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FOOTBALL NOTES.

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FOOTBALL NOTES. [BY VETF.P.AN."] Rarely has it been my lot to witness a better fought and more pleasantly contested game than that at Machynlleth on Saturday. The teams were very evenly matched, equally determined, and almost equally skilful, and the result was a game it did one's heart good to witness. The players though desperately determined, neyer for a moment forgot that they were sportsmen* and gentlemen, and I envied Mr T H Edwards, the genial and capable referee, hip very pleasant task. Not one bit of foul piay marred the whole game. Of course there were a few—a very few too-cases of handlinc, pushing, &c, but, these were nothing. The day was not an ideal one for football as there was a slight drizzling rain ail day, but it did not materially in- terfere with the game; which began in a sensational manner. Almost from the kick-off the Machynlleth forwards raced away for Hartley, the Shrews- bury Railway team's goalkeeper, had to ki„-k out to save and gave a corner. Billy Vaughan, who really was in champion form all through, placed the ball so correctly in the month of got! that it was easily netted. This was after little more than a minute's play. and the success put any amount of life into the play of the homesters. It should be stated that Machynlleth won the toss, and had the advantage of a fairly strong wind. Winning the toss no doubt went a long way towards winning the game, but pluck and stamina went further. Even play followed, and twice or three times the Shrews- bury men got up near goal after really fine and beautiful play, and only grand defence and mngni- ficent goalkesping prevented them scoring. The home boys took almost full advantage of the wind, and pnr gre^t pres'mr" on the Shrewsbury defence. I say ''almost. full a advisedly, for fre- quently the passed back wards » ud forwards* «cro«s goal, when with the wind behind them. thev should hiive "ripperi her in" with long and fairly long shots So the aiune went on, first one si !e and fiien the other becoming dangerous till at last voting Yaughan again got on the trot and fir.ished np with a lovely sprint with an equally good centre. The bait was met by Dick Hughes who scored good a goal as I have eee-i for some time. Although the homesters often came near scoring and in fac the right winy should have scored at lea-it one*- easily, nothing further was done up to hair-time. It \Va < mewrally felt by the supporters of the Mr«»hyo!leth team that they had a sultry time coming on as two -,oals lead was notenongh against such a smart lot as the Railway team. The home- sters did net as I said before take full advantage of the wind on they should have led by nt least thiee g'ale. Against the wind the Shrewsbury men had played" an almost perfect game. the defence being sound and vigorous while the forward play was exceedingly pretty and effective, th&y kept the ball well down and went for goal with clean short passing which was delightful to wit- ne3S. On changing ends, we all thought there would be a change of fortune, and there was too, though not, so soon as we expected. The homestet s actually were the first to nttack and came near scoring but they were driven back and very good play by the whole of the forwards ended in a goal for Shrewsbury. All over now thought the wise ones, and indeed I was one of them, but the plucky little countrymen of Owen Glendwr were not yet done with. Led on by the brilliant Billy Vaughan and the other useful and dashing forwards the ball was actually kept np the field and at last from a foul, Humphreys, I think it was, put the finishing touch to the call and Machynlleth were again two goals ahead. It was noticed now that the hard play of Shrewsbury coupled with this disaster had told its tale. They were a well beaten team and for the rest of the game lacked the life which had hitherto characterised their play. Though they often got down the field at no time did they actually become very dangerous. and when the whistle blew Machynlleth were hailed with loud shouts as victors of a really good game. Now as to the players. The defeated played a sterling and pretty game and had a capital look in till the third goal was scored against them. The featnre of their play was the skill and speed of the outside right. His management of the ball was that of a master-it was neat and effective. The inside left was equally scientific, and he and his partner did very fine work in the first half. The whole eleven played well to a man and a little luck might easily have altered the result. Playing so hard as they did in the first half took a lot out of them, and they were not in good enough condition to take advantage of the wind in the second half. Though defeated they were anything but disgraced and to their credit be it said they took their defeat like thorough sportsmen. A more gentlemanly lot of fellows never stepped on a football field, and in their gentlemanly play and conduct they set a good example which many teams might with advantage copy. This was their first defeat and among their victories are the Singleton and Cole's team. The winners thoroughly deserved their victory-it was well earned and not by the kick-and-rush husiness, but downright good skilful play. They have evi- dently learnt their business well from such master hands as the Rev D T Hughes, Dr A 0 Davies, and other enthusiasts, and are a really smart little team in every way. This is the more surprising as they have had very few chances of playing in good matches and practising against good team. Their conduct