Herbert Smith
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The St Albans City team accomplished their best performance of the season on Saturday when they visited Shepherd’s Bush and shared the honours with the well known Isthmian League Club. Except in the matter of physique the Saints did not compare unfavourably with their opponents and one might go as far as to say that with the assistance of a little luck the City on Saturday evening would have found themselves in the next round.
Luck, however, either comes their way in volumes or else not at all. On this occasion the case was the latter. Twice, in addition to their one goal, the Saints allege that they got the ball over the Bush goal-line and the referee failed to see it. Had the City forwards shot a little harder and oftener, however, the result would have been a certainty, but as the home forwards might have been a little stronger in front of goal, that point need not be dwelt upon.
As it was, the game was a real, sterling fought cup-tie for the whole of the legitimate ninety minutes and for a quarter of an hour after that, for the referee, as bound by the rules, started half-an-hours extra time, which it was obvious to everyone could not be completed.
Bush were playing without L.O.Grapes(goalkeeper) and L.A.Louch(centre-forward), whilst the City lacked F.Palmer(centre-half). Arthur Wiggs took the latter’s place and was one of a worrying trio of halves who gave the home forwards no rest. The Bush’s reserve custodian gave an excellent display, as did H.Smith for St Albans.
The ground, which was not unsuited to the visitor’s style, was very greasy on the surface, but although it was raining when the party left St Albans, there had been none in London and the match was played in excellent weather. A crowd of about 1,200 watched.
Played at Ellerslie Road, Shepherd’s Bush, now known as Loftus Road(the home ground of Queens Park Rangers). |
