In season 1910-11,
Winton Rovers had a successful run in the Scottish Junior Cup and reached the
semi-final which they lost to the eventual winners.
ARDROSSAN
WINTON ROVERS 1 - PETERSHILL 1
Scottish
Cup Semi-Final - Teams Cry Quits
Locally, much
interest was evinced in this Scottish tie if we are to judge from the large
number of enthusiasts who accompanied the Rovers on their mission of
warfare (on 8 April 1911). The Glasgow and South-Western 'special' which left
Ardrossan, stopping at South Beach, Saltcoats, Stevenston and Kilwinning, was
well-packed and the company was a good-hearted one.
The attendance
of spectators at Love Street was a record one for a junior match in Paisley,
the Petershill team having also a large following. With both sides at full strength,
a stirring contest was anticipated and in this respect, the spectators were
not altogether disappointed. Petershill were the first to open the scoring department
through Logan but his reverse did not upset the Rovers in any way and
had they equalised later, it would have been no more than they deserved for
at this stage, they played the better football. Fate and a good defence, however,
were against them and at the interval, Petershill held their one goal advantage.
Judging from the play shown and the fact that only a single goal separated the
sides, the game was felt to be either team's. Brisk play was the order and each
goal was now and again jeopardised but the respective defences answered to all
the calls made upon them.
The Rovers' centre was given every chance to equalise but he failed to
take advantage of his opportunities while the Petershill attack, dangerous enough
at times, were always forced back empty-handed. Time became beautifully less
and it looked as if the Rovers were to sustain their first cup defeat
of the season and, at the same time, make their exit from the Scottish running
but no, for in the closing minutes, Orr saved the situation by registering the
equalising point and the game ended in a draw of one goal each.
What The Mite
Says - Had the Winton Rovers lost the tie, as they looked like doing
almost up the closing kick of the match, it would certainly have been hard lines
for the Ayrshire laddies who were quite the equals of their Glasgow rivals and
had very bad luck almost throughout the contest. The attendance of the general
public, supplemented by large contingents from Springburn and Ardrossan, was
very gratifying, the gate receipts amounting to £83 3s 6d which at 3d
and 1d represents an attendance of close on 8000 people.
At the outset,
the Rovers were terribly nervous while the Glasgow lads gave no evidence
of excitement and at once settled down to the traditional cup game - long kicking
and passing with fast following up and this had the effect of unsettling the
Rovers' defence. Ten minutes of strenuous work had been done, the bulk
of the pressing by Petershill, when, after splendid shots by Logan and Turnbull,
the first-named got a great chance and promptly scored a clever goal. The Ardrossan
lads replied strongly but McArthur and Main were in great form, the burly
left-back saving grandly after Traynor has missed his kick. The forwards were
very active but the defenders kept them well in check while the goalkeepers
smartly disposed of several likely shots. At the interval, Petershill held their
lead of one goal to nil.
In the second
half, McAsh and Orr changed places but still ill-luck followed the Rovers
who had plenty of chances but finished badly. Orr seemed certain to score but
put too much spin on the ball which curled away in the direction of the corner
flag. Overend missed a good chance of putting the result beyond doubt and Logan
several times shot with great power. Time wore on and the Rovers looked
a beaten team with only five minutes to go. McAsh, Orr and Goodwin failed with
glorious chances but, at a couple of minutes from the finish, a desperate rally
and exciting scramble near the Glasgow goal ended in McAsh putting the sides
on an equality. Just after this, Petershill looked like scoring but the danger
was averted and the ball lay in midfield when Referee Shanks sounded the whistle.
For Rovers,
Pringle kept an excellent goal but both Ferguson and Bennett have done better.
The rushing tactics of the Petershill forwards severely tested the Ardrossan
backs who were only beginning to gather confidence in the closing stages of
the play. The outstanding player on the field was Captain Steel of Ardrossan.
