WEDNESDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 1958
FLOODLIT FRIENDLY AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM Attendance 25,000
ASTON VILLA 3 (McParland, Lee, Burrows) G.I.A.S. GOTHENBURG (SWEDEN) 0
Sims; Lynn (capt), Sharples; Lee, Dugdale, Crowe;
Smith, Sewell, Myerscough, Burrows, McParland;
L. Andersson; Henriksson, Jingard (capt); Cato, Forsberg, Linderoth;
Clason, K. Jakobsson, B. Andersson, Johansson, S. Jakobsson;
Referee:- Dennis Howell M.P. Birmingham
Although this game had little entertainment value for the spectators it may be of some benefit to Aston Villa as a few displays as confident as this would help their perilous First Division position. The fact that the Villa had about eighty per cent of the play only demonstrates the poor standard of their Swedish visitors, who were a typical Continental side, i.e. good ball control, clever approach work but no finishing power in front of goal.
The Villa gave seventeen year old Harry Burrows his first appearance with the senior side and the young inside forward certainly made the most of it. After he had conquered his early nervousness he settled down, using the ball well and demonstrating a powerful shot.
Villa's attack got into its stride early on and Andersson was soon in action to save a hard drive from Smith. The first goal came after seventeen minutes Sewell jumping over a pass from Crowe deceived the Swedish defence and McParland on the right hand side of the goal was able to send a powerful shot into the net. The Irishman then had another fine effort turned round the post by the agile Andersson.
The first time that the visitors attacked they nearly equalised. Centre forward Andersson put inside right Jakobsson through on the left. He shot as Sims came out and the ball rolled tantalisingly across goal and then just past the wrong side of the post. McParland picked up the ball on the half way line and tore through the entire defence at terrific speed. His rocket like shot appeared to be going just inside the far post but Andersson leapt across goal to push it out. Another surprise attack by the Swedes saw Lynn clear off the line from outside left Jakobsson. Half time 1-0.
FRIDAY 31ST OCTOBER, 1958
LEAGUE DIVISION FOUR AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL Attendance 15,142
WALSALL 6 (Askey, Brownlee, Richards, Taylor, Faulkner 2) CREWE ALEXANDRA 0
Savage; Haddington (capt), Guttridge; Billingham, Jones, Hodgkisson;
Askey, Faulkner, Brownlee, Richards, Taylor;
Evans; McDonnell, Millar; Campbell (capt), Barnes, Ward;
Pounder, Pearson, Llewellyn, Keery, Colbridge;
Referee:- R.S. Smith, Newport
Walsall were without McPherson and Rawlings, both injured, and brought in Stan Jones for his first game of the season at centre half, switched Hodgkisson to left half, Richards to inside left with Brownlee re-appearing at centre forward. With five points from their last six games Walsall are now fifth in the league table.
The home side took an early lead when after a left wing attack Brownlee crossed the ball across goal for Askey to run it into the net. Walsall continued to dominate the play and were three goals up after half an hour. Crewe's defence was trying to play the offside game, but it was not coming off and the Walsall inside forwards were repeatedly allowed a clear run at goal. Brownlee scored the second following such a move. His shot struck Evans, bounced up in the air and he headed it into the net before the goalkeeper had recovered. After several missed chances Richards scored the third following another clear run at goal. Half time 3-0.
The second half was a repetition of the first and Walsall could have run up a phenomenal score if they had taken all their chances. The fourth goal came five minutes after the interval when Taylor, cutting in from the left wing, scored with a fierce drive. Brownlee who was having his best game for some time made the fifth by pulling the ball back from the left for Faulkner, running in, to score easily.
The whole forward line had now scored. The final goal was also scored by Faulkner who was sent away with a perfect pass from Billingham. Richards, usually the surest of marksmen, strangely missed three simple chances, on each occasion only having the goalkeeper to beat. The whole Walsall side played well, with Hones a very good deputy for McPherson.
Crew suffered mainly because of the deficiencies of their defence, the rest of the side showing quite good form, the two wing halves in particular got in some good constructive work. Pounder was a lively winger and troubled Guttridge more than most wingers do. Llewellyn got the ball in the net twice but was given offside on each occasion.
Walsall have now scored forty goals this season, more than any other side in the Fourth Division. Richards has scored twelve, Brownlee six, Faulkner six, Askey four, Hodgkisson four, Taylor two, McPherson two and Billingham, Cochrance, Hunt (Chester) and Henderson (Darlington) one each.
MONDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 1958
FLOODLIT FRIENDLY MATCH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 2 (Brownlee, Richards) DERBY COUNTY 1 (Cargill) Attendance 5,676
Woodward; Haddington (capt), Guttridge; Billingham, Jones, Hodgkisson;
Askey, Faulkner, Brownlee, Richards, Taylor; (Substitue Cochrance for Faulkner)
Oxford; Mays, Davies (capt); Parry, Young, Upton;
Hannigan, Swallow, Barrowcliffe, Hunt, Cargill; (Substitutes Darwin and Smith for Swallow and Young)
Referee:- A. Rowbotham, Bloxwich
After a first half dominated by their Second Division opponents, Walsall's superior fitness on a heavy ground saw them to victory. Derby were undoubtedly the more skillful side, using the ball well as one would expect from a side with two former wing halves at full back. Parry, at one time a heavy scorer for Derby at inside forward , gave a very energetic and skillful display at right half in the first half of the game but faded during the second.
Continuing the story of players who have changed positions brings us to Barrowliffe who played centre forward although normally a full back. Frankly he led the line like a full back and missed several good chances of opening the score. The visitors did however take the lead after thirty six minutes when their outside left, Cargill, formerly with Burnley and Sheffield Wednesday, beat Haddington with ease, cut in and fired a fierce shot into the corner of the Walsall net. This goal spurred on Walsall to great effort and three minutes later Brownlee raced through the centre, sent a terrific shot against Oxford's chest, collected the rebound and hit it into the net. Half time 1-1.
Derby started the second half strongly and Swallow, their recent acquisition from Arsenal got the ball into the net but was given offside. Swallow and centre half Young later left the field to be replaced by substitutes. Cochrane and previously replaced Faulkner in the Walsall side. Hodgkisson and Billingham began to dominate midfield and Walsall's only fault was their poor finishing. However Richards, who was not often in the game, put them ahead after seventy three minutes following a fine pass from Askey in the inside left position.
The visitors did not give ups and continued to play with determination until the final whistle. Woodward, who made a most satisfactory performance in his first senior appearance at Fellows Park, made a very good save when he just managed to finger tip a shot onto the post. He was also concerned in a hectic goalmouth scramble which ended with Haddington heading over his own bar.
Hunt, formerly a goalscoring centre forward with Norwich, had a good game but tended to neglect his dangerous wing partner, Cargill, who showed that he had the measure of Haddington in the first half but saw little of the ball thereafter.. Hannigan on the other wing had a very poor game which only confirmed his lack of success since leaving Scotland.
WEDNESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER 1958 Attendance 24,800
FLOODLIT FRIENDLY AT THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH
WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 (Allen pen.) ATLETICO DE BILBAO 2 (Mauri, Arieta)
Potter; Howe, Williams (S.G.); Setters, Barlow (capt), Dudley;
Campbell, Burnside, Robson, Kevan, Hogg; (Substitute Allen for Robson at half time)
Carmelo; Crue, Canito; Mauri, Etura, Magueregui:
Arteche, Uribe, Arieta, Torre, Gainaz (capt);
Referee:- Klaas Schipper, Holland
The attendance for this match was a big disappointment but no doubt the recent poor showings by foreign teams in the Midlands had something to do with it. Torre, the inside left, was the only member of the visitor's team not capped by Spain. Unlike their main rivals in Spain, they do not recruit foreign players and every one of their squad are Basques.They certainly started off like a team of internationals, at a very fast pace indeed. Their clever centre forward, Arieta, soon had Barlow in trouble with dome delightful body swerves which left the Albion man standing. The Spaniards deservedly went ahead after thirteen minutes play. This time Uribe easily picked his way round Barlow and crossed the ball to the edge of the penalty area. Right half Mauri, although the ball came to him at an awkward height, somehow got his left foot up to it and crashed it into the net on the volley.
Albion retaliated immediately and Hogg was very unlucky when a splendid shot hit the post. Soon afterwards Carmelo made a fine save from a free kick, also taken by Hogg. The Spanish goalkeeper delighted the crowd with his huge kicks which travelled three quarters of the length of the field every time. Bilbao were not to be denied and their clever forwards, well prompted by two splendid wing halves, continually troubled the Albion defence. Potter saved well by diving at Arieta's feet and then the Albion goalkeeper had the good fortune to deflect a shot with his head onto a goalpost.
