"At last Antwerp men have shewn the result of the somewhat severe training their Captain has been putting them through during the past two months, as in their match on the 20th ultimo against the Brussels Football Association which was played at Antwerp, they compiled what I believe to be the greatest-number of goals yet made in any match in Belgium, viz:-8 to nil.
Of course everybody over here anticipated a win for Antwerp, as their opponent had only commenced their apprenticeship at the game a month or two back, this being, I am told, their third match, and on reading in the Belgian News some weeks ago of their match against the Brussels Football Club, when the latter scored 7 goals against them, I thought Antwerp had what is generally known as a soft thing on. Dark rumours however accompanied the visitors over as to how they had made a very good stand against St. Bernard's a few days previously, viz:- 4 goals to 6, and remembering the strength of the latter club I rather wavered in my opinion as to who would win.
Then again, when at half time the score read Antwerp, 2 goals, and Brussels, nil, the result of the game was very much in doubt, as Antwerp had had the benefit of a strong wind in their favour the whole time, notwithstanding which they had experienced great difficulty in scoring, owing to the stubborn defense of the visitors.
But after the interval Antwerp fairly romped over their opponents, scoring goal upon goal in quick succession; in fact the other side seemed to have lost heart entirely I am sorry to say I was unable to get hold of a list of the visitors' eleven, so cannot very well describe their play individually, but this I can safely assent that take them altogether they were a fairly average lot, and far superior to the Antwerp team of last year.
One could not help feeling a little proud of the Antwerp team, during the second half of the game the forwards played a fine open passing game, and the full-backs kept the leather circulating well in their opponents' territory. Allan and Wilkinson were very effective on the right wing, and were well fed by their half, Chapman, who was always "all there" when called upon; Heyder, also, on the extreme right, played a very effective game, his centering being very pretty, and the way little Jacobs, at centre, put them through was a treat to witness. Rivaz's kicking fairly "took the biscuit" and paralyzed any attempt to pass him.
A meeting of the two teams was held at the "Kruishof" after the match, at which Mr. Sommers, The Brussels centre forward, gave a very interesting account of the starting of the Brussels Football Association, and also stated that Belgian Clubs were being formed in several places in Belgium, notably, Liége, Ostend, Ghent, Bruges, and Antwerp, which clubs it was proposed should become affiliated to the Brussels one."
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