Cardiff
City 3 - 2 Liverpool
| Saturday 22 August 1959 15:15
Division Second |
| |
| |
 |
| Cardiff
City |
Liverpool |
| 3 - 2 (1-2) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Mokone 5, Moore 48, Watkins 60 |
Malloy 38 og, Malloy 42 og |
| |
| |
1 Graham Vearncombe
- Alan Harrington
- Alec Milne
- Derek Sullivan
- Danny Malloy
- Colin Baker,
- Brian Walsh
- Derek Tapscott
- Graham Moore
- Steve Mokone
- Johnny Watkins |
 |
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Geoff Twentyman
7 Fred Morris
8 Jimmy Melia
9 Louis Bimpson
10 Jimmy Harrower
11 Alan A'Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Ninian Park (capacity )
Attendance: 34,000 |
Bill Jones (Cardiff C)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Bert Slater
makes his LFC debut.
- The first time Liverpool have benefited from two own-goals in one game and that
by the same player; Danny Malloy! The same Malloy also scored an own-goal when Liverpool
played Cardiff two years earlier!
- Liverpool league position after match: 16.
- Cardiff City league position after match: 7.
|
|
That
Cardiff bogy should have been laid
It is nothing new for Liverpool to return from Cardiff pointless, but for the fact
that this year did not see a break in the depressing sequence the fault was, well and
truly, all their own. Liverpool had accomplished the hardest part of their task when they
pulled back from being a goal down to an interval position of 2-1 up, but the defence, a
department which had spelled nothing but stability in the past, slipped and slipped badly.
No club with ambitions such as Liverpool possess, can afford to leave one and
sometimes two forwards entirely unmarked, near enough to goal to be lethal. It is asking
for trouble in a big way. I know that when Moore hit the equaliser Liverpool were
convinced that the centre forward was offside, but he should never have been given such
latitude.
That was bad enough, but for the error to be repeated later on with Watkins in the
position of Moore, was inexcusable. Man for man marking for the long cross from the wing
could easily have prevented both goals, but it was just non existent.
Cardiff were nothing like so obliging when either Morris or A'Court tried to find
an open space, and the result was that the forwards strove in vain to get in a decisive
shot.
Not so masterful
The Liverpool half back line was not so masterful as Cardiff's, although it was a
shock to Malloy to find himself debited with two goals. He was unlucky indeed to find his
name tacked on to Liverpool's first goal, for a Melia shot hit him on its way to the net.
Cardiff insisted that Vearncombe had the shot covered and it was only the change of
direction after the ball had struck the centre half that produced the goal.
Likewise, Melia was similarly unfortunate to be deprived of credit for Liverpool's
opening score.
For the second, Malloy had no excuse whatever. All he had to do was leave the ball
alone for A'Court's centre would have rolled out of play, with not a Liverpool man within
reach. Instead, he tried to bring it under control and took it into the net.
This was enough to knock the heart out of any side and Cardiff's winning rally
would have been difficult indeed without Liverpool's slip-shod cover, which gave the home
team all the encouragement they needed.
That Liverpool's forward line is still not good enough was self evident. Bimpson
never mastered Malloy and only Melia, who looks as though he may make this a memorable
season, was truly dominant. Melia has learned not to overdo the clever stuff. He was
satisfied to beat a man once and showed a willingness to bang away at goal that was not
shared by all members of the attack.
Although there were times when Harrower took part in some clever exchanges with
Melia, the Liverpool line looked in need of a more direct, resolute attacker to provide
greater bite. It is punch the line lacks and it was disappointing that one looked so often
in vain for signs of it.
Of pretty play there was quite a lot, but there was not the threat as the line
moved forward that we so often saw from the Cardiff approaches.
Well Done, Slater!
Still, the forward disappointments should not have cost the match, for the critical
spotlight was very much focussed on the failure of the men behind to play up to standards
which we have come to take so much for granted.
From this criticism must be excepted the Scottish debutant goalkeeper, Slater. In
no way could he be associated with the defeat. A less capable player would have been
beaten more frequently and if Slater can go on improving on this standard Liverpool's
worries in goal appear to have been taken care of for many years to come.
It was obvious that he has yet to familiarise himself with the play of the men in
front, but that will come. On one occasion he punched at the ball when I would have
preferred to see him gather and twice he was in danger of being penalised for
"carrying".
But on the credit side were numerous saves, brought about by his remarkable
agility, and his spectacular pounces to the extreme ends of his goal did him the greatest
credit. What roars of delights would feats such as he achieved produced from an Anfield
crowd. He is a worthy successor to Tommy Younger and, unless I am very much mistaken, will
prove not only as spectacular as his predecessor but every bit as successful.
The dusky South African, Mokone, whose troubles may start as the grounds get
heavier scored the opening goal of the Cardiff season, and it would be difficult for
anyone to be other than impressed by his debut.
