CHANCES MISSED

May 8, 1944. The Liverpool Daily Post

Southport 1, Everton 1

Draw at Southport

By Stork.

In their Liverpool Senior Cup final (first leg) Southport fielded a strong team, including several internationals. There were ten guest players in their side, yet they failed in their mission to lay a solid foundation in preparation for the second game at Goodison Park next Saturday’s a draw of one each being the result. Southport played good enough football, but like Everton failed to take chances. They were a superior combination to Everton, and had their attacks finished off the fine work in midfield they should have had several goals. Everton also missed their way in this phase of the game. The Everton defenders, Low formerly of Liverpool, Jones, Greenhalgh, Watson, Grant and Burnett, were excellent. Forward failings, however, included the missing of a penalty by McIntosh. Rawlings scored for Southport at five minutes from a perfectly placed centre by Gardner. It was not until 85 minutes that Everton got their equaliser. Conway misjudging a McIntosh centre and allowing the ball to pass through his outstretched arms. After 65 minutes play two players (one from each side) were ordered off the field. Taylor and Bentham being involved in this incident. It was all done in the heat of the moment, and both men expressed their regrets at the incident after the match. Gardner and Mutch made up a strong right wing for Southport, but Low kept a watchful eye on Dougal. The left wing was not nearly as good. Woodruff the Burnley pivot, gave Wyles little or no scope. Southport;- Conway (West Ham), goal; Taylor and Kirby, backs; Simpkins, Woodruff (Burnley), and Martin (Hearts), half-backs; Gardiner (Burnley), Mutch (Preston), Dougal (Preston), Rawlings (Millwall), and Coates, forwards. Everton; Burnett, goal; Jones (J.E.), and Greenhalgh, backs; Grant, Low, and Watson, half-backs; Jackson, Wainwright, Wyles, Bentham, and McIntosh (Preston), forwards. Referee; Mr. Roberts (Liverpool).
• Liverpool beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1, Nieuwenhuys, Hubbick own goal, Campbell for Liverpool and Currier for Bolton.

SOUTHPORT-EVERTON DRAW

May 6, 1944. The Evening Express

Southport made a last minute change owing to Davidson not being fit. Rawlings took his place and Coats switched to the outside left position. There were 4,000 spectators when the game started. Southport;- Conway (West ham), goal; Taylor and Kirby, backs; Simpkins, Woodruff (Burnley), and Martin (Hearts), half-backs; Gardiner (Burnley), Mutch (Preston), Dougal (Preston), Rawlings (Millwall), and Coates, forwards. Everton; Burnett, goal; Jones (J.E.), and Greenhalgh, backs; Grant, Low, and Watson, half-backs; Jackson, Wainwright, Wyles, Bentham, and McIntosh (Preston), forwards. Referee; Mr. Roberts (Liverpool). When Grant dispossessed Martin he directed a neat pass to Wyles, who took the ball coolly and delivered a great shot that Conway saved magnificently. But the Southport goalkeeper was forced to concede a corner. Conway sprang to catch the ball as Wyles and Wainwright popped up with their heads to try to meet Jackson’s corner kick. Southport from Woodruff’s clearance dashed down but Burnett left his goal to kick away before Dougal could reach the ball. Southport were ahead after four minutes play when a clever piece of work by Gardner unsettled the Everton defence, and Rawlings run in the middle to meet the ball and shoot past Burnett. Everton strove desperately to get level, and ill-luck crowned a great effort by McIntosh, whose centre beat Conway. Jackson met the ball in front of goal but his shot struck the underpart of the crossbar for the ball to bounce down. Conway position to catch the ball before it could enter the net. It was a close call for Southport. Everton persisted and McIntosh came again to swing in a great shot, but the ball flashed across the surface of the goal to finish behind. After Gardner had schemed again to get the Southport attack going, Greenhalgh made a perfect-timed clearance as Dougal was making goalwards.
Penalty Miss
Everton should have equalised when Bentham was brought down in the penalty area. McIntosh from the penalty kick, completely missed the goal. This was after 20 minutes’ play. Burnett made a clever save from Rawlings, who shot from inside the penalty area, the Everton goalkeeper going full length to grab the ball at the foot of the post. Everton were finding the Southport attack very nippy, and Burnett had to save from Simpkins. Jackson, Wainwright and McIntosh worked a pretty move for Everton which finished when McIntosh shot hard against the post. A chance came to Everton when Watson put Wyles through from a free kick, but the Everton leader sent over the bar from two yards range.
Half-tome; Southport 1, Everton 0
Wyles from Wainwright’s pass missed a simple chance, immediately on the re-start. Wainwright got near in the next Everton action and had bad luck when his shot went a few inches on the wrong side of the post. A terrific drive from Wyles struck the knees of Taylor and the ball bounced clear. Burnett made a daring save when he took the ball from the feet of Dougal, who was almost on the goal-line. The referee sent off Taylor and Bentham from the field. Five minutes from the end, McIntosh equalised to scores. Result; Southport 1, Everton 1.

