A BRIGHT GAME.

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 25 May 1925, Page 9

A BRIGHT GAME.

Form promises to be more deceiving than ever this season. After suffering fairly decisive defeats in the first few games, Institute have rallied their forces, and at Newtown Park on Saturday they succeeded in forcing a draw with Thistle. The game, played in the best of spirit, was full of interest, and for over a hundred spectators who braved the elements it provided an interesting afternoon of sport. Both teams were keen, and on the whole they gave one of the best displays seen in club football this season. Both sets of forwards made the ball do quite a lot of travelling, and in accomplishing that they brought scientific methods into play. Too often games are marked by kick-aiid-rush tactics which are neither effective nor attractive, but on Saturday the Thistle and Institute elevens played that style of football which has made the game the national pastime of Great Britain.

Although Thistle held an advantage pf one goal in the first spell, there was little between' the teams. After the game had been in progress for ten minutes or so. there "was an unusual incident. The Institute forwards'were making a determined attack, and in order to savfi his goal I.hr. Thistle custodian overran with this ball. There wan sn iuataul; appeal, aud tlie referee awarded

a free-kick just a yard or so in front of the goalmouth. The player taking the kick had only to tap the leather to one of his team-mates in order to make a goal a certainty, but instead of doing that ho placed the ball straight into the net, and gave Thistle the benefit of a goal-kick. Such a free-kick is most unusual, a fact which may be judged by the lack of knowledge shown by the Institutes players. Soon after the incident Thistle scored. Theyw'ero awarded a corner-kick. This was beautifully placed, and T. Weatherspoon, the Thistle centre-half, headed the leather between the uprights. Institute made strenuous efforts to equalise before halftime arrived, but the Thistle defence proved too solid.

In the opening stages of the second spell Thistle made the pace, but Institute offered a sturdy resistance, Bell and Caulton (the goalkeeper) standing out conspicuously. Caulton made, several great saves, just deflecting the ball over the cross-bar on several occasions. Half-way through the spell Institute again became aggressive, and seven minutes before time they had the satisfaction of evening matters up. A determined rush saw J. Smith send a good centre across from the right, and Bell, who was playing well up, lost no time in sending tho ball between the uprights. The game ended in a draw— ono all.