Conisbro’ St. Peter’s 3 Roundel 1

2 October 1899

Sheffield Independent – Monday 02 October 1899

Conisbro’ St. Peter’s 3 Roundel 1

Played at Conisbro’ in fair weather, before from 200 to 300 spectators.

The visitors won the toss and started with the wind in their favour. The opening exchanges were all in favour of Roundel, and from a smart run by the visitors’ right wing men, Hickman and Rhodes, the home custodian cleared finely, whilst a few minutes later the home centre half cleared just in the nick of time.

Play now opened out a bit, but the home men were soon again busy acting on the defensive. Subsequently from a tricky ran by Dole and R. Bourne the latter put in a fine fast shot. One of the home players endeavoured to head the ball away, and in so doing baffled Hudson, the custodian, who was unable to clear, and thus Roundel succeeded in scoring the first goal after seven minutes’ play.

Conisbro’ now dashed into the visitors’ quarters, but bad shooting spoiled all their chances. However, from a foul against the visitors in close quarters J. Senior gave the custodian a hot handful, which he cleared smartly. The visitors were now having fully the best of the exchanges, and despite the sterling play of Tomlinson and J. H. Purdy at back matters were none too rosy for the home defence. The visitors’ forwards were going strongly, and Hickman and Rhodes cleverly beat the opposing halves and backs repeatedly and got in fine fast shots, only to see them capably dealt with by Hudson.

However, from a heavy onslaught on the home fortress the home custodian conceded a corner, but this was not improved upon. Subsequently from fine kicking by Tomlinson and C. Purdy play was transferred. Jos. Senior forced Riley to clear sharply, whilst a few minutes later the same player centred finely, but Bennett missed a fine chance of equalising. Play now livened up a bit, and the ball travelled from end to end in rapid succession.

The home forwards were in grim earnest, and from a sharp attack the visitors’ custodian only just managed to clear a shot from Whittaker. Coming again, the home men forced Riley to leave his goal to clear, which he did cleverly several times with all the op-posing forwards upon him. However, from a shot straight for goal one of the Roundel defenders handled. The referee gave a penalty, which was successfully taken by C. Purdy, and thus the ” Saints” equalised a minute before half-time.

On the resumption of play the ” Saints” were soon attacking, and from fine play by the whole of the forwards Jos. Senior headed the ball into the goal. Riley partially cleared, but the ball was returned by Bennett, and Whittaker racing up succeeded in giving the home men the lead within a few minutes from the restart.

In the tussle in the goal mouth T. Eyre received a kick in the abdomen, and had to be carried off the field, but he returned after being absent for 13 minutes, although apparently suffering from the effects of his injury. Meanwhile the visitors continued with ten men, and the home men pressed, heavily, but Whitmore and Potter were in fine form, and cleared time after time in grand fashion.

Afterwards play was more open, and for a while neither goal-tender was troubled much. From an attack for the visitors’ forwards the home custodian cleared clinking shots from G. Bourne and Rhodes in fine style, while a few minutes later R. Bourne cleverly dodged his way through, and his final shot was only cleared with much difficulty.

The “Saints’ now took up the running, and for some minutes the conflict waged hotly around the visitors’ fortress, but the defence was kept intact. Senior and Bennett then raced away on the home right wing, and were ably supported by the other forwards. Ultimately in endeavouring to clear Whitmore, the visitors’ left full back, had the misfortune to put the ball through his own goal, thus giving the “Saints” a lead of three goals to one.

Play for some time had been of none too gentle a character, but it became more fast and vigorous, and fouls were frequent. Each team tried hard to add to their score, but were not successful and a hard fought and interesting struggle resulted as follows: — Conisbro’ 3 goals Roundel 1 goal.”