Wisbech St Augustines 2 King's Lynn 0
16 April 1892
This match came off on Saturday in weather reminding one of midwinter.
When the teams arrived on the field the ground was deeply covered with snow, and it seemed questionable whether the match could be played but owing to the lastest in the season, and the difficulty of getting either teams together again, and to the fact that the public had been humbugged the previous week, both captain. were loath to postpone the match. Having consented to play they tossed for choice of goals. Money won the toss and choose the end farthest from the road, having the wind at his back. It was snowing heavily all the time. As soon as Bailey kicked off it was clearly seen by the spectators, what few there were, that play was impossible. As soon as the ball was damped, it balled up with snow and look. more like t little cask rolling about than a football. Wisbeeh pressed slightly at the start, but Carter and Sadler got the ball away and a corner was conceded, but nothing resulted. Wisbech again returned to the attack, Webber and Young being very prominent as offside four or five times; the free kick followed fur the infringement of the rule. The players were soon wet through; and running became a difficult matter. It was a case in which weight must tell in the end.
Some good sprints were made occasionally, but the ball could not be carried far on account of its thick coating of snow; the players kept slipping, sliding, and tumbling about, and when half time arrived no goal, had been scored. After a little waiting the referee sounded the whistle to recommence play. There was evident reluctance, if not actual inability, on the part of some of the men to play any longer, but the referee sounded again, and although several of the Lynn men were still absent the referee ordered the ball to be started, and Sadler kicked off with only himself and Brown in the front rank. To save time Brown attempted to kick out, but the ball was so heavy that he could not kick it far enough, and it was soon returned to the Lynn goal, and though Clifton saved several times splendidly, the ball was at length put through ; Smith, Carter and Plowright having returned on the field in time to witness it. The ball was middled and again kicked off, but it was evident that Smith was done up, and notwithstanding the shouts of Lynn partisans " Play up Smith-- Play up Lynn,- there was no go in them. Fiddy and Boam retired from the field, and Smith was too numbed to be of service, and after. Wisbech had kicked another goal the game was declared ended, it being useless to continue it for the remaining 11 minutes. The men had to undergo rubbing and tubbing to restore circulation. The teams were as follows
Lynn: Goal, Clifton ; backs, Gill and Shafto, halves; F. Money (captain), Fiddy and Boam ; forwards, W. Sadler, W. Carter, Plowright, Brown and Smith.
St. Augustine's Goal, Drysdale ; backs, Moody and F. Walker ; halves, .J. Walker, H. Stanley and Purdy ; forwards, J. Stanley, W. Young, Bailey, Beckbeasinger, and Webber.
Referee: Mr. Balew. Linesmen: Messrs. W. Smith and C. Cooper.