January 30, 1905
Leicester Fosse, who had been in close training during the week in preparation for next Saturday’s Cup-tie at Birmingham, were expected to continue their sequence of successes on Saturday, when they had Liverpool as guests, but any prospect of that disappeared when it was learnt that three of their best men, in Jimmy Blessington, Tommy Allsopp and Billy Bannister, would be unable to participate.
In Collins was found a very efficient pivot of the half-back line, so that Bannister’s absence was scarcely so heavily felt as was expected, but the disorganization of the front rank was quite sufficient to account for their defeat. How great the straits to which the Fosse directorate were reduced in this department is shown by the fact that the centre position was confined to an absolutely untried man, in Hyett, of Stapleford. From the Notts and District League to a keen Second League game is a big jump, and it is nothing to Hyett’s discredit to admit that he was not equal to the demands of the position.
But even with such a weakened side, Fosse ought not have been beaten by such a heavy score as 3-0. There was an element of doubt about the first goal, which accrued to Liverpool in the initial ten minutes of the game, and this had a discouraging effect on the home players; added to which they caught Doig on one of his best days. He played a superb game, and good as was Smith’s work at the other end it was quite overshadowed by that of the Liverpudlian. Time and again he saved in most remarkable fashion, and twice at least he accomplished the apparently impossible, and averted goals.
A keen game.
It was a keen and fast game, despite the greasy and heavy condition of the ground. Liverpool, with the sun behind them, had the better of the first half, but the Fosse defence was sound, and the only score was the goal which Robinson notched from Cox’s centre after nine minutes’ play. Fosse had a chance of equalizing a quarter of an hour before the interval, but Pollock made a mess of a penalty kick, banging the ball straight at Doig, on whose legs it rebounded to a place of safety.
Crossing over, a remarkable feature was the series of corners which Durrant forced. Doig at one period conceding three in quick succession in order to avert a score. Hereabouts the Fosse would certainly have scored with just a little method or luck in their work in front of goal. With only seventeen to go Liverpool gained a penalty kick though Oakes handling, and though Smith stopped the ball is went out to West, and that player registered the second goal for Liverpool. In a final effort, just on the call of time, the visitors obtained a third goal. Smith came out to meet the rush, but failing to properly secure the ball the goal fell an easy prey to Goddard.
Liverpool were certainly the smarter side. Of a well-balanced front line Robinson was the pick until he had to retire injured well on in the second half. Both the wing men played an exceedingly strong game, but Goddard was slightly better than Cox. Raisbeck’s effective work at centre-half had not a little to do with his forwards’ success, while Parry was prominent by reason of his shooting, several times placing the Fosse goal in jeopardy.
Good back play.
There was little to choose between the backs, both of whom were excellent. One man in the Fosse front rank. Durrant, stood away from the rest, and this despite that Brunton played his best game of the season. Mounteney, in the unusual position in which he found himself, was quite incapable of those hustling methods which had so much to do with his club’s success at West Bromwich and Burton. Collins, as already stated, exceeded expectations at centre-half; Bennett was the better of the backs, and Smith was not in the least blameable for his side’s reverse.
Leicester Fosse: Walter Smith, Jack Bennett, Bill Oakes, Bily Morgan, Arthur Collins, Bob Pollock, Jimmy Durrant, Matthew Brunton, James Hyett, Ike Evenson, Arthur Mounteney.
Liverpool: Ned Doig, Alf West, Billy Dunlop, Maurice Parry, Alex Raisbeck, George Fleming, Arthur Goddard, Robert Robinson, Sam Raybould, Jack Parkinson, John Cox.
Referee: Mr. P.R. Harrower, London.
(Source: Athletic News: January 30, 1905)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 