From The Wiltshire Times, Saturday 16th April 1904

This match took place at Trowbridge on Saturday in fine weather in the presence of some 1,500 supporters including numbers of supporters of each team.

Soon after the advertised time the teams lined up as follows: - Swindon Reserves: Lewis; Major and Archer; Day, Beale and Fox; Howell, Toombs, Haydon, Bown and Edwards. Wootton Bassett: Ricks; Robinson and Thorne; Hutchins, Jones and Hawe; Popham, Legg, Fry, Selby and Ritchings. Referee: Mr. F. H. Howard (Swindon). Linesmen: Mr. J.F. King (Devizes) and Mr. Parker (Chippenham).

Swindon kicked off against the sun and wind. Just after the start the game had to be stopped owing to Day being injured. He was soon able to resume and from the throw up Howell got away and forced a corner, which was cleared.

Wootton Bassett got away to the other end and gained a corner, which came to nothing. Swindon were next awarded a free kick for a foul, but the ball was put outside. For a time after this, Wootton Bassett had the best of the exchanges, and Ritchings put outside the post after good play.

Major placed a free kick well and Swindon almost got through, but Ricks was fouled in saving. Coming again, however, Swindon, by neat passing, gave the opposing defence a warm time, and Toombs eventually scored a good goal.

Haydon next had a try, but he was robbed before he could shoot. At the other end Jones put a free kick over the bar, and a little later the same player shot well, but Archer relieved.

Bown and Edwards were working the ball up well together, when the former was pushed from behind inside the penalty area. The referee awarded a penalty and Fox easily netted, thus giving his side a two goal lead. Halftime arrived just after, Swindon leading by two to nil.

On resuming, with the sun at their backs and partly aided by the wind, the Reserves had much the best of the exchanges. Their forwards at times combined well together, and one shot from Edwards went just over the bar.

Whilst tackling, Day received a nasty kick in the side and had to retire for some minutes. From a well placed centre by Edwards, Haydon got through and knocked the ball into the net. Wootton Bassett were now kept entirely on the defensive, Robinson and Thorne responding well.

From a corner Toombs hit the post, the ball going out. At last Wootton Bassett broke away, but Major relieved with a good kick. The same player just after put in a long shot which went over the bar.

Legg had a good try for Wootton Bassett, and they succeeded in forcing a corner, which was cleared. From a free kick Jones put outside, and then Legg put in a high shot which Lewis saved with difficulty.

Swindon attacked again, but nothing further of note occurred, and Swindon won a moderate game by three goals to nil.

Mr A. G. Stancomb, president of the Wiltshire Football Association, in presenting the cup, referred to the improved financial position of the Swindon club, and said it redounded greatly to the credit of the present secretary (cheers). He also alluded to the fact that in the Wilts Cup Competition there had been no protests, which showed that the matches had been fought out in a sportsmanlike manner, and said from the matters, or rather lack of matters which had come before the Association during the past few months, he believed that remarked applied to the whole of Wiltshire (cheers).

Dr. Wise, in proposing a vote of thanks to Mr. Stancomb, said he observed that he always gave the cup away empty, but he supposed his excuse was that he was a water drinker (applause). With the idea of enabling drink of a more potent character to be obtained, Dr. Wise slipped a coin into the cup before it was handed over to the holders for the ensuing twelve months.

Credit: Wiltshire Times
Last modified on Tuesday 8th March 2022 at 15:46