1939-05-15 — Page 25

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 15, 1939

ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

THRILLING CUP-FINAL

Big Win For Portsmouth

TWO GOALS IN EACH HALF

FAST MOVING ATTACK AND SOUND DEFENCE

Portsmouth (2)

4

Wolverhampton Wan. (0) .. 1

ONCE again the germ of truth, bred in tradition,

which lays it down that the favourites never win the Football Association Challenge Cup, has exerted itself.

At Wembley yesterday, Portsmouth beat Wol- verhampton Wanderers by four goals to one, and take the Cup south of London for the first time in the history of the competition.

Not for eleven years at least has time a player of the any team been so strongly fancied to win the trophy as were Wolverhampton, Wanderers, but they were more roughly outplayed, as far as the real art and craft of the game are concern- ed, than has any side been since final at Wembley. ties were first played Portsmouth played with less sugges- tion of nerves: more calm and collect- ed football than any team before in a final tie at Wembley. It cannot possi- bly be said of this game-as of so many

was

not even

SOUTH CHINA SELECT "REST" TEAM FOR SATURDAY

to

The following have been invited by South China Athletic Association represent the Rest in a friendly char- ity match against their “A” team on Saturday at Caroline Hill at 4.30 p.m. Dickerson, Hau Yung-sang, Sheehan, Freshwater, Cooper, Hsu King-seng, Emberson, Thorburn, Hossack, A. V. Gosano, Hau Ching-to, Leonard, Bright, Honniball, Hussain, Gomes and Lee Tak-kee.

As the Hong Kong Football Associa- tion and the different clubs have no call on the players during the close season South China had to invite the above players through their last clubs. When all acceptances or refusals, have been received the team will be chosen,

FRENCH FOOTBALL.

Paris, To-day. Foremost football event in France, the match for the national cham- pionship, was played in the Stadium afternoon of Colombes yesterday before 60,000 spectators including the President of the Republic, M.

Albert Lebrun.

AN INCIDENT in the Cup Final. Midland side, the first time in a Cup Final, then lined ately in possession of the ball, would up for the customary presentation to ose it to an opponent whose presence the King. tho- in a position to tackle

Next came the toss, Cullis spinning That, of course, is one way the coin, and Guthrie calling right, so suspected. of saying that Portsmouth were more that Westcott, the Wolves centre-for

revealed greater

ward, was called upon to start the on their toes, and pace. While the Wolverhampton play-

game. ers adopted the policy of waiting to

Mr. T. Thompson, the referee, had

In an exciting battle featured by free the ball, those of Portsmouth ran co it,

to whistle for a

kick against

expert teamwork and brilliant in- and, having done the running to secur Portsmouth, and to stop the play for possession, kept both the ball and the knee injury to Rowe, in the first few dividual playing, the Racing Club own feet. The men of the winning sid. minutes. A thrilling incident follow-of Paris, defeated Olympique Lille on their toes; the men of the losing ed, Scott, the Wolves goalkeeper, run- side on their heels. That, granting thing out to intercept, was bundled off by 3-1-Trans-Ocean. writer a little licence, is as near a cor the ball when twelve or more yards

Worrall quickl rect summary of the game, and con- from his position. veying the secret of Portsmouth's suc- tobbed the ball in front of the empty put cess, as it is possible to get.

goal, but somehow all efforts to in a shot were prevented before Scott raced back into goal again.

other final ties that the better team

did not win,

01

there

Burst Down The Centre

.

LOCAL BASEBALL RESULTS

The Brewery defeated the U.S.S. Mindanao in their league Baseball to 4 game yesterday by 9 runs while South China made an auspî- cious return to the League by ac- counting for Recreio by 7 runs to 5.

From this Portsmouth attack West- cott carried danger to the other end with a fine burst down the centre, bu

foiled by rolling over the line was and he was soon robbed of the ball. McAlin-desperate effort to check the ball from den was active for Portsmouth,

Parker, who applied the finishing once Guthrie fed Worrall cleverly.

the score. However, the players were a little un-touch, and so must be credited with steady during this lively start.

an

Almost at once Westcott had eight yards shot for Wolverhampton, hard to pull themselves together, but but he kicked outside. Wolves tried their virile opponents gave them few chances for working the ball.

How

from

Let it be admitted, quite frankly, that as a team, Wolverhampton Wan derers gave a most disappointing dis- play. So much had been expected of When any member of the Portsmouth them: they achieved so little. Indeed, forward line was on the move it is not much exaggeration to say tha. was a colleague racing into position for the the pass to give him actual as weir the Wolverhampton men gave poorest exhibition of football in a Cup as moral support in beating an oppon- ent, or, at any rate, making him doub final of our time. They scarcely ever

the wisdom of a full-blooded tackle, settled down to play what their sup- porters have come to regard as their By way of contrast the forwards of Wolverhampton Wanderers did not find normal game. The real mystery the match is how a team which is cap- the open spaces. Rather did the inside able of playing so well could descend men play so closely together that the. to such a mediocre level. It was no were often in the way of one another, a case of a side merely playing as well losing chances of making headway, and as their opponents would allow them to possibly even scoring, in consequence.

Offside spoilt a move by the other do, although Portsmouth must be given This inability of Wolverhampton to full credit for the persistence and grit make room in which to work the ball Portsmouth wing, but the Wolves for which they brought to bear, and which rendered the task of the Portsmouth wards certainly had to play second fid- men defenders much easier than it other- dle for the first twenty minutes or so. Wolverhampton prevented the

Barlow; from the left-wing position, from settling down. The Midlanders, wise would have been.

own As a team Wolverhampton failed to sent in a high centre, which Scott leap however, contributed to their downfall by bad tactics, and by indivi-rise to the occasion, whereas Ports-ed to catch, and still Wolves could not ever, after eight minutes of the second dual errors, both of omission and com-mouth played above their normal form. do much much more than defend. Then half Dorset took a short pass

The same sort of thing has happened half a chance given to Westcott deve-Westcott at his side and shot the ball mission.

in previous final ties, and it will happen loped into a thrilling scene in front of into the Portsmouth goal.