He played splendidly all through and reminded me of another great Scottish semi-finalist,
Weir of Kilwinning Rangers and now of Saint Mirren. McCreadie displayed considerable
pluck and dash but was terribly weak in placing. Bannatyne, without being particularly
brilliant, played a useful game, a feature of his play being the care with which
he passed the ball to the right-wingers. With the exception of McIntosh, all
the Rovers' forwards were weak in tactics. With more concentration on
goal such as the Glasgow men displayed, the Rovers would almost certainly
have won the match. McIntosh and Mess with Goodwin occasionally clever, were
the most useful men. McAsh scored the goal but Orr ought to have got the ball
past Main long before the last three minutes of the tie. The game will be replayed
at Love Street, Paisley, on Saturday 22 April and another great match is certain.
Bitmark's
Opinion - The result, I consider, is highly satisfactory, both from a financial
and a playing standpoint. If anything, Petershill, who played the stronger,
forcing game, were the ever-so-slightly better team on the day and the side
which gave the more convincing display when in the vicinity of their opponents'
goal. Midway through the first half, I was of the opinion that the tie was even
this early won for if the Ayrshire defence seemed good enough to cope successfully
with the now less capable Petershill forwards - Train had gone lame - the Winton
attack never struck me as being likely to get the better of Main and that attack
also carried its lame duck for McAsh, who was destined to ultimately pull the
match out of the fire, had already frittered away a couple of fine chances and
Orr twice as many. The wings on occasion showed pretty enough football but most
of this was neutralised by the very impotence of the centre-forward who, when
he did not lose any advantage gained by undue attention to his opponents, generally
contrived to work himself into an offside position with, of course, a disastrous
result to his side. Following the example set by their opponents - swinging
the ball about from wing to wing - Ardrossan came more into the picture
in the closing half-hour and at the time - three minutes to go - when their
goal did come, they were slightly the better side.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 14 April 1911
ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 1 - PETERSHILL 1
Scottish Cup Semi-Final Replayed Tie - Another Drawn Battle
For the second
time, the above combinations lined up at Love Street Grounds, Paisley on Saturday
(22 April 1911) in order to determine who should figure in the final tie for
the national cup. On this occasion, the crowd was of larger dimensions than
on the first meeting of the teams and the supporters of both clubs were out
in strong numbers, these being conveyed to Paisley per special trains. That
this undecided Scottish tie has created a widespread interest will be readily
admitted when it is said that the spectators numbered 10000 last Saturday which
says a great deal for junior football as now played in these parts.
Both teams
have every reason to feel thankful for the hearty support accorded them in their
last two Scottish engagements and our fond hope is that on 6 May, the better
combination will qualify for the final. On Saturday's play, the Rovers
claimed superiority and Petershill, like their opponents in the first game,
were lucky in averting defeat in the closing minutes. We give the opinions of
the following critics.
What The Mite
Says - Love Street, Paisley, has proved a good thing for Petershill and Winton
Rovers and as the teams have still to meet for the third time on the same
ground, it is apparent that the semi-final will set these clubs on their feet.
On 8 April, £83 odds was drawn. On Saturday, the takings were fully £90,
representing an attendance of close on ten thousand. Petershill had Bruce Cunningham
on the right in place of Tran and the Rovers were at full strength despite
the fact that Goodwin had been reported unfit. With a fairly strong breeze behind,
the Ardrossan team had nearly all the play in the first half but thanks to fine
defence by Traynor, McArthur and Main, not a single goal had been scored up
to the interval.
The Ardrossan
forwards, McAsh, Mess and McIntosh particularly gave a fine exhibition of sustained
work but all of them were weak at goal. On the other hand, the Springburn forwards
seldom troubled Pringle but when they did, there was generally more sting in
their shooting. When the sides changed ends without a goal having been scored,
Petershill looked to have a great chance but in the first minute, McIntosh got
clear away on the left and, centring accurately, he left Orr with nothing to
do but shoot the ball past Main at close range. It was after this that the best
work was done. Petershill made desperate efforts to equalise, Turnbull, Logan
and Fraser working very hard but Ferguson and Bennett played magnificently and
were backed up by as fine a trio of half-backs as has been seen in the junior
game this season.
