“A SHOCK FOR THE SAINTS”St Albans City had a severe shock on Saturday when Polytechnic came to St Albans and won by four goals to nil, the City sustaining the worst defeat they have ever encountered in a League match.
The Polytechnic had a big, but scrupulously fair, set of defenders and a smart lot of forwards. It should be said at once that they did not deserve to win by such a margin, but it must be added that they showed a more adequate idea of combination, both in attack and defence, than did St Albans.
The strength was not maintained as it should have been by the re-inclusion of E.F.Grimsdell at back. His should have been a welcome re-appearance, but in actual fact the City would probably have made a better show without him. At times he appeared to be indifferent.
Except at half, the City team has had no chance to settle down this season and it is scarcely to be wondered at that matches are lost. St Albans have only one consolation – their old rivals for the Spartan League Championship, the 2nd Coldstreams, are doing a trifle worse than themselves.
Reprinted from “The Herts Advertiser & St Albans Times” – 20th December 1913. |