Just before half time Bilbao scored again. From a pass by Mauri, Arieta sent in a chip shot which completely deceived Potter. It appeared to be going over the bar but suddenly dipped to enter the top corner of the goal. Of post war English players I have only known Len Shackleton try such a shot. Half time 0-2.
Ronnie Allen, who has recently lost his place in the Albion side, replaced Bobby Robson at half time. Allen did a warm up lap of the ground during the interval, which got him a great reception from the crowd as befits one of the club's all time heroes. His re-appearance certainly put more life into the Albion forward line and his long through passes brought Derek Kevan into the game for the first time. The Spaniards did not take kindly to Kevan's challenging of the goalkeeper and several lively encounters took place in the Bilbao penalty area.
Burnside, who had a most disappointing game missed a great chance when he ran through but shot wide with only Carmelo to beat. Hogg, who always seemed most likely to score, again had bad luck when he cut inside his back and let fly a terrific shot which beat Carmelo only to strike the crossbar and go over. Kevan made a most realistic sprawling fall when impeded near goal and Allen crashed home the penalty kick. Albion now piled on the pressure and it looked as though they must equalise.
Kevan was brought down again inside the penalty area but the referee waved play on although this looked much more a penalty than the one actually awarded. The Spanish defence was beginning to panic now in the face of constant pressure with much gesticulation and arguing among their players. Their inside right went down injured and writhing in agony with only minutes left, but Williams was not convinced by his acting and promptly dragged him over the touchline. Two of the Spaniards ran over and dragged him back into the field of play while the rest of the team made insulting gestures and remarks towards Williams.
Bilbao managed to survive these last hectic minutes however and undoubtedly deserved their victory. It was a great pity that the majority of the crowd saw fit to boo and whistle the Spaniards when they lined up in the centre of the field for their final bow. They had shown a degree of skill and originality especially in the first half, rarely seen in England, and in Mauri they had a world class right half.
TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 1958
INTER-CITIES FAIR CUP FIRST ROUND (SECOND LEG) AT ST ANDREWS, BIRMINGHAM
BIRMINGHAM CITY 2 (Larkin, Taylor) COLOGNE 0 Attendance 20,236
Merrick (capt); Hall, Allen; Watts, Smith, Neal;
Hooper, Gordon, Brown, Larkin, Taylor;
Ewart; Kessler, Schnellinger; Schwier, Schumacher, Muhlenbock;
Habig, Sturm, Lorenz, Dorner (capt), Fendel;
Referee:- Signor Lobello Concetto (Syracuse, Italy)
Larkin looked the most likely scorer for the Blues, shooting at every opportunity. He forced Ewart to make a magnificent diving save from a shot which appeared to be going just under the bar. Brown's speed got him clear on the right but when he crossed the ball past Ewart there was no one on hand to prod it home.
Half time 0-0.
Within a minute however Gordon headed a Taylor corner on to Larkin who headed towards the corner of the net. Ewart got his hand to the ball but unaccountably allowed it to slip through for the first goal.
Cologne's forward line, led by the portly Lorenz, could never get going against a quick tackling defence in which Smith was outstanding. The visitors star player was nineteen year old, blond left back Schnellinger who gave Hooper very little scope. The second goal came after sixty seven minutes. Taylor's shot hit the far post and turned inwards to be caught be Ewart, but the referee was on the spot and ruled that the ball had crossed the line.
WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER 1958
EUROPEAN CUP AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERES 2 (Broadbent 2) Attendance 45,767
F.C. SCHALKE '04 (Gelsinkirchen) 2 (Siebert, Koslowski)
Sidebottom; Stuart, Harris; Slater, Wright (capt), Flowers;
Deeley, Broadbent, Jackson, Mason, Mullen;
Loweg; Brocker, Laszig; Borutta, Kreuz, Karnhoff;
Koslowski, Koerdel, Siebert, Jagielski, Klodt (capt);
Referee:- A. Alsteen, Belgium
Wolves had all the early play with their attacks developing at high speed, but they soon found that unlike most Continental sides Schalke had a fast, hard-tackling defence. Their bulky centre half Kreuz gave Jackson no chance, but the stars of their defence were left back Laszig and left half Karnhoff. Both tackled well and used the ball to advantage.