The Rovers
were not idle, Mess and McIntosh fine work against the wind. With only a minute
left for play, the spectators were leaving the field when Turnbull, who had
crossed over to the right, sent the ball across the Rovers' goal and
Logan, rushing up, headed a great goal and saved the match. It was a great finish
to a splendid game. The game was one of the best I have witnessed this season
and was greatly enjoyed by the spectators. Winton Rovers were certainly
the more polished lot and had their shooting been equal to their outfield play,
there would have been no need for a replay. Main kept a good goal but risks
a lot in his encounters with the opposing forwards. Traynor, though often hard-pressed,
played pluckily throughout and McArthur never worked harder in a cup-tie.
The Petershill
backs and goalkeeper deserve credit for a first-class display. The Petershill
half-backs did not shine. Stark was good and bad by turns. Kyle had a hard job
against McIntosh and McAsh while Faulds, who played in gentlemanly style, has
been seen to greater advantage. Logan, who created a very favourable impression
in the previous game, was allowed little rope by McCreadie and, bar Turnbull,
the Glasgow forwards were very moderate. Pringle did not get much to do, so
clever and resourceful were Ferguson and Bennett. The Rovers' right back excelled
himself and played perhaps his best game since he joined the Ardrossan club.
McIntosh, Mess and McAsh were the best forwards but all played well in the outfield.
In shooting, however, the side is deficient but it must be remembered that the
tackling of the Petershill defenders was vigorous and allowed little time for
manoeuvring.
Bitmark's
Opinion - As was the case in the Scottish Junior Cup semi-final tie at Paisley
a fortnight ago (on 8 April 1911), the cup of victory was again ruthlessly dashed
from the lips of one of the contestants in the closing minutes of the replay
on the Saint Mirren field. In this latest instance, though, the order of scoring
was reversed for whereas on the former occasion, Petershill were all but acclaimed
Scottish Cup finalists for the first time in the history of the club, it was
this time the turn of Ardrossan Winton Rovers to have the successful
fruition of their afternoon's arduous labours snatched form their very grasp,
as it were, just on the post.
As a matter
of fact, the Rovers, as they ought, had much the better of the opening
portion and in keeping their goal from falling during that period, Petershill
were more than a trifle fortunate. Orr's success proved the one thing needful
to stir up the Rovers for the remaining part of the contest which was
productive of play of a much higher order than that exhibited in the previous
match. In marked contrast to the excited Petershill players, who wrought strenuously
but to little purpose, the Winton lads were confident to a degree.
Fortified
by their lead, which they strained every nerve to retain, Ardrossan were
quick to realise that their best mode of defence was to attack as often as possible.
International Goodwin, who Secretary Skillen told me, should not have been in
the team, did what little he could in his unfit condition to lead out the attack
and keep the pressure off the rear line. Mess, however, made up for any shortcomings
of his partner whether on the line or in the inside, the extreme wing player
always made ground by his strong and resourceful play. Orr, who has immortalised
himself by scoring in both games improved on his previous showing while McAsh
did very well after the interval. Had he kept McIntosh plied with the ball as
he should in the first half, then I fear Petershill would now have nothing more
than a watching interest in the Scottish Cup competition. Petershill's equalising
goal, scored by Logan's header two minutes from the end was cleverly engineered
and created unbound delights among the Springburn club's supporters. Had this
goal not materialised, I am confident that few of the cooler heads among the
two thousand odd supporters of the Glasgow club present would have questioned
the right of Ardrossan to contest the final stage so cleverly did that
team comport itself.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28 April 1911
AYRSHIRE JUNIOR ASSOCIATION
The undecided semi-final between the two Ardrossan clubs is to
be played to a finish next Saturday (6 May 1911) at Stevenston. An extra hour
was fixed as the limit and in the event of a draw, the game is to be played
on the Tuesday following (9 May 1911). If possible, the final is to be played
on 6 May. Mr Stark of Airdrie was fixed as the referee for the final and Mr
Nisbet of Edinburgh as reserve. It was left to the sub-committee to revise the
rules. The drawings at the Charity Cup Final in which Glenbuck defeated Ardeer
by five to two amounted to £4 18s 2d. The following games in the Charity
Cup completion were arranged by the sub-committee.
