The City club’s performances in the Amateur Cup competition this season have aroused great interest and enthusiasm in St Albans and the neighbourhood and there was a crowd of 3,000(1), representing a gate of £75, to witness the replayed tie with Stockton at Clarence Park on Saturday. R.H.Callender, Cambridge University and Amateur International, assisted the holders.
The play was evenly distributed in the first quarter of an hour, Hosier and Mascall doing the best work for their sides. At the end of that period an attack by the home forwards ended in a neat pass from Michell to Edmonds and the centre forward ran in and beat Callaghan. Stockton improved and outclassed the locals for a time. With a capital understanding they made a number of fine combined movements, most of which were broken up by Wiggs, who played splendidly at centre half. eventually Stockton equalised, Gregson, taking advantage of Hearne slipping, dashed through and beat the goalkeeper. Callaghan saved nicely from Hosier and Smith from Gregson before Dobinson, after cleverly manoeuvring for position, gave the Northerners the lead with a powerful drive into the corner of the net. Clark struck the post at the other end but Stockton were generally on top until the interval, when they led by two goals to one.
In the second half the Stockton forwards were not so prominent and the City improved to such an extent as to enjoy somewhat the better of the exchanges. Stockton devoted themselves mainly to defence, but those tactics were mistaken, as was proved by the sensational manner in which the locals pulled the game round in the concluding stages. Only five minutes remained when a Stockton defender handled and with the penalty Grimsdell brought the scores level.
Much exciting play was crowded into the short space of time which remained and only about one minute and a half remained when Hammond and Edmonds rushed down; Loney attempted to check them and in some remarkable manner he turned and kicked the ball into his own goal with terrific force, the game then concluding amid enthusiastic scenes with the result ; St Albans City, three goals; Stockton, two.
Reprinted from “The Sportsman” 24th February 1913.
1 The official attendance was 2,904. |
