Patrick had a good game.
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St Albans City F.C. made their debut in the Spartan League on Saturday with a distinctly pleasing and encouraging result. The day was bitterly cold and snow threatened but this did not come, no doubt, owing to the heavy wind. The South Weald ground is a rather peculiar one, with a very pronounced slope.
It is well known that a good number of the supporters of the City F.C. were very pessimistic concerning the visit of the City to South Weald and, according to the prognostications of some of them, the visitors would return losers by at least 6 goals and it came as an agreeable surprise to them to hear of their team’s victory. It was a well-deserved victory too and the game was, according to a staunch supporter of South Weald, one of the best ever seen on the ground.
There is little doubt that but for the grand display of Kerrison in goal, ably supported by Patrick and Reynolds, the City would not have made anything better than a draw. It can also be said that but for the good fight of the home goalie and backs, South Weald would have gone down heavily. It was a great pleasure to watch the clever foot-work of the homesters. They are past masters in this art and one watching them could easily understand how it is they have obtained their high position in the Spartan League. The forwards combined well together and they were well fed by the halves, whilst Mannin in the centre was continually making openings for his wings. The backs played a sound game and seldom miskicked.
For the Saints, the forwards played a fine game but Hosier was not supplied with the ball as he should have been. The halves were very good and H.Davis, although he kicked rather wildly in front of goal, played a splendid game. The backs played splendidly, Patrick always being at hand when wanted, but Reynolds is not superior to Bourdon, if as good. Kerrison in goal was fine and considering that he has not played in a match for over three years, his game on Saturday was marvellous.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser and St Albans Times” 2nd January 1909 |
