Saturday, March 17 – 1917
Match: Lancashire Section, Primary, at Goodison Park, kick-off: 15:30.
Everton – Liverpool 2-2 (0-1).
Attendance: 23,000; gate receipts: £920.
Referee: Mr. F. Leigh; linesmen: Messrs. R.R. Keay and H. Oxley.
Everton (2-3-5): Frank Mitchell, Bob Thompson, Jock Maconnachie, Tom Fleetwood, Billy Wareing, Alan Grenyer, Sam Chedgzoy, Frank Jefferis, Ernie Gault, Joe Clennell, Joe Donnachie.
Liverpool (2-3-5): Kenneth Campbell, Ephraim Longworth, Tommy Lucas, John Bamber, Walter Wadsworth, Donald Mackinlay, Arthur Goddard, Arthur Metcalf, Tommy Bennett, Harry Lewis, Tommy Cunliffe.
The goals: 0-1 Bennett (3 min.), 1-1 Gault (54 min.), 2-1 Gault (62 min.), 2-2 Wadsworth (75 min.).
I met Ernest Pinkley just before the match. He is a Royal Engineer and came down this week on leave, and there was an idea that he might be playing today, but eventually the teams were as expected.
The enormous crowd got a surprise after the first minute, Bennett scoring after Goddard had done useful work. Maconnachie imagined that the pace of an oblique pass would be beyond the capacity of a veteran like Goddard, but Goddard was content to back heel the ball to keep it in play. This fruitful idea was the direct genius of the surprise goal. A centre from the right was true in direction, and Everton’s defence fell back into goal and hindered Mitchell when he attempted to punch away, the ball being about four yards from goal. Bennett does not miss these chances, and he found pleasure in scoring against the side that gave him his first trail when he arrived from Canada.
Even were the exchange and earnest the endeavour Clennell pitched on to his head, Mackinlay fell back into goal and cleared unexpectedly. Wadsworth committed the first foul. Thompson was caught guessing by Bennett whose shot screwed across the goal and then tremendous engagement was raised by a marvellous save by the international Campbell and by a handling case in the penalty area by Bamber.
Campbell flung himself to the right hand covering the goal and by this save and its reception easy vividly reminded of a similar save in the Military intentional match last May. It was a very simple handling case that came in the penalty area and the referee could not be blamed for missing it, as he was tucked away, in goal amidst a lot of players who had gathered together to consider a corner kick. At least it was a gentle off-side.
Everton had been unsteadied by the opening reverse but now played like their true selves. Chedgzoy hit the rigging – he was too oblique and following up with desperation was only inches out of the goal reckoning. Although Lewis changed the venue and made a rasping shot which hit the upright, Everton were soon back to the quarters of the Liverpool defence. The bombardment failed to make Lucas, Longworth, and Campbell.
Donnachie was the engineer of many moves. The wingers went in for shooting frequently. For instance Cunliffe, tried one following which Clennell, who had been off with a slight injury made a poor effort from a glorious place.
Mackinlay once again falling to the rear and clearing all danger. Clennell put the ball to hand and Lucas took the ball off the foot of Jefferis at the moment the inside right was shooting. Other the fact that neither Everton back was reliable in back, there was nothing of note prior to half-time.
A Summary.
Without doing the feature of the first half had both Campbell’s save. Considering the circumstances under which Campbell display was remarkable, and crowd was not slow to recognised it. Everton had many chances to equalise, and they played into the hands of Liverpool.
Half-time; Everton 0, Liverpool 1.
A replica of the first goal of the day was registered when Gault scored at 54 minute, Chedgzoy had not a lively time in the first half, but he quickly set to work in the second, when he centred from a snap centre, Campbell was unable to do much then throw the ball forward a few yards, Gault was uncovered and he took the opportunity to equalise the scores.
For a long time Everton were top dog and it was wonderful how the Liverpool goal escaped. At times Mackinlay cleared in fine manner, but it was Campbell who diverted long shots by Jefferis and Gault. Gault having tasted blood, was keen on getting a further success, but no Everton forward played with quite the effect reached by Donnachie. Corner after corner went Everton’s way, but Liverpool packed their goal effectively, and gradually the game opened out.
The pressure that Everton exercised was bound to tell its tale, and just after the hour Gault scored again, following another miraculous save on the part of Campbell, who prevented Jefferis scoring with a fast shot taken at six yards range.
Goal Scorers:
* Bennett scored for Liverpool – three minutes;
* Gault scored for Everton after 54 minutes;
* Gault scored for Everton 62 minutes;
* Wadsworth scored – 75 minutes.
(Liverpool Echo, 17-03-1917)
XX
"Play Up, Liverpool" 