Duncan
Corbett
Inglis
Gossland
Unknown (4)
Match Information
Manager: No Permanent Manager
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: unknown - to be confirmed
Matchday: Monday
Match Trivia
An unusual amount of interest was taken in this match, which was played at Darwen on New Year’s Day as both though leading clubs had never met but expectations were that the visitors would be defeated. Several members of the Darwen cup team were absent and the team was not by any means improved by the introductions of second eleven men. WH Moorhouse an odd player of much repute who at one time captained the Darwen first team but now plays for Ramsbottom appeared in his old place at halfback. The Rangers won the toss and chose to play with the wind at their backs. Ashton kicked off at 2 35 pm when quite 3,000 spectators were present. Scarcely had the game been in progress a minute when Duncan on of the Scotch backs with a long shot scored a goal to the great surprise of the spectators. For a while Darwen had the worst of the game but a rush of the forwards made the score even amid great applause Nichol fingering the leather but being unable to stop it from going through his goal. Before three o’clock the Darwen men having a strong wind and heavy rain to face two more goals were scored against them Corbett registering No.2 from the right wing and Inglis the third by a smart shot from the centre. When ends were charged not a minute elapsed after Pringle had put the ball in motion before it was passed from one to the other of the Darwen forwards and shot through the Rangers goal by Marsden. Directly after this Corbett and Mellor were opposed to each other on the touchline near the Darwen goal. Mellor tackled Corbett so well that the Scotch player was compelled to push the leather over the touchline. Both players ceased playing at once and Darwen claimed a throw in but some of the Scotch players called out to Corbett to play on and after the game had ceased he resumed play and centred the ball which was shot through the Darwen goal almost without opposition. The referee allowed the goal, which made the Rangers score four goals. Not many minutes had elapsed before some skilful play on the part of Fish and Marshall resulted in a third goal being scored by Darwen Marshall though opposed by Duncan and Nichol putting the leather between the posts. After this until the end of the game Darwen continued to maintain the upper hand and the Scotch goal was many a time in danger. Duncan and Young however defended their lines with huge kicks and good tackling. In a scrimmage, which took place in front of the Scotch, goal Nichol had his head kicked whilst lying upon the ground but he soon recovered and seemed no worse for what at first threatened to be a serious injury. Ten minutes before the end of the game Marshall took a corner kick on behalf of Darwen and a scrimmage took place in front of the Rangers goal. The ball issued out of the scrimmage from the foot of one of the Scotchmen but Moorhouse returned it to the front and out of the scrimmage the score was made even amid enthusiastic cheering. Neither side could increase the score after this. The Rangers frequently kicked the ball over the touchline and the throw in resulting from it was of no benefit to Darwen as during the latter half of the new national throw in was adopted. The game resulted in a draw of four goals each.
