A good number of spectators attended at the Clarence Park on Saturday in anticipation of a good game between St Albans City and Walthamstow Grange. Walthamstow undoubtedly possess a fine reputation and they have worked extremely hard for the position they hold. They head the London League and their position in the Spartan League is very good1. Walthamstow had beaten South Weald without any difficulty and they thought to do the same with St Albans City.
Confident that they could “work the trick” on the “yokels,” as they termed the Saints, they were discussing as to how their goal average would stand with the ten goals they were going to score against the homesters but, before returning to their native hearth, they were forced to alter their opinions of the “yokels”.
All things considered the homesters should have won and, had they played another ten minutes, they would have run the visitors off their feet. For the City all the forwards played well. Hosier and Butcher combined nicely, although the former player was not at his best, owing to his being injured early on. Noel and Walker played well together and several fine bouts of play were witnessed between these two. Atkins, on the extreme left, is a good man, and should, when he obtains better control over the ball, develop into a classy player.
Of the halves Davis was off form, but G.Price and Chapman played a good game. Patrick was splendid at full back; Bourdon was knocked off his play by an injury to his leg and Kerrison put up a fine show between the sticks.
The visitors played a nice game, although they had the heel-tap to a nicety. The backs, though small, were very sound and quick at recovering. The goalie played a good game and the halves were fine, Lee at centre-half playing splendid football. The forward line combined well together, although they middled the ball too much.
The game was ably conducted by Mr.G.Wistow-Walker of Bedford.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser and St Albans Times” 23rd January 1909
1 Walthamstow Grange finished as runners-up to Luton Clarence only losing the title on goal average. |