On this occasion the City had very little difficulty in adding another to their long list of successes. The Guards quite failed to come up to the expectations engendered by their present position in the League and, although they improved afterwards, they were completely out of the hunt during the first half. As instancing the City’s superiority, it may be mentioned that Smith, the goalkeeper, did not touch the ball once during the first half – there was not even a goal kick – and during the game he had only one real shot to save.
On the other hand, Drummer Rooney in the Guards’ citadel(right) surpassed his feats at St Albans in previous seasons, saving shot after shot, high and low alike, his dexterity in getting from one position to another being wonderful. With Rooney, Sergt.Jones, who is well known at the Park, and Ballard, the left back, stood out prominently and had the goalkeeper been on a par with the remainder of the eleven, the Saints goals would have been many more than three.
Owing to that unfortunate player, Leslie Hosier, being again incapacitated, the City re-arranged their forward line, Cook going to outside-right and Edmonds returning to his position at centre.
Before a fairly large crowd, the teams lined up.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser & St Albans Times” – 16th December 1911. |
