Why on earth don’t the Central get someone to play with? It can’t be that they are so clever and can knock any club out of time. The fact is that the energetic secretary has been arranging with teams which he knew for a certainty would have no chance with his own. Perhaps he is under the impression, like a good many more are, that no matter what kind of team the opposing club possess, if the locals are on the winning side the gates are sure to increase. This is a mistake, and the spectators get just as tired of witnessing a one-sided match, even if their pets are always on the winning side, as they do when they are continually seeing them defeated. On Saturday last, in their encounter with Chorley, the visiters had never a chance, as the Central men simply romped around them, and just scored whenever they pleased. Such was almost the case in the match with St Helens a fortnight ago, but today they meet foemen worthy of their steel, and whichever team wins will, we are sure, do so by a narrow majority. The battle will be with Irwell Springs at Bacup in the first round of the English Cup, and those desirous of seeing the local champions in the field had better travel at reduced fares by the trains leaving the L. and Y. Station at 11-30, which will contain the following representatives of the Central. Tyldesley, Baxter, Walsh, Horton, Ackroyd, Shaw, Lea-Jones, Sourbutts, Taylor, Graham and Duncan.

The second string of the Central, known as the Swifts, travelled to meet the famous Lostock Hall team. The last-named club has a far-famed reputation on account of having played five drawn games with the ultimate winners of the Lancashire Junior Cup – Bell’s Temperance – and in consequence it was thought that the Swifts would fare badly at their hands. Such however was not the case, as after a most desperate encounter, which had to be brought to a conclusion twenty minutes before time owing to the bursting of all the balls the Lostock Club had in stock, the match resulted in a draw of two goals each. Had time been played out, there is no doubt the visiters would have chronicle a victory, and when the stock of balls had been exhausted, the Swifts were playing with a strong wind behind them. This afternoon the Swifts meet Whiston on the Sports Ground in the first round of the Liverpool Cup, and we have no doubt they will render a good account of themselves. The following will be the team: Guest, Walmsley, Pasquill, Evans, Blundell, Rimmer (captain), Forshaw, Hibbs, W.Rimmer, Blackledge and Brighouse.

Southport Central v Chorley – Played on the Sports Ground on Saturday. The home team kicked against a slight wind, and soon made a shot at goal, which was fisted out. Directly afterwards Duncan, Central left-wing, ran down, centred to Taylor, who passed to T.Morris, and that player scored a goal amid loud cheers from a large assemblage. Ten minutes from the start Morris scored again and then for about twenty minutes no further point was made. The Central made repeated shots at goal, and the visiters improving a little, made one or two combined attacks but danger was soon averted. Just before half-time Duncan, with a screw kick, sent in a low swift shot by which the Central secured a third goal. The second half was a repetition of the first and Central ultimately won by six goals to nil. Teams:- Central: Tyldesley, Ackroyd, Lea-Jones, H.Hunter, Horton, Duncan, Graham, T.Morris, Sourbuttes and Taylor. Chorley: J.Howcroft, F.Rostron, R.Osbaldeston, W.Ormerod, A.Wilson, J.Whitaker, J.Dempsey, W.Marsden, J. Jackson, T.Manney and M.Rose.