Birkdale v Southport Swifts – These teams met on Saturday last at the Richmond Road ground, before a fair number of spectators, and the match resulted in a win for the visitors by four goals to nil. Rimmer had the luck with the toss and Mayall kicked off facing a glaring sun. Baxter was soon required to repel the attack from the home left, and from his is return Birkdale were put on the defensive by a good pack of the visiters’ forwards, which however only resulted in a corner. Hales getting the ball away very nicely. Play, which up to now had been of a rather fierce matter, chiefly in midfield, was gradually transferred to the home quarters where Pasquill, from a good centre on the left, notched the first point. On restarting, Birkdale seemed to settle down somewhat, and the services of Baxter and Walmsley were frequently put to the test. The home team gained a corner, the leather being cleared only after a tough scrimmage in front of goal. The Swifts now raced up the field, and an error of the home custodian let in Blackledge, thus giving the visiters their second goal. A scene now took place in the mouth of the home goal. Hales and H.White being charged down, lay on the ball with almost entire swift team struggling on top of them, in their vein endeavour to force them through, and as this state of affairs appeared likely to be prolonged to an indefinite time, the referee sounded his whistle and allowed a foul for hands against the homesters, which however W.White cleverley got away, and when half-time was called, the score was unaltered. The second half was of a very even character, although the visitors managed to beat Hales on two more occasions, and at the finish the Swifts had won the encounter as stated above. For the home team, the defence was all that could be desired. K O’Brien and the full backs deserving special mention. Of the forwards, the least said perhaps the better, as very little combination, if any, was shown by them throughout the whole game. For the visiters, F.Rimmer Pasquill and Baxter were decidedly the pick. Teams:- Birkdale: W.Hales, goal; H.White and W.Marchant, backs; F.Knight, K.O’Brien and W.Cross, half backs; C.Crankshaw and T.Leach, right wing; Mayall, centre; W.G.White (captain) and H.E.Thornley, left wing. Southport: Guest, goal; Baxter and Walmsley, backs; Evans, F Rimmer and Hargreaves half backs; W.Rimmer and Hibbs, right wing; Pasquill centre; Brighouse and Blackledge, left-wing. Referee Mr J Sanderson.