St Albans City gave their weakest display of the season on Saturday when they failed to beat Watford Orient at home, the first Spartan League match between the two teams ending in a draw of two goals each.
The Orient possess one or two exceptionally good players and taken all round are a very nippy eleven and by playing the game that was suited to the conditions they succeeded in giving the City a very great shock indeed. At one period they looked comfortable winners. Whether the Saints considered the match won before they started, or were excited, or were upset by the blustering wind against which they played in the first half, or whatever was the reason, the fact remains that, with one or two exceptions, they performed very poorly.
Clark and Hosier, the extreme wing men, both played splendidly and received little support from their partners. Edmonds showed glimpses, but only glimpses, of the return of his last season’s form, but considering that he scored both the home team’s goal – the way one of them was obtained was nothing less than brilliant – he could be excused for what he did not do.
In the defence Palmer alone gave of his best, Brandham and Grimsdell being most ineffective. The Captain’s form, after his brilliant display at York the previous week(1), was astonishing.
In the Watford goal Shrimpton, who has assisted the City, performed valiantly and Judge, the centre-half was another able player. In Smith, who appeared at outside-right in place of Alex Hedderwick, another ex-member of the City Club, and Green, the centre-forward, the Orient had two very smart forwards, whilst Hobbs, the Radlett youth who also used to assist the City, proved that he is developing into a very useful forward.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser and St Albans Times” 21st December 1912.
1 Ernest Grimsdell was selected to captain the South team versus the North in the International Trial Match at York on 7th December. The South won by four goals to nil with Grimsdell scoring from a penalty kick.
“A collection on behalf of A.Gathard will be made on Saturday during the progress of the match. Gathard sprained his ankle very seriously some four or five weeks ago and has been unable to work since.”
Hertfordshire Post 11th December 1912.
The collection realised £2 7s 4d and the Reserves subscribed 18s 6d. |