Muirkirk v Glenbuck Cherrypickers
Newmilns v Darvel
Ardrossan Celtic v Kilwinning Rangers
Riccarton Juniors v Kilmarnock Hibs
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 28 April 1911
Additional time nowadays lasts for half an hour. An hour's
extra time must have been very demanding on the players.
WINTON ROVERS THIRD SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL
Tomorrow, Saturday (6 May 1911), will be another day of importance with
Ardrossan Winton Rovers and their supporters, the occasion being their
third meeting at Love Street, Paisley with Petershill in their twice-drawn Scottish
Cup semi-final tie. As on the two former occasions, a special train will leave
the Glasgow and South-Western Railway Station, Ardrossan at 2.20 pm for Paisley
which, for the convenience of supporters and others will stop at South Beach,
Saltcoats and Stevenston only. Passengers can return per special from Paisley
Gilmour Street at 6.15 pm or any of the ordinary trains. It is expected the
Rovers will have another big following, the return fare being the usual
2s. Having qualified for the Ayrshire final, the next fond hope of many in the
county is that Winton Rovers will dispose of Petershill tomorrow and
qualify for the Scottish final. May the third time prove lucky as was the case
last Saturday (22 April 1911) at Stevenston. In the event of a draw, an extra
half hour will be played.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 5 May 1911
ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS
The above is a photo of officials and members of the Ardrossan Winton
Rovers Football Club. On Tuesday night (9 May 1911), the Rovers were
defeated by Petershill in the semi-final for the Scottish Junior Cup after drawing
three times. The team are also finalists for the Ayrshire Challenge Cup and
semi-finalists for the Irvine and District and Irvine Herald Cups.
Reading from left to right, the names of those in the group are:
back row - W Simm, James Barbour, Fred Whyte, Charles
Price, Ronald Bannatyne, Fred McGregor, Thomas Pringle, Robert Smith, Alex
Ferguson, Gavin Love, Robert McCreadie, Donald Flockhart, Alex Gibson, Hugh
Braniff, James Templeton, David Orr, Duncan McLeish and Bailie McKellar.
front row - H McLachlan, Thomas Vance, Robert Mess, John Goodwin, James Steel,
John Bennett, William McIntosh, John McAsh and John Armstrong.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12 May 1911
ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 2 - PETERSHILL 2 after extra time
SCOTTISH CUP SEMI-FINAL REPLAYED TIE
Another Draw
On Saturday last (6 May 1911), the above teams met at Love Street, Paisley
for the third time in order to decide which should take part in the national
final. That the interest in the game had increased rather than diminished was
shown in the attendance which numbered close on 12000, the receipts amounting
to £115 3s 3d as against £80 odds at the first game and £92
a couple of weeks ago. The teams were:
Petershill - Main; Traynor and McArthur; Caddens, Faulds and Stark; Overend,
Miller, Logan, Turnbull and Fraser.
Winton Rovers - Pringle; Ferguson and Bennett; Bannatyne, McCreadie and
Steel; Mess, Goodwin, Gibson, McAsh and McIntosh.
The referee was Mr W Shanks of Falkirk. The Scottish Referee says 'No
matter which club now qualifies to meet Burnbank in the final, Petershill and
Winton Rovers have had a splendid financial harvest and have given the
public a magnificent treat in sustained, clever and exciting football.' Against
the wind in the first half, the Rovers had the better of the argument but weak
finishing and a sound, reliable defence on the part of Petershill prevented
a score. Gibson, the new centre, opened well and kept the wings well supplied
but just when a goal seemed certain, either Traynor or McArthur appeared to
spoil the plot. When only some twelve minutes had gone, Petershill came into
the picture and although they were smartly repulsed by Ferguson, a second attempt
had better luck, Miller scoring after Pringle had twice turned the ball aside.
It was a somewhat lucky goal which Bennett might have prevented. To the interval,
play ruled fairly even, first the one side and then the other being dangerous,
but no more goals accrued.
