September 25, 1916
The Anfielders added to their very useful and gratifying record on Saturday by taking a couple of points off Preston North End at Deepdale. In bagging this brace they perhaps got a little more than they deserved, for the Prestonians experienced all the ill-luck and received most of the hard knocks.
The contest throughout was of a strenuous and ding-dong character, with a touch, at times, of quite unnecessary roughness. On this point, in passing, we may say it seems a very great pity that displays of ill-temper should be permitted to creep into the game at a time like the present.
The sport can only be kept alive and flourishing in these troublous days by the spirit of good-fellowship and good humour. This by the way. As to the match generally, there was plenty to interest and to excite the most apathetic spectator.
Both sides set a merry pace, and the leather was kept swinging from goal to goal with almost bewildering rapidity. The opposing forwards vied with each other in making for the target, and had a tithe of the shots possessed accuracy the score must have proved a heavy one.
As it was, only one bullet found its billet, though several others were deflected more by good luck than good management. This wildness in shooting was the dominant note of the game, which in other respects was a well-balanced struggle for supremacy.
The home side on the general run of the play were entitled to a division of the spoils.
The Liverpool forwards were the first to make dangerous play, and the Preston keeper – both custodians answer to the patronymic of Taylor – was hard pressed on more than one occasion. His vis-à-vis was also kept going, and he had to thank Longworth on two occasions for hooking the ball from under the crossbar. The first and only goal came well on in the first half from the foot of Pagnam, who ploughed through and beat the warden at the second attempt. In the concluding period North End made desperate efforts to get on level terms, and a rearrangement of the firing line might have brought this about had fortune smiled upon them.
The Liverpool defence was on its best behaviour, especially in the person of Longworth, who did three men’s work. Wadsworth was easily the pick of the halves, and the forwards, if individually smart, were collectively clumsy.
Pagnam scored his usual goal, and the outside wingers both put in much effective work. Metcalf could do nothing right, and had the misfortune to miss at least five opportunities of netting the ball, while Ashcroft seemed to be too cramped, though once ot twice he got through and shot strongly.
Teams: –
Preston North End (2-3-5): Herbert Taylor, Billy Throughear, Billy Cook, Eddie Holdsworth, Joe McCall, Clayton, Tom Broad, Jackson, Dempsey, John Hosker, George Barlow.
Liverpool: Ted Taylor, Ephraim Longworth, Tommy Lucas, John Bamber, Walter Wadsworth, Donald Mackinlay, Ernest Pinkney, Arthur Metcalf, Fred Pagnam, Ashcroft, Tommy Cunliffe.
(Liverpool Echo: September 25, 1916)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 