Saturday, September 6 – 1947
Reserves, Central League, at Turf Moor.
Burnley Reserves – Liverpool Reserves 1-0 (0-0).
Referee: Mr. J. McCann (Preston).
Burney Reserves (2-3-5): Ron Meadows; Jack Butterfield, Jack Marshall; Harold Rudman, Bob Johnson, Joe Loughran; Fred Taylor, George Knight, Peter Greenwood, Jack Knight, Peter Kippax.
Liverpool Reserves (2-3-5): Russell Crossley; William Shepphard, Tom Bush; Willie Fagan, Jack Easdale, Len Carney; Arthur Shepherd, Alec Muir, Cyril Done, Tommy McLeod, Robert Middleton.
The goals: 1-0 J. Knight (85 min.).
Plenty of energy was displayed by both teams in Saturday’s game at Turf Moor, but football of any real quality was at a premium, and the spectators had a disappointing afternoon.
The first half was particularly dull, and the only feature was the dour work of the respective defences, with Johnson and Butterfield the outstanding players on the field. At wing half Burnley lost their power of previous matches, and there was never any real connecting link with the forwards.
There was much ragged played in attack, and apart from occasional bursts by Peter Kippax and an odd snap shot from Jack Knight, there were few attacks which promised of goal-scoring success.
Greenwood had a particularly lean time, his anticipation being poor, his positioning indifferent and his shooting erratic. Much of George Knight’s foraging was negative by inaccurate distribution, while the response from Taylor, who had rather harsh treatment from Bush, caused little embarrassment in Liverpool’s goal until near the close when the winger, in an inspired spell, indulged in some forceful shooting.
The dominance of the defence was, perhaps, the explanation of the ineptitude of the attacks. Burnley, by means of heir better positioning and cleaner kicking, had the easier game, and Meadows was never extended to the same degree as the Liverpool custodian.
The only goal of the match came after 85 minutes when Jackie Knight picked up a pass from the left, and, shooting on the instant and with terrific power, left the Liverpool ‘keeper helpless. It was a typical Knight goal which gave Burnley a victory they just about deserved.
(Burnley Express, 10-09-1947)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 