SOUTHPORT CENTRAL 2 EVERTON RESERVES 1

March 28 1905. The Liverpool Courier

Lancashire Senior Cup Final

The destination of the Lancashire Senior Cup was decided at Southport last evening, when Southport Central and Everton met in the Final-tie. Owing to their match with Aston Villa today, the reserve team represented Everton, and this robbed the match of a good deal of interest, it would have possessed in view of Southport’s defeat of Liverpool in the same competition. Southport were at full strength, the teams being: – Southport Central: – Dent, goal, Spink, and Rimmer, backs, Sinclair, Edmonds, and Chorlton, half-backs, Dawson, Stadbolt, Smith, Lawson, and Danson, forwards. Everton: – Scott, goal, R.Balmer, and Wildman, backs, Ashworth, Booth (Captain), and Chadwick, half-backs, Rankin, McLoughlin, Roberts, Caldwell, and Dilly, forwards. Referee John Lewis.
This was the second time in succession that Southport appeared in the cup final, for they met Blackburn Rovers in the match last year, at Preston, and were defeated by a narrow margin. Everton won the toss, and set the local lads to face a strong wind. Play opened in a determined fashion, and Smith work himself into a good position, when Balmer rushed across, and took the ball from his toe. The Blues had a brisk look in, and then a neat bit of passing between Shadbolt and Dawson took play to the other end, where Smith failed to take Dawson’s centre. Rankin went rapidly away, but put the ball out. Smith shone in a magnificent run, but he lost the ball when he had almost reached the goal. Wildman coming up behind and robbing him. A miss by Edmonds let in Roberts, who sent in a hard shot just wide. A corner to Everton from a throw-in near the flag, and a series of wild kicks on the part of Southport players put the home goal in danger, but at last Sinclair relieved the pressure. Smith, who was playing a great game, beat Balmer, and this led to a beautiful goal. Sinclair sent in a centre from the line, and the ball curled in, Lawson met it with his head, and the first goal was scored. The Central success was received with great cheering. Everton made a desperate effort to draw level, and forced a corner from which Chadwick shot wide. The Blues pressed hard, but the home defence held out grandly, although Dent once dallied almost too long in clearing. A moment later Chadwick hit the upright. Then the Central broke away, and Smith sent in a shot, which Scott just managed to stop, but could not gather, and from the rebound Smith tipped the ball into the net. Everton kept the ball in the White’s half, and seemed able to do anything but score. Scott saved rather luckily at the other end. Booth started a pretty movement of the Everton forwards, and the visitors were still pressing when the whistle went for half-time, with the score, Southport Central 2, Everton nil.
On resuming Rankin and McLoughlin made tracks for the home goal, but Chorlton broke up their passing and sent the ball down the field. Everton returned, and Dent fisted out from a bully in front of goal. Danson got off, but was checked by Chadwick, and then McLoughlin raised the hopes of the Everton supporters, present by a grand run, which, however, Edmonds interrupted. A big kick by Balmer only temporarily stopped a rush by the Central, and Scott was called upon to save from Smith. The game was fast, and hotly contested, but was free from fouls. After a long spell of pressure by Central, Dilly broke away, and passing Spink had no difficulty in beating Dent. The goal put heart into the Blues, and Dilly was once more in full cry when pulled up for offside. Scott saved a dropping shot from Shadbolt in good style, and had to save again from Lawson a moment later. Everton had another try, and, playing in fine fashion, were very dangerous, but Rimmer kicked away, Danson forced Scott to give a corner. This came to nothing, but during the next few minutes Everton custodian was a busy man, saving right and left. The sustained attack was one of the finest bits of play. Southport put on during the game. After some exchanges Dilly forced a corner, but placed it wretchedly. Everton were dangerous from another grand run by Dilly, Dent give a corner, but this was cleared, and Scott had to save a bouncing shot from Dawson. Afterwards Everton playing for all they worth, swarmed around the home goal, but at last the great joy of the home crowd, when Edmonds cleared. Result Southport Central 2, Everton 1.