December 25, 1915
Match: Lancashire Section, principal tournament, at Turf Moor.
Burnley – Liverpool 3-3 (1-1).
Attendance: 12,000; gate receipt £263.
Referee: Mr. F.L. Shepherd; linesmen: Messrs. D. Heath and H. Howard.
Burnley (2-3-5): Jerry Dawson; Tom Bamford, David Taylor; Albert Walmsley, Tommy Boyle, Billy Nesbitt; Bob Kelly, Dick Lindley, Bert Freeman, Teddy Hodgson, Eddie Mosscrop.
Liverpool (2-3-5): Elisha Scott; Ephraim Longworth, Sam Speakman; Norman Bradley, Walter Wadsworth, Donald Mackinlay; Ernest Pinkney, Wilfred Watson, Fred Pagnam, William Banks, James Dawson.
The goals: 1-0 Nesbitt (12 min.), 1-1 Pagnam (30 min.), 2-1 Hodgson (52 min.), 2-2 Pagnam (60 min.), 2-3 Watson (70 min.), 3-3 Walmsley (84 min.).
This holiday fixture drew by far the biggest crowd of the season to Turf Moor, about 15,000 people enjoying a spanking game. Dawson came into the Liverpool side in place of Metcalf, and Wadsworth for Goddard.
Liverpool set a fine pace at the beginning. Pagnam was an enthusiastic leader, and there was a briskness and enterprise about the whole line which was very promising. Taylor’s speed enabled him to spoil some dangerous spurts. Burnley responded in lively fashion, and the spectators were treated to football of genuine quality and full of energy. Scott saved a good cross shot from Nesbitt from a free kick. Kelly burst away and swung the ball across the Liverpool goalmouth. Scott deftly cleared as Hodgson was just getting his head to the ball. Mosscrop pounced upon the leather and got in a fierce drive, Scott very smartly tipping the ball over the bar. It was certainly a great save. Quickly accepting a pass from Hodgson, Lindley banged the ball with great force against one of the goalposts. The ball bounded away to Nesbitt, who, with a fast cross shot, scored the first goal for Burnley after twelve minutes’ play. Scott touched the ball in the act of falling, but failed to hold it. Pagnam had an exciting race with Taylor, whom he finally shook off, but his centre could not be improved upon. Burnley played with great determination, and during a vigorous spell of pressure Hodgson centred beautifully to Freeman, who made a great effort to turn the ball into the net, but it went outside. Liverpool then claimed a full share in the game, though Burnley had the more chances. Lindley with a rising shot grazed the crossbar when Scott seemed beaten. Half an hour had gone when Pagnam burst away from near the middle of the field, and, though challenged by Taylor, he eventually shook him off, and dashing forward scored a brilliant goal. The interval arrived with the score 1 goal each.
The second half opened in thrilling fashion, the Burnley forwards opening with great dash. In the first minute Freeman drive the ball hard against the Liverpool crossbar. Soon after, Scott saved cleverly from Boyle. Only seven minutes had gone when Hodgson snapped up a pass from Freeman and fairly wormed his way through. After beating Speakman, he collared the ball from Scott’s save and tumbled it into the net. It was not as brilliant a goal as Pagnam’s, but still a great effort.
Nothing daunted, Liverpool played a strong game from stem to stern, and with Burnley at the top of their form the onlookers saw a rousing exhibition. Just as the whistle was going for hands, Watson shot the ball past Dawson, and it was distinctly hard line that the shot could not count. However, when fifteen minutes had gone Pagnam raced away, and the ball bounced over the head of Dawson, who had run out. Taylor tried to intercept Pagnam but failed, and the Liverpool centre scored another fine goal. Ten minutes later Watson cleverly beat Boyle and Taylor, and gave Liverpool the lead. Five minutes later Walmsley equalised amid great excitements, six minutes from the end, a magnificent game ending in a draw.
(Liverpool Echo, 27-12-1915)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 