WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 EVERTON 2 (abandoned at half time)

November 20 1893. The Liverpool Mercury

With a view of fulfilling their first League match with the ‘'Wolves'' Everton visited Woverhampton on Saturday. Leaving Liverpool at a quarter to ten in equally weather as they approached the end of the journay they to their chargin discovered that the atmosphere conditions there had not improved but had became decidely worse. Snow had been falling for about an hour before their arrival and as it continued heavily for the whole afternoon, blown about in clouds by a perfect hurracane, the outlook was inserable in the extreme. Two inches of snow was lying on the ground when the time for starting came., the touchline goal line and other marks being, of course obliterated. Some attempts to clear the lines at the end where the wind would cause play to prevail most was made by a couple of men with brooms, but as a rule the officials and players had to depend upon the flags to indicate the boundary of the field of play. It was almost unanimously voted impossible to play at all, but the referee though differently, and a punctual start was made by the following teams. Edge a local man making his first appearance as a League player:- Wolverhampton Wanderers:- Rose, goal, Baught, and Swift, backs Griffiths, Owen, and Kinsley half-backs, Wykes, Griffin, Butcher, Wood and Edge forwards. Everton:- Willimas, goal, Kelso, and Lindsay, backs, Walker, Holt, and Stewart, half-backs, Latta (captain), Bell, Geary, Chadwick, and Milward, forwards. Referee Mr Kingscott (Derby) A few hundred spectators were present. The winning of the toss was an important matter, and Latta was fortunate in this respect, the Wanderers had to defend, facing a keen,, bitting wind and a blinding snowstorm. Everton at once went away on the left, but on Geary kicking back to Chadwick, and on Walker being charged down on the snow, the home team cleared before the visitors could essay a likely shot,, and the left wing of the ‘'Wolves'' became so threatening that the ball was kicked over the touchline, Everton, however, moved quickly from the throw in,, and again brought pressure on the left, but once more failed to drive into goal. Walker was next penalised, and this gave relief to the Wanderers but they could make no substantial headway against the elements. Thrown hard on the defence they conceded a couple of corners, both placed by Chadwick, from one of which Geary gave to Milward who beat Rose out of the scrimmage. Everton thus took the lead early returning in as good formation as could be expected. Everton resumed the attack, when Chadwick shot twice without effect. The Wanderers broke the monotony by snartly running down on the right, and were getting dangerous when Lindsay was penlised for holding Griffin. From the free kick Wykes was menacing, but Lindsay made amends for his prevoius error by kicking clear. Geary soon found himself in a position for shooting the ball going in Sharp and straight but Rose compassed a capital save. The ‘'Wolves'' were next nearer scoring than they had hitherto been as on Butcher running though the half-backs and turning the ball over to Wood the latter shot well, Williams preventing a warm aim taking effect. A judiciuos back pass by Walker to Kelso enabled the latter to kick up to Latta, who closed in but, went short of the mark. Walker and Chadwick followed with shots not quite accurate, and after more pressure Latta sent in a stagging shot, against which Swift turned his back,, and averted danger. Stewart shortly afterwards hit the bar from long ranges, the ball dropping down in front of the goal, but fortunately for the home team, no Everton man was lying handy. Holt took a free kick near in, but this Rose neutralised with his right hand. A return shot was also of no avail, and Everton were debarred from making as much advance as they were expected to, the wind taking the ball in erratic directions. A very clever run was interposed at this jucture by Edge and Wood, who dodged both Walker and Kelso and then passed to Butcher, who would not be denied a shot at goal of good quality, but to which Williams used his hands with judgement. This piece of bright play raised an appreciative cheer among the handful of enthusiast present but it prvented a further reverse to the Wanderers, as Latta was quickly under weight and centred when the ball bounced off Baugh into the net. Then game had been in progress half-an hour when this second goal was scored. On restarting, Owen was fouled just as he was about to shoot at goal, nothing came of the free kick, and Geary was then penalised. Griffin and wood next got as far as Kelso who checked them but Edge went on to be pulled up, for off-side. Milward a few minutes later shot,, straight but Rose saved this and other aims, and the interval period arrived with Everton still leading by 2 goals to nil. After some discussion in the retiring room, the referee abandoned further play on the ground that he could not see clearly owing to the gust of snow though the players were willing to finish the match.