HOSPITAL AND THISTLE.

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 49, 26 August 1922, Page 14

HOSPITAL AND THISTLE.

Due meeting of Hospital and Thiitle lwt Saturday demonstrated what a grand /game Association football really is. That is, of course, when both teams really mean business, and both teams certainly meant it last Saturday. Thistle were fighting for the riffhi to 'contest tfc* League championship with Watersiders, wlierena Hospital ww« out to- avenge their defeat by TMetle of the previous week in tij* Cup. They did not succeed in beating Thistle, but the drawn game is just as bad for the BW«e, as Mw ««■« oiow a point behind) Watereidere. There is a certain amount of grim humour about Hospital's play lately. They dashad the hopes of Waterside!*, and raised those of Thistle, 8y defeating the form-, er; now they have lifted Watersiders up again, and pushed Thistle down.. The gam* laet Saturday.was more in the nature of a cup tie, especially to Thtttle, and the play was strenuous. but, clean, and was in the beet of spirit, The Thistle forward line has/ considerably improved with tl» inclusion <rf H»ll«y afod Brundwell, and they .'are now a fast, nippy lot, but their shooting is Jh«r weak point. They went in for top much, passing when within striking distance. damp&jU came in for special attention, particularly from a small coterie of barrackere oh the line, who" made a chant of "W*tch Campbell! Watch. Campbell.!" It was really quit* a compliment to Campbell, but to some players it may have been unnerving., He managed to elude his guardian, Auld, occasionally, arid was certainly dangerous throughput the; gome. The advice from the line was quite sound. Smith, Brownlee, and Meiiderson were the halves, aind' ; played splendidly. Henderson, however, does far to much jumping, and some of his play is distinctly dangerous. Ewing saved many shote brilliantly, but he should have. saved the goal scored against him. He anticipated the shot, and moved into ippeition, but seenwd to be completely deceived by the flight of the ball, possibly it had a "swerve." Hill kept goal in great, style for Hospital, and, considering his inexperience m that' position, he put up a remarkable performance. He also should have cleared his,, shot, by throwing the ball, .instead' of trying to Kick clear, and the match, strictly speaking, should ha.ye been a goalless draw. Both 'keepers, however, saved at least a dozen beauties apiece. Wallis and Ferguson 'kicked and blocked very safely; and the fovraer veteran is playing as well us ever, although lie' is not now quits so nippy. Tho halves,. Windloy,-Auld, iand Thompson', were), as of cauvee. they should be, the-strong men of the tea.n\ Windley,1 new to the position, played his bast game of the season, while Auld, ac the pivot,

had an extremely busy time. Thompson played liis usual strenuous, untiling, 'game, and was a continual thorn in the side of Thistle. The forjwarcjs were not brilliant, but thej were all triers, and kept the opposing defence busy. Hughes and Dick showed very good combination on the right wing, while Lambert, on the other wing, made several siplenddd runs, but was inclined to hang on rather too long. Patetfion, playing in place of Wiight, who was hurt the,. previous week, did very well in a position new to Km, centre-forward. A good feature of his play was the way he kept on top of—the opposing back*; Altogether it was a splendid match.