BLUES MIXED DAY

May 8, 1944. The Evening Express.

Pilot’s Log

Everton had a mixed day at Haig-avenue, were they were held to a 1-1 draw by Southport in the first “leg” of the Liverpool Senior cup Final. Facing a Rawlings goal after four minutes, the Blues found it tough going against a star-reinforced “port” and before the interval Jimmy McIntosh usually so deadly with a penalty , shot wide from the spot. Much good football was seen, with defence holding the mastery and then, near the end, Stan Bentham, the Everton forward and Taylor, the Southport right back, were ordered off. In the closing minutes McIntosh compensated for his early miss, save a point and build up for a grand return at Goodison Park on Saturday, when Tommy Lawton returns to lead the Blues. Southport again hope to have “gust” players like Woodruff, Tommy Gardner and Jimmy Dougal.

SOUTHPORT V. EVERTON

May 6, 1944. The Liverpool Echo

By Stork.

Southport;- Conway (West Ham), goal; Taylor and Kirby, backs; Simpkins, Woodruff (Burnley), and Martin, half-backs; Gardiner (Burnley), Mutch (Preston), Dougal (Preston), Rawlings (Millwall), and Coates, forwards. Everton; Burnett, goal; Jones (J.E.), and Greenhalgh, backs; Grant, Low, and Watson, half-backs; Jackson, Wainwright, Wyles, Bentham, and McIntosh (Preston), forwards. Referee; Mr. Roberts (Liverpool). Southport took this Liverpool senior Cup-tie very seriously for they drafted in some star players of Preston and Burnley. Their side consisted of ten guest artistes, the only club man being Simpkins, who has recently turned professional. Everton had the services of Low, the former Liverpool centre half back. Southport soon get into their stride and Gardner, of Burnley was able to send over a centre which Rawlings piloted into the net at the fifth minute. He was tackled by Burnett but was able to push the ball aside the goalkeeper and into the net. Everton came near scoring the next goal, following play by the Everton left flank. Jackson shot against the underside of the crossbar, the ball bounding on to the goal line for Conway to clear. At twenty-two minutes Everton were awarded penalty when Bentham was pulled down from behind, but to the dismay of all, McIntosh shot outside from the spot. Low was having a good innings against the very effective Southport attack. McIntosh drive which struck the upright was a really fine effort. Southport were playing capital football though there were occasions when goals should have come.
Half-time; Southport 1, Everton nil.
Two players one from each side, were ordered off the field. Taylor and Bentham got mixed up on the ground and as they rose a kick and a blow appeared to be exchanged. Bentham was ordered to the dressing room, and as soon as Taylor was sufficiently recovered he also was ordered off the field. This was after twenty minutes play of the second half. Southport tried hard to improve their score, but the Everton defence which had played well all through, stood firm, just s Conway did when he clutched the ball from Jackson, which was soaring under his crossbar. Five minutes from the end, Everton got the equaliser, a McIntosh centre passing over Conway’s hands, and into the net. Mutch was hurt and had to be carried off. Result; Southport 1, Everton 1.

TWO ORDERED OFF

May 8, 1944. The Liverpool Echo

Ranger’s Notes

Things are done in the heat of the battle which in calmer moments would be scorned upon (writes Stork). Stan Bentham is one of the coolest-headed players I know. He has never shown any inclination for retaliation in his long career, but at Southport on Saturday he lost control of himself momentarily struck an opponent and was ordered off. A simple matter started the whole thing. Bentham and Taylor got their legs locked together following a tackle and after a kick by the latter Bentham struck him on the point of the jaw. For a second or two Taylor swayed on to his face, Bentham was immediately ordered off the field. The trainer rushed out to give aid to Taylor who was out to the world. He recovered whereon he was sent to the dressing room assisted by his trainer. Naturally the incident cast a gloomy over the match which had progressed for 65 minutes. The Sandgrounders team included ten guest players, the only Southport player being Simpkin. Southport meant to win this Liverpool Senior Cup first leg. Yet they could not do it with all their “stars.” They played clever football, and were the better side but the Everton defence thwarted them time and again. But their greatest failure was in the matter of goal-scoring. They had sample chances to have run up a nice tally of goals, but so for that matter had Everton. By right the game should have produced a glut of goals; two were scored, one, apiece. Southport’s in the first five minutes, Everton’s in the last.