TROWBRIDGE'S NEW IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY AGAINST PORTSMOUTH XI
Speculation has been rife among Trowbridge Town supporters regarding the strength of the Western League elevens this season following the departure of prominent players from last season's list, such as Ken Abrahams (to Chippenham Town), Jack Dagg (Chippenham United), Percy Sheppard (Salisbury) and Jesse Hansford (Westbury United). Yet one felt fairly certain that the 1,900 odd spectators who left the Frome Road ground last Saturday after the team's convincing victory over a Portsmouth XI by six clear goals did so with a feeling of extreme confidence for the coming season. It was, indeed, an encouraging prelude to the Club's Western League Division I campaign, which opened on Wednesday evening at Paulton. The Reserves, aided by some of the senior eleven, have, of course, commenced their programme of Western League Division II matches, and they, too, appear to be a much stronger combination than last season, when they were depleted by the calls of the first team.
McGHEE'S GOALS
Jimmy McGhee, the Kilmarnock player, who signed for the Club last week, seems to be the answer to Jim Paviour's prayers for a goal-scoring centre-forward. After a trial on the left wing in a midweek Reserve match he moved as leader of the attack last Saturday and scored three fine opportunist goals, and we say opportunist with emphasis, because it was undoubtedly his speedy following-up which brought him two of the goals. It needed this professional "zip" to beat such a talented goalkeeper as Gore, who made some remarkably fine saves. Another successful debut was made by the amateur player, C.Q.M.S.I. Watson, from Aldershot. He had a difficult task to live up to such a clever inside-left as Abrahams. Yet Watson filled the bill admirably. He is a clever schemer, and powerful marksman, and club supporters will hoping that he can make regular appearances.
Portsmouth had a young side, with a few players who have been on the Club‘s books for a few seasons. They played neat, well-defined football, but their attack repeatedly broke down against the Trowbridge halves, who were in remarkably good form. Some of the scheming between Lovesey (right half) and Haddon (right wing) provided grand entertainment. Grimason, too, is worthy of his place at left half. He is a grim and tireless tackier. At full back Sutherland was much more like his real self, and had the exuberant and efficient Jimmy Welch as partner. The forwards gave the Portsmouth defence a very busy afternoon. Although McGhee, Watson and Haddon got the goals between them, the unluckiest player the line in this respect was Cyril Greenland who, with similar shots, would have credited himself with more than one goal against a less able goalkeeper. In the home goal George Vince had a comparatively quiet afternoon.
THE GOALS
The first half-hour produced interesting play which was only slightly in Trowbridge's favour. Then Trowbridge got bang on top and it became a case of goalkeeper Gore versus McGhee & Co., but it looked as though everything the attack could conceive would be thwarted by the goalkeeper. But after 34 minutes Webb whipped across a centre, and as McGhee closed in Haddon nipped in and hit the ball into the goal. Three minutes later Haddon, from the centre line, took ball at top speed towards the corner, passed smartly inside to Watson, and from the latter's pass McGhee smashed the ball home as Gore came helplessly out to meet him. Half-time, 3-0. Seven minutes after the restart McGhee was again bang on the right spot, and before Gore could act the centre-forward had netted. This movement was initiated by Grimason. Then came penalty when Greenland was fouled, and Haddon showed that he has lost none of his penalty-taking accuracy. McGhee scored goal No. 5 after 82 minutes with a powerful shot after Gore had been lured out of goal, and Watson headed the last goal from a considerable distance out, the ball falling just under the crossbar when Gore was some way out of his goal.
Report from The Wiltshire Times
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