BOOTLE v. PARTICK THISTLE. On Saturday afternoon Bootle had the above Scotch club as their visitors at Hawthorne Road. It will be remembered when the Thistle were at Bootle on the last occasion, which was on January 1st of last year, they after a fine game made a draw of two goals each. Since then, however, the Clyde club have lost some of their best players – two of whom are well known in the West Bromwich circles, namely, McCullock and McLeod – and therefore their eleven were not so formidable as of yore. Both teams placed their best available men on the field. Losing the toss, Proudfoot started the game in front of nearly 3000 spectators. The home left wing were the first to show up and, and after a bit of short passing carried hostilities dangerously near the Scottish citadel. Campbell, however, got in a timely lob, and momentarily cleared. Returning to their opponents’ quarters, a capital centre from Clarkson enabled Grierson to score the first point from Bootle with a rather slow shot. From the midfield kick off the Northender again became aggressive, and weak play on the part of the Scotch backs left another opening for Grierson, who smartly notched a second goal. With these two sudden reverses the Thistle put more vigour into their work, and a clever run by Bennet and Gilchrist brought them into close proximity of Dunning, who ultimately dealt with a swift shot from Proudfoot. A corner now fell to the Thistle, and though well taken by Fleming, Arridge headed away. The game ruled for a short period in midfield, where Dickson, owing to colliding with Smith, received an injury, and had to leave the field. No sooner had the game been resumed than a similar mishap befell Kilner, thus causing the homesters to continue play with nine men. Nothing daunted, however, the Bottle nine worked hard and well, and completely hemming the Scotchmen back into their goal, Clarkin put through a third point, and a minute after added a fourth. The game continued in favour of the home team, and Grierson from a pass by Finlayson sent through the fifth goal. Nearing the interval, the Thistle put on a spurt and, gaining a corner from Jamieson, Gilchrist scored their first and what proved to be their only goal of the match, Bootle thus crossing over with the score in their favour by 5 goals to 1. On the re-start McEewan, of the Bootle reserve, took Kilner’s position. For a considerable time, the game was of a give-and-take nature, neither side showing superiority. The Partick left wing, however, got well away and getting around Jamieson Miller looked all over scoring, when Arridge rushed up, and in fine style dispossessed him. Gradually gaining the upper hand, the Bootle men quite outplayed their opponents, and, although Marshall saved some exceedingly hard shots, Montgomery sent in a beauty from the line which went sailing through. Play became rather vigorous, and numerous fouls were given against both sides. In the last quarter of an hour of the game the homesters had all the play, and before the finish three more goals were added by Grierson, Montgomery and Clarkin, a very poor game thus resulting in favour of Bootle by 9 goals to 1.
Liverpool Mercury, Monday, 4th April, 1892
A rather one-sided game took place at Bootle. Although the home team only had nine men on the field for the greater part of the first half they had much the better of the play, scoring five goals to one. On ends being changed the game was even for a while, but at length Bootle showed superiority, and adding four more points they gained a most decisive victory by nine goals to one.
Manchester Courier and Lancashire General Advertiser, Monday, 4th April, 1892
Jack Kilner
James McEwan