In the twenty third minute Wolves and the large crowd got a big surprise when Schalke took the lead. Siebert received the ball on the edge of the are, cleverly side-stepped Harris and gave Sidebottom not chance with a fine shot into the corner or the net. Wolves piled on the pressure now but could not score. Their best effort came from a fine shot by Broadbent but the German goalkeeper flung himself across the goal to make a splendid save in mid air.
Deeley was blotted out of the game and his wanderings only added to the crowded confusion in the middle of the field. Mullen's centres were not of the usual precision or Wolves could hardly have failed to score before the interval. Half time 0-1.
Wolves, so far undefeated under their own floodlights, and famous for their second half rallies, soon showed they were determined to keep their record. Broadbent pushed a Deeley cross into the net from close range only three minutes after the interval to put Wolves level. Another Deeley cross in the sixty fifth minute saw Broadbent head a second goal to put the home side ahead. With the crowd cheering them on Wolves went all out to add to their score.
Wright was playing as only he can and he was unbeatable in the air. However, the Germans who had showed themselves more skillful if not quite so fast in movement as the Wolves, levelled the scores with only three minutes left to play. Veteran international left winger Klodt, who wandered throughout the match, put a perfect ball through from the right for Koslowski to race onto in the inside right position
and to crash it past Sidebottom.
WEDNESDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 1958
FLOODLIT FRIENDLY MATCH AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA 3 (Milne og, Hitchens, McParland)
HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 3 (Young, Blackwood, Wardhaugh) Attendance 25,000
Beaton; Jackson, Aldis; Dixon, Dugdale, Crowe (capt);
Smith, Wylie, Hitchens, Burrows McParland;
Marshall; Kirk, Thomson; Mackay (capt), Milne, Bowman;
Paton, Murray, Young, Wardhaugh, Blackwood;
Referee:- H. Horner, Coventry
Their record being:- Played 34, won 29, lost 1, drawn 4, goals for 132, goals against29, points 62.
Hearts captain Dave Mackay has recently been appointed captain of Scotland and two other internationals in the side tonight are the two inside forwards Jimmy Murray and Jimmy Wardhaugh.
Aston Villa, still in bottom place in the First Division table, introduced their newest signing Ron Wylie, from Notts County for his first senior game. Bill Beaton signed from Dunfermline earlier in the season continued as deputy for the injured Nigel Sims in goal. Beaton made his first appearance for Villa last Saturday at Leicester where they were beaten 6-3 after leading 3-0 during the first half. Jackson came in for the injured Lynn at right back, Aldis re-appeared at left back after several weeks on the injured list. Johnny Dixon, inside forward and captain in Villa's cup winning side last season, made his first appearance as a wing half and Harry Burrows the seventeen year old inside forward was making his second appearance.
Villa were soon level when new boy Wylie pushed a perfect pass through for Smith to run onto and the winger outpacing his full back took it to the by line before pulling back a low hard centre which struck centre half Milne on the foot and was deflected off the far post into the net. Hearts regained the lead after twenty six minutes with another fine goal. /their speedy outside left Blackwood again swerved round Jackson with ease and was left with a clear run for goal. He gave Beaton no chance with a fierce left foot drive into the far corner of the goal.
Wylie was working hard in midfield and was showing some clever touches although he did seem rather dubious about going into the tackle hard, no doubt a result of the broken leg which he sustained last season. It was from an attempted shot by Wylie which was stopped by Hitchens in the Hearts goal area and turned into the net that Villa equalised again after thirty three minutes. Half time 2-2.
In the second half Hearts again impressed with their very accurate passing, speed and originality. Their forwards showed every inclination to shoot and when they shot they really hit the ball hard. Mackay had a grand game at right half, he was here there and everywhere, spurring on his side and drawing gasps from the crowd with his huge throw ins. However it was the home side that went into the lead following a left wing corner taken by Hitchens, when McParland forced the ball home through a crowd of defenders after fifty nine minutes.
The Scots superior football ability could not be denied and they scored a well deserved equaliser in the seventy first minute following another mistake by Jackson. This time he hesitated with the ball on the edge of his own penalty area and Wardhaugh nipped in smartly to take it from him and to cut in and score with a well placed cross shot. The game continued to give good entertainment right up to the end and proved a fare more attractive fixture than the game with Gothenburg.
Crowe, who was selected for the first time for Wales this week captained the Villa, but was replaced by Lee at half time no doubt with Wednesday's game with England at Villa Park in view. After the game it was announced that by mutual consent Mr Eric Houghton's position of manager of the Aston Villa club has been terminated.
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