Dorsett, taking Portsmouth's goal. again in the future. Why it should b In one respect the biggest attend-so is beyond explanation, save perhaps Westcott's pass, ran forward and shot. ance at Wembley since 1923 must have that the thick, close-cropped carpet of but Walker with a double-fisted save turned the ball inches outside the post. was grass at Wembley provided such The game been disappointed.

striking contrast to the surfaces

After Burton ran down on Wolver- over, to all intents and purposes,

A free-kick against Scot for "carry- earlier the half-time, when Portsmouth. led by two which Wolverhampton have revealed hampton's right wing Dorset, from a throw-in, sent a pass low across the

The Ports- goals to nothing, and it was certainly their best form during

nor Maguire mouth goalkeeper, Walker, was shaken finished, as a contest of possibilities, rounds. Most of all does the outcome goalmouth. The ball travelled so fasing" was poorly used. of this match demonstrate the folly that neither Westcott immediately after the re-start. It was

twenty-six minutes Portsmouth obtain. not third time lucky for Portsmouth, behind the suggestion, put forward so

ing the turf slippery.

attacks ed their fourth goal, a number no side but the third time paid for all, for often while waiting for the final tie, could reach it. Steady rain was mak after a collision with Westcott, after

that the playing of it was

Portsmouth's fast-moving

Wembley final. they have been twice to Wembley previous occasions to finish as losers. formality, with the only question out-gained their reward of a goal. after has exceedell in. a

twenty-nine minutes. For some tim. Parker stored this with a beautifully verhampton point of view lies in the Wolverhampton Wanderers would win. Wolves had shown some slackness in judged header after Worral had cross The touch of tragedy from the Wol- standing that of the margin by whic

total movement well rewarded. fact that, so far as it can be said that If memories were not so short it migh marking, and when Anderson had an passed the ball to him. It was a capi-

opening no one was near enough one Portsmouth man did more than even be said that the play, and the re- any other to bring about-tais result, sult, will end for ever all talk of Cur prevent him placing a pass to Barlow. From near the penalty spot Barlow aimed the ball carefully into the corner Barlow, the inside-left, was that play. Final favourites.

Yet two months ago Barlow was a

of the net. Wolverhampton player, being then transferred to Portsmouth.

er.

Over At Half-Time

al

on

a

01.

a mere.

The Run Of The Game

Extra pace served Portsmouth well. Neither Wolverhampton's efforts, cleverly be- Gardiner, nor Galley, the Wolves wing- gun, faded out in mid-field. halves, was up to form and their for wards suffered.

Soon afterwards Worrall threatened but Scott another Portsmouth score, fielded the winger's shot on the run. player There were a few cases of a Soon afterwards Walker coolly stop "taking" the man and not the ball, but ped a drive by Burton, but then Ports-in the main play was clean, clever, and mouth returned to the attack and their exciting. The Wolves were

peatedly robbed with the greatest of speed on the ball was remarkable.

ease.

now re

One touch of personal regret should

Cloudy and showery weather made be interposed. Guthrie, the captain of Portsmouth, conceded more free-kicks the conditions none too pleasant for the

Late To The Tackle

Wolverhampton had a few chances than any other player on the field big crowd who steadily filled up the

Anderson and Parker thrilled the in the later stages, but they played giving the impression that his unneces- Stadium before the kick-off, and nearly sarily drastic measures in dealing with everyone was suitably garbed for rain, the left wing opposed to him may have While the hands of the Royal Marines crowd in one fine piece of inter-passing without real ideas. The faster and, on had the effect of reducing the effective. Irish Guards, and Welsh Guards were When his winger returned a pass per the day, far more accomplished foot- considerably providing a musical programme light fectly, Anderson was just too late to ballers won the Cup for the first time, ness of the opposition

self at the ball. Two minutes before the full was beyond doubt. The foregoing should not be construed rain set in, but the shower cased before get în a shot before Scott flung him- and that their victory was deserved to Cullis So to Guthrie, the Scottish-born cap- teams half-time Anderson outwitted as a suggestion that this Cup Final community singing was begun, It was announced that the was notable for unfair tactics. Most of the free-kicks, of which there were would play as selected. This year the and scored a second goal for Ports tain of Portsmouth, fell the honour of the number of tickets issued had been in-mouth, The Wolves Centre-half went leading the players' to receive the Cup merely a normal quantity, were

Portsmouth.-Walker; Morgan, Roch- outcome of technical offences, forgiv. creased by 5,919, making a' full capa- too late to tackle his man, and though and medals. able when the importance of the occa-city of 99,686. There was some diffi- Scott manged to touch the ball with

culty in packing the standing spects the tips of his fingers, Anderson's swifford: Guthrie (captain), Rowe, Whar sion is remembered.

tors into the pens, but generally every-shot went home, so that Portsmouth ton: Worrall, McAlinden, Anderson,

were two goals ahead when the inter- Barlow, Parker. thing went along in order fashion,

val arrived.

On Their Toes For the greater part of the game it almost seemed as if the Wolverhamn ton players were so convinced of the

ANAL PORTCely,

The most impressive scene of all, the whole crowd singing “Abide With Me," concluded the preliminaries before the arrival of the King and Queen, and

The second-half had lasted barely minute when Portsmouth scored again Barlow shot, from, almost) fh Wed"

Scott; Wolverhampton Wanderers. Morris, Taylor; Galley, Cullis (cap- tain), Gardiner; Burton McIntosh,...