Monday, 27th April,
1914
CARDIFF CITY v. SWINDON.
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A GOALLESS DRAW ENABLES SWINDON
TO WIN THE SHIELD.
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Swindon won the Southern League championship on
Saturday, when they managed to effect a goalless draw at Ninian Park,
Cardiff. The absence of Fleming was a serious handicap, and on the whole
Swindon were somewhat lucky to escape with a point. Something like
25,000 spectators were present to witness a fairly interesting
encounter.
For the first quarter of an hour, Swindon made spirited
dashes on the home goal, but Brittan and Doncaster put up a great
defence, while the Swindon forwards also missed one or two good chances.
Cardiff afterwards attacked almost persistently up to the interval, and
had not Skiller been in his most convincing form they would have
undoubtedly have had a goal or two, for the Swindon wing halves were
incapable of holding the Cardiff wings. The home team were quickly at it
on the resumption, and Skiller was frequently called into action. He
made a magnificent save from West, and others from Devlin and Seymour,
while Kay and Giles put up a great show at full-back. Try as they would,
the home team could not score, and when Wheatcroft received the ball
from a breakaway by the Swindon forwards with only the goalie to beat,
it looked as though the visitors would carry off both points. But the
centre missed his chance, and Cardiff immediately took up the attack
again, Seymour and J. F. West on their right wing, exhibiting a fine
understanding, and causing danger on many occasions to the Swindon
citadel. However, nothing was scored, and the Town thus won the
Championship for the second time in their career - a feat upon the
achievement of which they are to be most heartily congratulated.
Full-time:
CARDIFF CITY ....
.... .... .... 0
SWINDON TOWN .... ....
.... .... 0
THE RETURN HOME.
The Champions had a fine reception from the
large and enthusiastic band of supporters who accompanied them when they
entrained for the return journey, and on their arrival at Swindon G.W.R.
Station, they found another band of enthusiasts waiting to welcome them
home. Skiller was the hero of the hour, for the excursionists had
already found time to communicate the fact to their friends that the
goalkeeper had saved the match for the "Robins," and though
the player in question was anxious to escape, he had to submit to many
"pats on the back" and a somewhat brief "chairing."
The other players managed to escape lightly.
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