In the second half, the Ardrossan lads monopolised the play and
attack followed attack without success until the spectators began to give up
hope of the Ayrshire men being able to break down the magnificent defence of
the Glasgow side. Only ten minutes remained for play when a desperate rally
by the Rovers ended in Goodwin beating Main to the great joy of the Ayrshire
brigade. Just after this, the Ayrshire forwards had a couple of glorious
chances but failed to take advantage of them and time arrived with the score
one each. After a short rest, the players turned out to play and extra half-hour.
Fraser, who had been hurt in the first half, was of little use and several of
the other players displayed signals of distress. After seven minutes play, Fraser
whipped across the ball and Overend beat Pringle, the defence being again at
fault. Just after this, McIntosh made a great single-handed run and scored the
finest goal of the match. From this to the end, the Rovers were continually
dangerous but the shooting was poor and the end came with the teams still on
level terms, two goals each.
On the run of the play, there should have been no need for the extra
half-hour. Winton Rovers had the game in hand in the second half but,
as in the two previous games, the shooting lacked power and the Springburn defence
kept a firm hand on the Rovers' forwards. Main kept a good goal although
he was rather at fault when Goodwin equalised. No finer work has been seen this
season than that of Traynor and McArthur, both of whom played magnificently,
saving the side time after time in brilliant style. Caddens, Faulds and Stark
were also in fine form. Caddens worked hard against McIntosh. Stark played like
a veteran and Faulds did his work splendidly. The middle line has not done better
this season. The inclusion of Miller improved the forward play of the Glasgow
club. He brought out Overend in great style, the League internationalist playing
his best game of the season. Turnbull also did well but Logan and Fraser were
not so good as usual. Pringle had little to do. Ferguson played magnificently
but Bennett was erratic and seemed to get excited when hard pressed. Bannatyne
carried off the honours at half-back but both McCreadie and Steel played cleverly
all through the game. In his first game of importance, Gibson did well at centre.
McIntosh was the best forward on the field and although he got a lot of attention
from Caddens and Traynor, he contrived to give them the slip many times. Mess
is clever, if weak at goal and Goodwin can always be relied upon to give his
mates openings for shooting. McAsh did not come into the picture until late
in the game but his play in the last half hour atoned for many previous mistakes.
In the three games thus played, close on £300 has been drawn.
Bitmark in the Daily Record says - Ardrossan, playing much better
than they have yet done in this protracted tie, had most of the game and thoroughly
deserved a victory but for quite a while after Petershill got that somewhat
lucky, but none the less plucky goal through Miller, thirteen minutes from the
start, I was convinced that they would just manage to retain their lead. If
their forward play compared unfavourably with that of their opponents, their
defence was well-nigh perfect while, with the single exception of Stark, who
seemed to lose his head on occasion, the entire side seemed confident enough
to accomplish anything. A regrettable mishap to Fraser, which caused his retiral
for the five minutes immediately preceding the interval, had a far-reaching
effect on the play of the team as a whole but even before he was injured, the
attack never showed the ability of that exhibited by the corresponding division
on the Rovers' side.
The injured left-winger should never have re-appeared yet he made this
third draw possible for it was from his clever centre - he was suffering intense
pain at the moment - that Overend, assisted by Bennett, the Rovers' left-back,
got Petershill's second goal when the extra half hour was six minutes old but
it was really the respective defences that prevented Ardrossan from winning
outright. Their own contributed not a little towards the scoring of Petershill's
goal while Main, Traynor and McArthur made goal-getting for them an extremely
difficult task. This trio withstood their second half pressure manfully. Main
actually had a grip of, but could not hold, Goodwin's header from McIntosh's
magnificent centre which brought the first equaliser seven minutes from the
close of the statutory hour and a half.