on the field was admirable, and here, too, I can honestly compliment the spectators on their behaviour, and I only wish there had been more present to witness this pleasant game The most religious and delicately-minded person need not have been afraid of patronising it. There was nothing to shock anyone, but everything to admire and do good. The feature of the Macbvn- lleth play was the brilliant exhibition of Vaughan and the goalkeeping of Morgan. Both were per. fect in their way. Billy Vaughan-though lacking the nice touches of Cameron, the Shrewsbury out- side right-equalled him in speed and far excelled him in pertinacity. He never tired. His runs and centres should have produced at least two more goals. I could not help thinking of his namesakes, Jimmy and Jacky Yaughan when at their best Though only 17 years of age his play was equal to that of any local player at his best, and the Selec- tion Committee could do worse than give him a trial frr International honours. The goalkeeper saved some stingers in fine workmanlike style, though I believe it was his first appearance be. tween the posts for Machynlleth. The right wing pair did good work, though they ere not so effective as when I saw them play last. The in. side left and centre fed Vaughan most unselfishly and worked hard. The halves and backs never relaxed their efforts for a moment and much of the credit for saving the game is due to them. I enjoyed the game so much that I must say, in the words of a great poet, May I be there to see when next they meet." I trust my Machynlleth friend and scribe will not think I am poaching in the classic line. By their victory over Whittington on Saturday, Oswestry Reserve enter the third round of the Welsh Junior Cup tie competition. A high wind prevailed which considerably interfered with the s>hoorir>g, still, a very good game was witnessed. The Villagers are a level lot of players, and run their more experienced opponents somewhat closelv —the final result being 2 toO in favour of Oswestry, who scored a goal i" each half, Payne and H;s the outside men possess a good turn of speed, but their shooting was not accurate enongh, -and Emery, Davies or Powell cleared when the ball came their way. They certainly should have scored, as a couple of good openings were missed. The Reserve, who held the upper hand all through showed decided improvement in their play, and at times the combination was very good, and they went for all they were worth. The same fault, however, lay with them as the visitors. Often they shot badlv -or passed injudiciously in front of goal. Thev •might with great advantage go in for more shoot- ing practice, and now their chance for the Shrop- shire Junior Cup has gone they should go in and make a bo:d bid for the Welsh. Watkins was the beat of the forwards, his shooting at times being very good. R Morris at half-back was excellent, hia tackling bothered the visitor's right-wing, and twice he put in splendid shots at goal which Grindley had some difficulties in clearing. Here I may say when nearly all the attacking players are round goal a half-back should shoot into goal and not give the ball to his forwards, as they cannot hope to score when the goal is packed. When a ball is placed in front of goal there is alwavs a chance of somebody heading or kicking it through. Denny and Marshall often proved stumbling blocks and di(i very good wort. There is a very good trait in the character of Marshal! which often .causes spectators amusement. When there is a fray he does not join in indiscreetly but acts the part of peacemaker. This he did on Saturday. The backs, though Saturday's weather was just the sort <o cause backs to make mistakes, us,-si much good judgment in relation to the force of wind and made no mistakes. Emery is cool and kicks hard, while D Davies, though property a forward, did exceed- ingly well as a full back. Powell had not much to <io but what shots he had to deal with he claared properly. The Reserves have in recent matches been out of form, and I trust the improvement shown in this match will continue. Llanfyllin were sadly out-classed by Ellesmere, ;and how can they help it poor fellows ? All the practice they get is against veiy moderate teams, ud there is not much even of this. About the best thing the Oswestry XI Lave done this year is the defeat of Bangor on Saturday, and at Bangor, too. Though Oswestry had the advan- tage of a very strong wind in the first half they oulv found the net once, and at half-time the scor- ing was 1 to C in favour of Oswestry. With the wind behind them the homesteis made things very warm for the United, but, like thorough plucky sportsmen, they roie to the occasion, and actually did better against the wind than with it. Each side scored twice in this half, so Oswestry won by the narrow margin of a goal. Another match of this stamp was paived a: Ruabon between the Druids and lion B.vlgy. Playing with the wind. the Druids le i at. she inser- val by only 2 to 1. Against the wind they did pvc;, better, as thoy scored twice and pi even'ed Iron Bridge scoring at all. ttoose was in a great 1I1".t- sure responsible for this latter part as his nstirg and kicking can well be describe:! as u mights." In the Staffordshire Cup final tic on Monday be- tween Stoke and Wolverhampton Wanderers, when the latte-i won by 3 to 1, the only goal scored by Stoke was netted by Mart Watkins, late of OsweHn United. e

THE COMBINATION.

FOOTIALL AT =lACaYSLLETH.j

FRIENDLY MATCHES.

.COMBINATION.

WELSH JUNIOR CUP.

ST. MARTIN'S CUP COMPETITION.

FOOTBALL FIXTURES.

SUICIDE NEAR WELSHPOOL.

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