it was a very feeble attempt, whilst Jones made a
bad miss when well placed, and the England right going down at top speed
forced a corner of Matthias. This was got away easily, and a second one, a
moment later, was dropped behind by Needham. After Bloomer had troubled
Trainer with a low one, A. G. Morris broke through, but was pulled up by
Spencer, who, though not kicking very strongly, was hard to pass. A free
kick for hands in favour of the 'whites' was headed outside by Edwards,
but they were not to be denied, and were quickly attacking hotly. Several
times the ball was sent in, but when the backs were beaten, Trainer was in
the way, and he got rid of the leather cleverly, until at length Crashaw
getting hold shot in over the heads of the intervening players. The goalkeeper
threw out in a hurry straight to Needham, who took advantage of a clear opening,
and shot the first goal through a cluster of half-a-dozen opponents,
amidst loud cheering. From the restart the Welsh right bore down, but Reynolds
checked them, and another loose dash was made by the English forwards, who
were only pulled up with great difficulty. The ball was quickly returned,
and a warm scrimmage followed right under the bar. Edwards headed away at
the finish, and then the Welsh left got off, and beat Oakley without much
difficulty, Foulkes and Crawshaw clearing in turn. Another warm attack was
made on Trainer's charge but without avail, the goalkeeper saving
splendidly several times, particularly a fast shot from Needham.
Athersmith had a run on his own account, and shot just a shade wide at the
the finish, while after a spell of long kicking in mid-field Trainer had
again to clear in a hurry. The Welsh forwards kept breaking away, the
right wing pair, Davies and Meredith, showing really good form, passing
well, and beating Oakley nearly every time they came across him, but the
others were not so smart, and the centres were thrown away, though Davies
once, amidst cheers, whipped the ball hard in, Foulkes fisting out. A
moment afterwards, the ball went over to the left wing, and the outside
man had an open goal, but waited until Reynolds was on him, when he passed
back to Jones, that player being a shade wide with a long one. England
next pressed, and several good runs were made by Athersmith and Bloomer,
Smith having retired through an injury to his face. Trainer twice saved
smartly from Becton and Bloomer, but there was not much sting in the attack,
and no very brilliant combination. At length, just upon half-time, the English
right-wing pair got off with a rush, and Bloomer, with a high shot that
gave Trainer no chance, scored the second goal. The interval followed
immediately.
The English centre-forward was unable
too take his place after the interval, and his side had to start with ten
men only. The first item of note was a capital single-handed run by A. G.
Morris, but Oakley caught and managed to bother him as he shot, and
Foulkes running out was able to clear. Becton had a chance at the other
end, but Chapman smartly cleared the right wing pair next making the
running, there being, however, too much passing in front, and Matthias
jumped in and cleared. Edwards, with a mighty kick from the middle line,
lifted the leather high over Foulkes's head, while Oakley, also from the
middle, shot into Trainer's hands, that custodian only saving at the
second attempt. There was little to choose between the two teams at this
stage, pley being confined almost wholly to midfield for a few minutes,
and neither goalkeeper being called on. Bloomer on one side, and Meredith
on the other, were conspicuous, while both pairs of backs were kicking
well and strongly. Off-side pulled up Milward, and Becton made a weak
attempt to close in, while Needham twice kicked too strongly, and sent
over the line. At length, after Smith had returned, Crawshaw got hold of a
return from Mates, and from a twenty yards range shot hard, just under the
bar. Trainer pulled the ball down, but before he could get rid of it was
charged through by Milward, and England were three up. A bit of loose play
after the restart, and then the English left wing got hold, Milward with a
lightning, low shot, out of Trainer's reach, making the score a quartette.
The Welshmen were quickly defending again, but they were very determined,
both backs doing well, while Jones was very smart amongst the halves.
Crawshaw shot wide, and Reynolds pulled up Lewis and Hugh Morris twice
with great ease, the home forwards pressing hard, but ineffectually, for a
short time. A couple of free kicks fell to Wales, the second one, off
Crawshaw, close to the English goal, but this was gt away at the expense
of a corner, from which Spencer headed away, and Bloomer got off with a
rush. Jones robbed him, but the Whites were soon busy in front of Trainer
again, the forwards passing better than at any previous part of the game.
Smith was just wide with a low shot, and then retired again, leaving four
forwards. Athersmith a moment later centred beautifully, and Becton headed
over, several free kicks to both sides following quickly, and keeping the
game more open. Jones beat Bloomer and Athersmith, and enabled Matthias to
kick away at a critical moment, after which Chapman sent in a splendid
long shot, which Foulkes fisted away. A dash by the English left ended in
the ball being put in front, and Trainer missing it, Athersmith had no
difficulty in shooting through, but the point was disallowed, evidently
for interference with the goalkeeper. At the other end Meredith sent wide,
and Chapman skimmed the bar with a beautly almost from the middle line.
England again attacked, and Becton missed the mark by a shade. Athersmith
too, being wide. They last-named player got in a fine centre, and Edwards
managed to clear, as he did a second time a moment later. Milward on this
occasion getting close in. The Welsh right several times broke away, but
they were rarely dangerous, though they kept beating Oakley is in the
first half, Needham, however, generally coming to the rescue. Athersmith
got over the goal-line as he centred, but had better luck at another
attempt, as he slipped round Matthias and hoisted the ball right across to
Becton, who shot a yard outside the post. Things slowed down somewhat
after this, and the home players could hardly be accused of ever exerting
themselves, though they held their opponents in check without much
difficulty. The half-backs showed some tricky but not very useful passing
amongst themselves, play being fairly even and mostly about midfield.
Spencer twice robbed Lewis and Hugh Morris very neatly, but on the other
wing Oakley was not getting along very well, though he kicked strongly at
times. Athersmith had another try just before the finish, but was charged
down by Matthias, oth the Welsh backs showing plenty of dash and shirking
nothing all through. In the last few minutes there was little of note
transpired, the Englishmen having evidentaly got the measure of their
opponents, and somewhat loose play was the rule until the whistle was
sounded.
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