North Eastern Daily Gazette,
Middlesbrough Football Club’s first Football League game.
Game played 2 September 1899
MIDDLESBROUGH AT LINCOLN
THE GAME CRITICISED
[BY THE MAN ON THE SPOT]
Intense interest was manifested in the opening stages of the football season
by those Middlesbrough enthusiasts whose revived concern in the club’s doings has
been brought about by the admission of the team into the Second League. During the
past fortnight the form shown by the various players in the practice matches had
been the one theme of discussion, and hopes ran high that the opening fixture against
Lincoln would result in the success of the new aspirants to the Second League Championship.
Unfortunately, these bright anticipations were not to be realised for by a concentration
of unlucky circumstances the Middlesbrough men were beaten without notching a goal.
Such a result is anything but gratifying. Looking at the adverse score of 3-0, the
supporters of the home team might be led to indulge in criticism which the occasion
does not warrant. Therefore
IN JUSTICE TO THE MIDDLESBROUGH ELEVEN
it is but fair to say that there is scarcely a shade of odds on which is the better
team. Whilst joining in the feeling of disappointment at the first defeat sustained,
I cannot, having witnessed the game, and noted the efforts of both teams, without
doing an injustice to the defeated team, utter adverse comment. Middlesbrough’s lucky
star was not in the ascendant. One disadvantage to Middlesbrough was that of having
to play their first League game away from home. Seeing that the players were new
to the Second League contests it is not to be wondered at if their confidence was
somewhat shaken. That the confidence was needed to win a hard fight was not possessed
by several of the Middlesbrough players was evidenced by the hesitancy shown throughout
the game. That the Lincoln men intended to miss no point was shown by the spirit
with which they entered into the opening attack. Every club endeavours to win the
opening match at home. This may account in a measure for
LINCOLN’S DETERMINATION.
Their players looked as though they had been trained for a cup final, so keen
did each of them appear to excel his comrade. Lincoln’s success may be said to have
been due to the supineness of the Middlesbrough players during the first ten minutes
of the game. Within three minutes of the kick-off, and therefore before any test
could have been put as to the respective merits of the players, the visitors were
handicapped by having a goal registered against them. How Smith failed to clear is
difficult to satisfactorily account for. The tactics of the home team were to rush
a goal before the Middlesbrough players had warmed up or got rid of the stiffness
after their long journey. To this end they played energetically at the start, with
the result that two goals accrued to Lincoln in ten minutes,
MIDDLESBROUGH’S CHANCES OF SUCCESS
fell thus early in the game to below zero. The first goal was obtained from a long
shot from the Lincoln left. Smith stopped the ball close to the bottom of the right
hand upright, but he then failed to ge the ball away from between his feet, and it
was scrambled through. It is not often the Middlesbrough custodian is at fault, and
it was evident that he was disconcerted by the occurrence, or he might have avoided
giving the corner from which the second goal was scored. In the last-named case a
long kick from left to right placed the ball out of reach of the backs. The Middlesbrough
custodian ran out to prevent Hartley obtaining possession of the ball. Unfortunately,
when he fisted away the ball went for a corner. Capital use was made of this, for
the kick drove the ball directly across goal, Smith trying to fist it away, but without
success. Before he could recover himself the ball dropped at the feet of Phillips,
and was kicked through. After these reverses Pugh and Wanless both caused trouble
in the Lincoln goal by really excellent centres from the line. On more than one occasion
THE LINCOLN GOAL ESCAPED BY SHEER LUCK.
That Middlesbrough should have scored twice in this half cannot be questioned.
On one occasion the ball, after hovering dangerously near Webb, rolled out close
by the upright. Then, afterwards, Harry Allport should have scored, but the force
he put behind the ball sent it over the upright. Had it been a foot lower no goalkeeper
could have stopped it. It will thus be seen that seeing no goals were scored after
the first ten minutes of the first half, Middlesbrough players can consequently at
least claim to have been equal to their opponents for the other thirty five minutes.
The commencement of the second half was characterised by a similar disaster as had
marked the opening of the game. Within a couple of minutes Pyle scored the third
goal. Though the shot was a long one and a very fast one, Smith was evidently prepared
to meet and reject it. The ball went into goal about a foot below the bar, and about
an equal distance from the right-hand upright. Knowing Smith’s prowess in fisting
away shots, I naturally felt confident that no goal would result. But
THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENED,
for when Smith made his jump and struck out with his right, the blow didn’t prove
to be the knock-out he intended, for the object aimed at went by his wrist into the
net. Though the Middlesbrough men grew tired in the last quarter of an hour the play
throughout this half was similar in character and result as the one which preceded
it. Obtaining their third goal in the first few minutes of the opening of the second
half the Lincoln men afterwards were held at bay by the Middlesbrough defence. Smith
in this half, however, effected a really clever save. Taking all points into consideration,
I am of opinion that Lincoln will, when next the teams meet, fail to repeat their
lucky performance of Saturday. This conclusion is based on the fact that for the
greater part of the first half and up to a quarter of an hour off the finish of the
game the Middlesbrough men proved equal to their opponents. On the day’s play the
victors deserved their laurels, but had the victory been achieved by a score of 2-1
this would have given a more accurate representation of
THE RESPECTIVE MERITS OF THE TEAMS
Lincoln’s superiority lay in better combination in the forward rank than was shown
by the visitors. Wanless and Longstaffe played the passing game, but they were closely
watched whilst Page at times entirely forgot he had a partner playing with him. Pugh
invariably made capital use of the ball when he did get it, and with a partner who
will play to him will certainly prove the most effective of Middlesbrough’s front
rank. Of the half backs Allport certainly deserves mention, and had the forwards
shown the same dash as did Harry from the kick off a different ending might have
resulted. Both Shaw and Ramsay kicked well. To comment on the various players is,
however, uncertain work so early in the season. Notwithstanding their first defeat
I look forward with confidence to greater results being obtained by the Middlesbrough
players than many have yet anticipated. This will certainly follow when the players
come to understand each other.
