January 2, 1907
For the second time within seven days, Bolton Wanderers demonstrated their superiority over Liverpool in no uncertain manner. On Boxing Day the League champions were vanquished on a frozen ground by two clear goals. On Tuesday, at Bolton, they were utterly routed. With pools of water lying all over the ground, and rendering it extremely difficult to induce the ball to travel , short passing was absolutely useless, the ball invariably stopping dead when it was intended to run through, and often when the players expected it to stop abruptly it skidded on, and made it appear that their judgment was faulty.
In such circumstances it was greatly to the credit of both teams that play reached so high a standard. Indeed, in the first half it was a glorious contest for supremacy, and although the Wanderers claimed the only goal. Liverpool made many clever attacks which would certainly have borne fruit against a less capable defence.
After changing ends, Liverpool tired perceptibly, and the Wanderers were not slow to push home their advantage. John Edmonson kept a magnificent goal, his judgement in most trying situations being admirable. His coolness and clean fielding of deadly low shots inspired his colleagues to greater efforts. Bert Baverstock and Jack Stanley covered him superbly, rarely appearing in difficulties, despite smart combination by the Liverpool front rank, who, however, seldom looked like scoring. At half back the Wanderers had a great advantage, Arthur Gaskell, Bob Clifford, and John Boyd not only holding their opponents thoroughly in check, but joining in many scintillating attacks. Albert Shepherd’s reappearance was scarcely satisfactory but he put new life into his forwards, and the Barnsley recruit, Jackie Owen, again pleased twenty-four thousand people immensely. The most brilliant forward was undoubtedly Marshall McEwan. George Latham and Percy Saul could not hold him, and Sam Hardy had a thankless task in goal.
Liverpool’s defence was deplorably weak, and the Wanderers might easily have won by a greater margin. David Stokes, Gaskell, and Owen were the scorers for Bolton.
(Source: Manchester Courier: January 2, 1907)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 