Newspaper

Annfield Plain and West Stanley share honours

Annfield Plain and West Stanley met on Good Friday [21 April 1916] at Derwent Park, Annfield Plain, for the benefit of the widows and families of the later brothers Hunter, of Oxhill, who have fallen in the war. A large crowd lined the ropes, and the pitch was in splendid condition in spite of rain, when Mr James Hosking, of Annfield Plain, kicked off.

Stanley rushed away, but Williamson quickly returned, and Akers checked Cockburn and Mabon. Hopkins set the home left going, and GAILES, with a fine left foot effort, opened the homesters’ scoring account. Mabon and Cockburn, on the right, defeated Akers, but Johnson promptly came to the rescue, and found touch. From the throw-in Rackham put past. The goal kick initiated a Stanley attack and, with Coyle miskicking, Brown had a good chance of equalising, but his shot was too hurried and consequently wide. Soulsby gave the centre forward another opportunity, but Pulman brought relief. Hopkins sent Gailes and Wilson away, but as the latter was about to shoot, Gemmell intervened and prevented a score.

Stanley pressed, and Brown forced Thompson to throw away. The homesters compelled the visiting defence to concede a couple of corners, and from the second Hopkins attempted a shot, which was cleverly hooked out by Pomeroy. Both ends were visited, and during an attack by Stanley, WEARMOUTH equalised after Thompson had once cleared his lines. Brown got through again, and his final shot was just wide of the mark.

Keeping up the pressure, Williamson failed to hold the Stanley left, and Wearmouth gave Thompson some trouble, but with the assistance of Nichol the danger was averted. Wilson, Rackham, and Gailes worried the visitors’ defence, which conceded the second point. Rackham centred from the touch line right in front of Pounder’s charge, and MABON, who was on the spot, promptly sent into the net, the Stanleyites alleging the ball had been out of play. Pulman deceived several players by tricky play and gave Rackham possession, that player’s shot causing Pounder to double up, and in doing so he almost crossed the line. At the other end, Gemmell was instrumental in providing Brown with an opening but the centre’s long shot was smartly tipped over the bar by the home keeper, half time being whistled before the corner kick could be taken.

On the restart Coyle pulled up Briggs, and as Cockburn was making tracks he was given offside. Coyle nearly let his side down by taking too much time in clearing and Harrison was able to get away, but his cross to Brown was sent wide. Brown had two good opening, but he was dead off the target in his shooting and on another occasion he fell when a goal seemed certain. Soulsby put in a good run on the visitor’s right and gave to Harrison, but as that player was steadying himself for a shot Williamson took the leather off his toe.

Thompson made two successive clearances and then Coyle committed a breach of the rules by fouling Briggs in the penalty area. BRIGGS took the kick and equalised the scores again. Shortly after, BROWN gave his side the lead. Williamson missed a dropping ball, and the centre forward made no mistake this time.

The homesters made efforts to equalise, and Gailes put in a long shot which struck the crossbar and rebounded into play. Thompson was called upon twice to save and then clever play was witnessed between Gailes, Wilson, and Rackham, after which GAILES added a third goal and his second of the match. The scores were again level and both sides strove for the mastery, but time was against them and a draw of three each was a fair reflex of the game.

The teams were:-
Annfield Plain: Thompson, Williamson (Sunderland), Coyle, Nichol, Hopkins (Sunderland), Pulman, Mabon, Cockburn, Rackham, Gailes, and Wilson
West Stanley: Pounder, Johnson, Pomeroy, Gemmell, Pounder, Akers, Soulsby, Harrison, Brown (White-le-Head), Briggs, and Wearmouth
Referee: Mr Rob Bell

Date: 27-April-1916

Reference: D/WP 4/39 (Microfilm M61/38)

Where to find this: Durham County Record Office

Contributed by Durham County Record Office