EVERTON RESERVES 4 SOUTHPORT CENTRAL 4

September 2, 1908. The Liverpool Courier.

Lancashire Combination Division One

A Lancashire Combination match between Everton and Southport Central, a fair attendance being present, opened the season at Goodison-park. The teams were Everton: – Ashcroft goal, Stevenson and Meunier, backs, Rafferty Borthwick, and Adamson, half-backs Buck, Jones Couper, Lacey, and Dawson, forwards. Southport Central: – Gaskell, goal Spink, and Morris backs, Taylor, Edmonds, and Turner half-backs, Roberts, Graham, Brunton, Lawson, and Gate forwards . Everton commenced operations, and both sets of forwards were early in evidence without however, anything tangible accerning. After Couper had tested Gaskell with a fine low drive, which found the Southport custodian very alert, the visitors moved away in easy fashion. The movement, however, was destined to bear fruit, as Lawton getting in between the backs, had little difficulty in placing the ball into the net, just out of Ashcroft reach. The defeat led to some lively exchanges in the Southport territory, and Gaskell was repeatedly called upon to negotiate awkward shots one from Lacey being particularly dangerous. Then the Southport rightwing troubled Meunier, and Roberts got in a centre, which Borthwick almost placed into his own goal, but Ashcroft picked up the sphere and kicked clear. This was followed by several determined attacks on the Southport goal, but despite several well-conceived movements, the Southport defence presented a solid front. When, however, the visitors did invade Everton territory Lawson prevented Brunton with a glorious opening, of which he made the worst possible use by sending wide from a few yards’ range. For some time the visitors had the best of matters, and some useful passing, led to Roberts striking the crossbar with a good effort, and Bruton meeting the rebound, notched a second goal for Southport. A few moment’s later however Rafferty reduced the margin against his side with a splendid drive through a rack of players. Half-time Everton 1 Southport Central 2. After the interval Everton opened in brisk fashion, but the visitors came nearer doing the trick than their opponents, as Ashcroft only just managed to get rid of a difficult shot from Brunton. Everton however, again took up the attack and on this occasion Adamson drove the leather home with excellent judgement. A determined raid upon the Everton goal followed this, and Turner placed the sphere into the net for a third time from very close range. Not to be denied the Blues went away, and Jones neatly converted a fine centre by Dawson, the score being again level. The scoring was not yet finished with, as following a smart run by Buck, Jones again got through for Everton. Ashcroft made a series hash of a long shot from Lawson, which found its way into the net. Everton pressed towards the finish but failed to again pierce the visitors defence.