Of even greater promise to my mind, was 18-year-old centre forward Moore, who
played several games last season as an inside-forward, the scorer of Cardiff's second
goal.
Watkins celebrated his first game for Cardiff with the winning goal and a display
that left the club satisfied that his purchase from Bristol City will pay dividends.
Copyright - The Liverpool Echo |
Liverpool 4 - 2 Bristol City
Liverpool 5 - 3 Hull City
| Saturday 29 August 1959 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Hull
City |
| 5 - 3 (0-2) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Harrower 52, Melia 58, Moran 65, A'
Court 80, Liddell 85 |
Coates 9, 47, Metcalfe 86 |
| |
 |
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Barry Wilkinson
5 Dick White
6 Geoff Twentyman
7 John Morrissey
8 Jimmy Melia
9 Billy Liddell
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
|
1 Bernard Fisher
- Frank Harrison
- Brian Bulless
- Andy Davidson
- Paul Feasey
- Brian Garvey
- Doug Clarke
- Bill Bradbury
- Jim Duncan
- David Coates
- Vic Metcalfe |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: L J Tirebuck |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 35,520 |
Phil Taylor (Liverpool)
Bob Brocklebank (Hull C) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Notes:
- Ronnie Moran
scores his first goal for LFC.
- Liverpool league position after match: 7.
- Hull City league position after match: 16.
|
|
Kop
roars Liverpool to victory
Despite having led 2-0 and despite two bad blunders, both of which cost goals by
their new Scottish goalkeeper, Slater, Liverpool deservedly beat newly-promoted Hull City
by five goals to three at Anfield. The recovery from 0-2 was pretty typical, with the Kop
crowd roaring encouragement and having one of the finest goals ever seen on the ground, by
Harrower, as part of their reward.
It was this goal which sparked the chain-effect of Liverpool's rally. Harrower
survived an appeal for a foul charge at the start of his run; went on undisturbed, beat
three men in close order and then, after making his shooting angle a few degrees squarer,
hit a left foot shot which flummoxed deputy goalkeeper Fisher, and sent spectators wild
with enthusiasm.
The goal was followed by others from Melia (a header from a Liddell centre), from
Moran (a free-kick shot which flew low and unerringly through the wall of defenders for
his first goal for the club), from Liddell (a rather lucky goalbound shot) and from
A'Court (probably the best shot of his career).
Three of these goals came in the short space of 13 minutes, but it was the fact
that Liverpool scored all five into the Kop end goal in the second-half which really
stirred the fans.
The last time Liverpool got five in one half was against Brighton last season.
Goalkeeping errors
Hull City's goals - two by Coates, both headers, and one from the foot of winger
Metcalfe - shocked Liverpool in more senses than one.
Slater palmed upwards and over his head into the net one of Coates' efforts and
when Metcalfe scored with a lob from the wing the ball curved gently over the goalkeeper's
outstretched arms and over the line, leaving spectator and player alike speechless.
In the circumstances Liverpool did well to get both points in a match which they
might well have found themselves losing everything through those goalkeeping mistakes.
Slater is quick and good when dealing with low shots, but his lack of inches and the fact
that he was facing the strong glare of the sun made him particularly susceptible to any
ball coming in high.
Before the Metcalfe goal he discarded the cap which might have shielded his eyes
from the effect of the sun.
Though the Harrower goal was the one which really set recovery in motion the
interchange before the interval of Liddell and A'Court led to first hint that Liverpool
were going to make a success of the game.
A'Court had his best match for many months. He was full of life and enthusiasm and
in the centre found greater scope for manoeuvre.
Liddell lost little by the change and his centres were always models and cried out
for such conversion as Melia was able to make with his header.
A noticeable feature of the Liverpool attack was the greater by-play between Melia,
Liddell and Harrower. Melia had an especially good match and for once the three inside men
seemed attuned to each other and eager to move in unison rather than individually. More of
this, please!
Liddell was not so successful as against Bristol City, but he scored, had a hand in
others and struck the woodwork with a shot which seemed likely to round off a fine move
with a picture goal.
Hull City were good up to a point - the point at which Liverpool got a hold of them
and shook them with a characteristically fierce come back of the sort which sends the fans
home happy. But for some misfortune - Morrissey also hit the goal frame - and some good
goalkeeping by Fisher, Bly's deputy, Liverpool's victory would have been even more
convincing.
The Liverpool attack got a fine service of passes from Twentyman and Wilkinson.
Moran had difficulty with Hull's best forward, Clarke.
Fisher's excellence and the fairness and toughness of Feasey, who had a fine game
against Liddell, were other Hull City strong points, but Hull seem to be in for a rough
time in this higher grade.
