SOUTHPORT SWIFTS V. KIRKHAM

Southport Visiter, 27th December 1888

This match was played on the ground of the Iatter on Saturday. Teams:-Swifts: Blundell, goal; Walmsley and Rimmer, backs; Forshaw, Blackledge, and Prince, half-backs; Binks and Sutton, right wing; Dutton, 0’Halton, and Cain, left wing. Kirkham, J. Tay….. goal; Cookson and Gregson, backs; Whignall, Monaghan, and Charnley, half-backs; Bagot and Sourbutts, right wing: Whiteside and R.Taylor, left wing: Threlfall centre.
Rimmer losing the toss, Dutton kicked off against wind and hill. The home team were soon peppering away at the Swifts’ goal, Blundell and the two backs having their work cut out for them. Dutton relieved for a minute or two by a good run. The ball was returned, and Threlfall shot hard in, Blundell saving brilliantly at the expense of a corner, from which nothing resulted. From the kick-off Monaghan got possession, and shot the first goal. Ten minutes off half-time, Prince was conspicuous by a nice little bit of work on the left, and the whistle blew for half-time.
Score -Kirkham, One: Swifts, nil.
The Swifts’ chance of winning looked rosy with the wind and ground in their favour, and they were soon hard at it, Blackledge scoring the only goal five minutes from the kick-off, the spectators again applauding vigorously. Bagot came away with a dodgy run, passing the half-backs and backs, and shooting a grand goal. He repeated the same ten minutes after, and the whistle blew for time, leaving the score-Kirkham, three; Swifts, one. For the home team, Monaghan, Bagot, and Threlfall were the pick, and for the Swifts it would be unfair to put anyone down for special mention, all playing well.