SOUTHPORT CENTRAL 2 EVERTON RESERVES 2

January 2 1891. The Liverpool Mercury

Played at Southport yesterday. The ground was very hard, rendering play difficult. The first half ended in favour of Everton, who were leading by a goal to nil, at the interval. In the second portion the visitors again scored, but the central equalised and the game ended in a draw-2 goals each.

BLUE REVIEW

January 3rd 1891. The Liverpool Courier.

When jubilating over the defeat of Everton on the banks of the Wear, the “Wolves” little dreams of the cured fate which awaited them, and which was so new at hand, “never ballos before you are out of the wood” is a maxim which should be hope in mind, but which the Midlanders completely ignored, and now we learn for the thousandth time how perilous it is to gloss over the misfortunes of an dishonorable foe. But the avenge was on their track and singularly it fell to the lot of the hardy man of the North to compass their downfall as they had previously done as champions of the Liverpool district. This untoward check was disheartening to the “Wolves” but still more so was that unexpectedly –perhaps not generally no –administered by the erratic Bolton Wanderers during the holiday season. Whilst these ravage but the prestige of the “Wolves” were being made, the Evertonians had risen like the mythological client from the devouring times, more powerful and more determined than ever, for now after a period of reaction which brought Wyllie on the scene the “In comparable Latta” was with them, and only those who have witnessed his masterly displays can realise what a tower of strength he is to the team. Accrington, however, were beaten by a narrow majority without his aid, but the stalwart Burnleyites, with Aleck on the right, were beaten by seven to three, and than on the first day of the new year came the long expected and much desired return game with Aston Villa, who it will be remembered, had the good fortune to effect a draw on the home ground at Perry Bar. But hereabouts, and generally too, the solution of the first fixture between the clubs has been regarded as a fluke, and this it was contended subsequent events would abundantly prove. And so they have but perhaps more effectually than even the most sanguine predicated, for it could scarcely have been expected that the Villians would be beaten by 5 goals to nil. As a matter of fact they were beaten from the start, for although nearly thirty minutes elapsed before a way was found through goal, Everton by far the best of the game. Dennis Hodgetts, once one of the finest outside-left players in the kingdom, was completely nonplussed, and to add to the general feebleness of the Midland men, Albert Brown headed through his own goal just prior to half time, so that being a couple of goals in arrears the game at that period was virtually over. What an complete difference, the reappearance of Latta made on the Everton right was seen in the vastly improved play of Brady, his colleagues, who shortly after the change of ends shot a couple of goals in masterly style. There was the same cunning manceurvingf as of yore, in appreciation of which the hugh crowd of ten thousand or more applauded as only an Anfield crowd can. These three victories in which the scoring was 14 goals to 4, give Everton an almost impregnable positions, and should the team be successful against Notts County today, the championship will almost be within hand. Everton will still have one of the two remaining League fixtures on the home ground, namely, the return with North End, and as has already pointed out on the strength of tabulated results this is an advantage which it is to be hoped will bring the team still closer to the much desired goal. Everton (as district from the League team) added another victory to their already long season’s list against Port Vale Rovers. The Rovers, who are ex-holders of the Staffordshire Juniors cup, play a good game, and were only defeated by one goal to nil, Everton having a point disallowed. The Evertonians “let in” the New year at Southport, where a capital game with the Central resulted in a draw of one goal each.