Kelly 15
Anderson 75, <80
Match Information
Attendance:
Referee:
Matchday: Tuesday
Match Trivia
Burnley Hospital Benefit Match, Exhibition games are all right from an educational point of view, reflecting on yesterday’s game at Turf Moor with the Glasgow Rangers, one is bound to confess that football would not love long if it were to depend on exhibitions. Prettiness, correctness, and artistry do not always make up for spice and ginger, and that was very largely where yesterday’s game suffered – the incentive to win was lacking, and especially so on the part of the Scots. And moreover, we have seen better especially in the second half, when the game descended from the high level attained in the first portion to mere mediocrity. Perhaps the Scots realised that the Burnley defenders did not intend to stand on ceremony, but one could not think that the Rangers were all out, and they gave the impression that they preferred to work prettily in the field without coming to conclusions. Their effort were consequently wasted by bad and weak finishing. But to go back to the beginning. There was artistry sufficient to give some of the Burnley juniors who were watching the game something to think about – and some of the seniors, too. True, that artistry was never subordinated to pace, and consequently we got the finer points of the game without any of the thrills. And what as well-studied game it was in midfield. Burnley folk could even afford to laugh heartily and long at the play of wits which often led to the discomfiture of their own side, though it must be admitted that very often Jimmy Lindsay, Ben Cross and David Taylor gave a Roland for their Oliver, and responded to artifice and trickery with equally subtle skill. Yet as a line, in the arts of position play, grace of movement, and footwork generally. Burnley were not always able to match the Scots. The big Cunningham, the first two syllables of whose name fitly describe him and who reminded one of Jimmy Crabtree for build, was as wily in a cool way as it would be possible to wish, and every man in the front line – reserves though there were amongst them - was chockful of neatness and tricks. Without exertion they seemed to be able to deflect the ball just where they pleased. Dawson might have had a lot more to do than he had if Smelt Taylor, and Basnett had not treated the game seriously, and this was a department that the Rangers learnt to respect. For a time ‘Billy’ Watson appeared to be perplexed by the dexterity of Archibald, but Taylor was able to pull out trick for trick, and there were some really fine duels between the two. As a well organised whole, in beautifully concerted movement, the Rangers’ team fascinated, but in effectiveness they were not in it. Certainly, Dawson was there, and once he was not, as a long dropping shot from Lawson struck the cross-bar, having completely deceived ‘Jerry’, but the Burnley custodian made few mistakes, and on the whole gave an excellent display of cool judgment and anticipation with one or two of his characteristic saves, some under pressure revealing him in his true light. Crudities were certainly absent from the Rangers team, who worked forward in a compact whole, but the Burnley defenders were prepared for the most part to check their advances. Nor with all their expenditure of energy and extra speed were Burnley too often able to overcome the visiting defence, amongst whom the diminutive McCandless was a giant in the arts of clean booting of a ball, in placing, and in taking up position. In the middle too, was a rare man in Nicholson, who kept Anderson under observation very successfully for a good part of the game. Henderson was a fine leader who welded the line together brilliantly. But one could not say that Burnley were far behind, if any, in opening up promising attacks indeed, they were always as impressive in front of goal as were the Rangers, and were quick to seize opportunities, which, after all, is the essence of football. They were, too, more successful in driving their chances home, and this added greatly to the home spectators’ satisfaction. Watson was again the outstanding man in the Burnley half-back line, with Emerson playing a scholarly game, and Fisher was the better of the right wing pair, Kelly not being quite as prominent as usual. On the whole they deserved the victory from this fact. It was largely due to a very pretty first-time pass by Lindsay that Cross was able to get away after 15 minutes play, But Cross had to hang on persistently before beating Reid, and his centre was so accurately placed that Kelly had nothing to do but head the ball past Booth. Both sides had chances, Dawson having if anything the most difficult shots to save, one from Laird bringing him full length, and when Archibald had an opening, he lost the chance by over finessing. After the change of ends Burnley were given a warm time, and only lack of direction saved the goal. After half an hour Lindsay and Cross were responsible for some good scheming and Anderson found himself in possession. Booth gathered his shot and kicked out to the right, and as it was returned to the left Cross swept the ball to the middle, where it touched a defender, and Anderson tapped it into the net. Ten minutes later Kelly nicely opened out to Fisher, who put in a true centre, and Anderson, running through, shot for goal. Booth only partly cleared, and Anderon, taking the ball on the rebound, scored the third. The game was for the benefit of the Victoria Hospital, and the gate amounted to £565, added to which a collection on the field realised £20 6s
