Jimmy Brandham
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In a robust and fairly even game at Enfield on Saturday, the home team profited by the little luck that was going and won by two goals to nil. There was a large crowd and plenty of excitement, in which the players seemed to share, for many goal scoring opportunities were allowed to slip by, especially by the City forwards, who have only themselves to blame for the defeat, for they missed a number of openings which they could not possibly have failed to take advantage of on another occasion.
With the exception of this one failing, the St Albans team gave a good display, sticking to their oppo9nents gamely and running them almost off their feet during part of the second half. Enfield have to give a large measure of thanks for their victory to P.G.Skilton, their heavy-weight centre-forward, who formerly played for Queens Park Rangers. Although too slow to be very dangerous on his own account, the manner in which Skilton kept the Enfield forwards together and his brilliant passes to the wing made him the most valuable member of the eleven. Suffice to say that without Skilton the home team would have been one half as formidable as they were with him. Apart from Skilton, Enfield had one outstanding player – Bailey, the left back. Although not of very fine physique he played a brilliant game, kicking very surely and Michell and Hosier were kept very subdued, although it should be stated that the latter had very few opportunities.
In goal Smith shaped just a shade better than did Hadley, but Hatton and Grimsdell, on the play, were hardly so good as the Enfield pair, although Hatton played splendidly in the first half and Grimsdell in the second. Nothing in the match was finer than the plucky way in which Brandham stuck to Skipton. He came through with honours.
The City, for whom Wiggs appeared instead of Clark, were out on the fairly good playing pitch prompt to time and the home team appeared a quarter of an hour later.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser and St Albans Times” 9th November 1912. |