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The second league game for Middlesbrough was, like the first, played away from home
and ended in defeat, this time 1-3 at Burslam Port Vale.
So to the Linthorpe-road enclosure for a second-division fixture against Small Heath,
a team known today as Birmingham City.
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Northern Echo, Monday September 11, 1899.
Game played 9 September 1899
SMALL HEATH ……………………3
MIDDLESBROUGH ……………….1
For the first home match of the Middlesbrough team, close on 10,000 spectators
lined the Linthorpe-road Field, fulfilling our prediction that there would be little
available space when Small Heath made their journey North. It was more than a reminder
of “old times.” Both teams were loudly cheered, for the Middlesbrough crowd is not
yet too partial to pay homage to its own team alone. The game was interesting enough,
but the demeanour of the crowd was not less worthy of notice. It was a new experience
to the vast majority to find themselves as members of so huge a gathering. The prevailing
feeling was, of course, in favour of the homesters, but in the excitement of the
first part of the game, there were ringing cheers for good play on the part of the
visitors. But the course of the game put the crowd definitely and distinctly in sympathy
with the Middlesbrough team. The first goal scored was by the visitors, but when
shortly after Middlesbrough equalised, the sneaking desire that the home team should
win showed itself in a deafening roar. The crowd had not faith in Middlesbrough’s
ability to capture a couple of points up to then, and they would not let patriotism
override their judgment or their prejudice until fired by this sight. Then their
feelings had no rein, and throats seemed in danger of growing hoarse with violent
exercise, until Small Heath scored again. This moderated their zeal, and the crowd
might have lapsed into something approaching moodiness had not the visitors begun
to use other tactics than brilliant play to maintain their lead. Middlesbrough grew
very dangerous frequently but on each occasion the man on the ball was deliberately
“fouled” and this roused the ire of the spectators. The feeling grew with each successive
incident, until at the close annoyance at “dirty play” obliterated all disappointment
at Middlesbrough’s third failure and the “told you so” critic forgot his role.
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The game itself was fast throughout and the visitors were untiring in their
energy and activity. The form and energy of the home team surprised even their friends.
But there were weak spots that became all the more noticeable in presence of the
strength of the visitors, of whom it must be said that they are not much below the
standard of a first division team. The back division was not equal in weight to that
of the visitors, the half-back was as good, but there was something approaching a
contrast between the forward lines. Now and again Small Heath gave a splendid exhibition
of forward play that ought to prove helpful to the Middlesbrough team. Middlesbrough
adopt in the main the wing play until close in goal, and then centre. The Heathen
forwards lined out diagonally and passed the ball all along the line. It was in this
way they secured two goals out of the three. That, of course, is only possible with
a forward line, the members of which have been long acquainted with each other’s
play. The visitors were ever dashing at wherever the ball went, and it was in this
way they really showed their superiority over Middlesbrough. The home team have nevertheless
marvellously improved, and if the men can be trained still more, to wear well with
more active play, they will not come out badly at the finish. As it is Middlesbrough
ought to have drawn. Small Heath showed on several occasions suspicions of what the
spectator calls “dirty” play. If beaten in legitimate tactics the back division chose
to foul a player, thereby gaining time from the penalty against them. Pugh was the
first sufferer, and on a second occasion he had the goal at his mercy when he was
unfairly tripped and floored. Longstaff was another, and even McCracken had to turn
a somersault over a “back” prepared for him. The forwards were not particular either
about using hands if dispossessed of the ball. And so frequently were Middlesbrough
the sufferers from such play that the probability is that the game would have been
drawn had these tactics not been employed. Small Heath were the better team all in
all, but Middlesbrough worked with a surprising energy that ought to win them “gates”
every home match such as was the case on Saturday. McCracken was the most conspicuous
player in the team, Murphy justified his trial, and Longstaffe had hard lines in
not getting through twice more --for it was he who converted McCracken’s kick into
goal. Hughes, in goal, was not quite the success anticipated. He was “out of it”
in the first half. The second goal he might have stopped, and to the first the Middlesbrough
men themselves contributed.
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