The last goal of the match was the extreme left-winger's very own, though
echoes of the plaudits which greeted Overend's success had scarcely died away
when McIntosh, getting possession well out, careered single-handedly up the
field and while Caddens and Traynor were discussing which should tackle him,
he slammed the ball past Main. Ferguson, Bannatyne, Steel and McCreadie, the
half-backs in the order named, and all the forwards with McIntosh and Mess outstanding,
were Ardrossan's best and Petershill were admirably served by Main, McArthur
and Traynor and, in a much lesser degree, by Caddens, Faulds, Miller, Logan
and Turnbull. I cannot, however, finish without referring to the clever work
done by the Ardrossan Academy centre-forward. His inclusion in the Rovers'
team was fully justified by his play.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12 May 1911
ARDROSSAN WINTON ROVERS 0 - PETERSHILL 1
TUESDAY NIGHT'S REPLAY
Rovers Beaten
After six and a half hours strenuous football - this was the fourth meeting
- Petershill qualified on Tuesday night (9 May 1911) at the Saint Mirren Grounds,
Paisley to oppose Burnbank Athletic in the final of the Scottish Junior Cup
competition. In a keenly-contested game, the losers throughout showed the finer
play in the outfield but once within hail of the Petershill defence, their wits
almost invariably seemed to desert them. Chances of scoring came their way thrice
for every one the Springburn team had the of opportunity of getting the better
of Pringle, yet Petershill scored the only goal of the match five minutes after
the start. Ferguson, probably blinded by the sun, mulled what looked like a
comparatively simple kick and Logan, getting on, beat Pringle with a fairly
easy shot.
For their victory, Petershill have their defence to thank. Main, and
more particularly in the first half, played splendidly but no player approached
McArthur, their left-back. Except for a slight lapse near the end when he gave
away a penalty which, fortunately for his side, escaped the notice of the referee,
his display was faultless. Traynor assisted him nobly. Caddens and Faulds played
splendidly in the intermediate line while the inside men, Miller, Logan and
Turnbull, were the best of the forwards. Bennett alone of the Ardrossan defence
played up to his reputation. The halves, among whom Steel shone to advantage,
put up a good fight but without exception, the forwards finished badly. McIntosh,
who missed a grand chance in the first half, was the best of the bunch. McAsh
and Goodwin did fairly well but Gibson, who showed fairly good ability in the
centre, lost several good chances of scoring. He was found too often with his
back to his opponents' goal. The gate amounted to £88 3s 3d.
The teams were:
Petershill - Main; Traynor and McArthur; Caddens, Faulds and Stark; Traynor,
Miller, Logan, Turnbull and McIntosh.
Winton Rovers - Pringle; Ferguson and Bennett; Bannatyne, McCreadie and
Steel; M Orr, Goodwin, Gibson, McAsh and McIntosh.
Ardrossan and Saltcoats Herald, 12 May 1911
SCOTTISH JUNIOR FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION – ELECTION OF OFFICE-BEARERS
The office-bearers of the Scottish Junior Football Association, in
their capacity as returning officers, met last night in the Association Rooms,
70 Robertson Street, Glasgow and announced the results of the voting in the
divisional elections. These
included:
Ayrshire Division II four seats – R. Hay, Skares Burnock,
vice-president. Successful were D
MacNicol, Ayr Woodfield and M Kerr, Ardrossan Celtic.
Owing to a tie for the fourth seat a second vote between J Bell,
Ardrossan Winton Rovers and D Cochrane, Kilbirnie Ladeside, is necessary.
Glasgow Herald, 4 July 1911
EX-ARDROSSAN CELTIC MAN PLAYS FOR LIVERPOOL
Liverpool enthusiasts say that their team will make a determined effort to obtain
a better position than their neighbours at Goodison Park. Hardy, of course,
will again guard the posts while Kenneth Campbell, a Scottish Junior international
custodian, will be the reserve goalkeeper. Campbell comes from Cambuslang Rangers,
and he is highly spoken of. Longworth and Crawford will probably fill the back
positions, while both Chorlton and Rogers are available as reserve defenders.
The club is well equipped with halves, for in addition to Robinson, Harrop,
and McConnell, H C Lowe, of Gainsborough Trinity, is regarded as a thoroughly
capable half. Parkinson will again lead the attack, while Henry Beveridge, the
ex-Ardrossan Celtic pivot, is looked upon as a useful player. Other new
forwards are J Bovill, who comes from Chesterfield - a man with a great reputation
- and D McDonald, a Scottish junior, who is only seventeen years of age.
Lloyds
Weekly News, 27 August 1911
Lloyd's Weekly News was a United Kingdom national newspaper
from 1842 to 1931.