ASSOCIATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18, 22 July 1919, Page 10

ASSOCIATION

THISTLE DEFEATS BROOKLYN.

Given finer weather the contest between Thistle and Brooklyn, on the Basin Reserve yesterday afternoon, would probably have attracted an almost record attendance. Even with a high bleak norwester, and occasional showers of rain, there were several hundreds present, and throughout , the . greatest interest was taken in the contest, which contained not a single dull moment. Brooklyn went out with high hopes and expectations; Thistle^went out-with the wind in their favour, and al weight of experience that quickly 'demonstrated how weight, and experience tell on such an occasion. Further, Thistle went out cheered by a skirl of the bagpipes, played by the Scottish Pipers' Band, whose efforts did much to dissipate the gloom of a somewhat cheerless afternoon. The 'ground was in good condition, and the game was played in a fine spirit on both sides.

Brooklyn led off with a fine dash, and for some time it looked as if they might have a measure of success. Thistle, however, retaliated with good effect, and it took Belhamie (Brooklyn goal) all he .knew to save from a hard shot by Reed from a penalty. On .the other hand, the Thistle backs were always able to combat the frequent breaches made by the nippy forwards from the hill suburb, and at last the Blues got the ball going, and from a. good pass by Edwards, on the left wing, Hart shot, and the score was; Thistle, 1; Brooklyn, 0. Shortly afterwards Reed*got a good chance from a nice pass from -M'Goram, and again the Brooklyn goalkeeper was beaten. Thistle, 2; Brooklyn, 0. Then again the Blues got through from a melee in front of goal, Gibson making no mistake. Thistle, 3; Brooklyn, 0, That was the last score before the end of the spell, although Thistle had frequently to resist some very determined attacks. In the second spell Brooklyn took every advantage of the wind, but Thistle was too good in every division, and be-fore-long M'Arthur, who was playing a splendid game at left back, got a reasonable chance, and added one more to Thistle's score. .Brooklyn struggled to the very limit of their capacity, but, generally speaking, they lacked the necessary ''punch," and but for the eddying wind. Thistle would have added two more goals to their score. '■". Brooklyn scored one, Bing, on the outside left,1 putting in a beauty, from close play! in front of goal. Bing had been playing splendidly, and. his effort, was' greeted: with Joud arid, well-deserved applause. There was, interesting play thereafter, but no .further score.. . , ' . •

For the winners Eggertoh was as safe as usual in :goal, .and' M'Kenzie and M'Arthur were absolutely. safe at full back!. Reed, as usual, stood out by himself as centre: half j. arid.the rest of the team left little to be desired. Belhamie did splendidly in goal for Brooklyn, and M'Nally and Turner fought well in the back ranks. If they get some more really hard games they will do, very much better. Bing, outside left, as already stated, did, really excellent work, and • Loadsman was, very safe in. the centre.' ,' ' ■

Mr. F. O'Connell controlled the game.