Copyright - Liverpool Daily Post |
Bristol City 1 - 0 Liverpool
| Tuesday 1 September 1959 19:30
Division Second |
| |
 |
|
| Bristol
City |
Liverpool |
| 1 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Rogers 13 |
|
| |
 |
1 Tony Cook
- Gordon Hopkinson
- Mike Thresher
- Tommy Burden
- Alan Williams
- Tommy Casey
- Wally Hinshelwood
- Jimmy Rogers
- John Atyeo
- Bobby Etheridge
- Johnny McCann |
 |
1 Doug Rudham
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Barry Wilkinson
5 Dick White
6 Geoff Twentyman
7 John Morrissey
8 Jimmy Melia
9 Billy Liddell
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: E T Jennings
(Worcester) |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Ashton Gate (capacity )
Attendance: 22,528 |
Peter Doherty (Bristol C)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 4 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Liverpool league position after match: 7.
- Bristol City league position after match: 14.
|
|
Liverpool's
gallant fight was all in vain
What a crackerjack of a match and what a tremendous battle Liverpool put up in the
final stages to save a point. It was nail-biting stuff from the first minute, and Bristol
must have surprised even their most ardent followers by the brand of football they turned
on in the first half, which had the Liverpool defence, at times, running round in circles.
An indication of the high-class entertainment which the crowd had came from the
half-time ovation for both teams, but most of it was deserved by City, whose swift-passing
speed to the ball and interchanging of positions was a joy and in sharp contrast, I was
told, to the indifferent way they had played a few days earlier.
The fear that must have been in Bristol minds was whether their team could last the
pace. They did, but to win this game they had to survive a hectic last five minutes which
almost brought the goal for which Liverpool so desperately sought and so desperately
fought.
There were enough thrills to make it almost impossible to take one's eyes away, and
as City swept into the attack from the start, with Atyeo defying the belief that he is no
longer the force he was, the crowd were given the chance to roar and they hardly stopped.
It was fitting that in thirteen minutes City took the lead. It was the result of a
great move started by centre-half Williams, carried on by Atyeo and Hinshelwood, and when
the winger put over a fast ball it was so close to goal that the unfortunate part from
Rudham's view was that, instead of turning it outside, he put it against the post and
there was Rogers to hammer in the rebound.
Yet, though Liverpool seemed slow and lacking in directness compared with City,
they too produced some good football, and poor Jimmy Melia had a night which gave him the
accolade of being the hardest working Anfield forward but also brought keen
disappointment, for twice in the first half he missed chances on rare occasions when
Liverpool were able to make them.
Rudham made one wonder save from Etheridge, hurling himself up to turn over a drive
delivered with full power from ten yards, and as the pace maintained an incredible
standard, City no doubt would count themselves unlucky that they were only one goal ahead
at half-time.
When the lights came on in the second half - and they are not particularly good
ones - it was still City who were the speedier outfit.
But gradually Liverpool were able to find a way through the defence, thanks
principally to the energy and endeavour of Melia, and the City goal began to have one or
two escapes.
Just when they were resigning themselves to the fact that the Liddell speed was out
of place in this sort of match, he came along with a great shot which found Cook making an
equally great save.
Melia misses
After this Liverpool played with some of the brilliance which had characterised
City's first half showing, and it was Melia who went straight through and drove at Cook,
and the bitter frustration he must have suffered was never more obvious than when he held
his head in his hands after heading outside from a perfect Liddell cross following a move
initiated by himself.
Then in the final few minutes, with Liverpool crowding on everything, Liddell
veered in, hit a shot for the top corner which Cook somehow deflected away for a corner,
and from this the goalkeeper made another terrific save by tipping over a flashing header
from the Liverpool leader.
If we can see matches like this for the rest of the season there will be no
quibble, and after giving credit to City for the way they played, it must be said that
Liverpool had the chances, especially when they came into the match with such force.
Rudham did nothing to suggest that his selection was not justified and the defence,
if wide open at times in the first half, covered and fought well with Wilkinson laying on
a good service of passes which were eagerly taken on by the industrious Melia.
However, this was such an outstanding game with a rating of entertainment almost as
high as one could wish for, that it goes hard to criticise anybody, although one would
have wished to have seen Liverpool moving the ball quicker and A'Court going past his man
instead of into him.
Atyeo shines
City were good all round, but none did better than Atyeo, who distribution and
positional play was nice to watch, particularly in the first half.
Neither could this meeting have been more sporting, and for this the referee, Mr
E.T. Jennings, of Worcester, must take some thanks, for his discrimination in allowing
play to carry on kept the use of his whistle to a minimum.
Liddell and Molyneux both got knocks, Liddell very early in the game, and this
might have affected his pace.
Copyright - Liverpool Daily Post" |
Sheffield United 2 - 1 Liverpool
| Saturday 5 September 1959 15:00
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
| Sheffield
United |
Liverpool |
| 2 - 1 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Shaw 74 p, 77 p |
Morrissey 62 |
| |
 |
1 Alan Hodgkinson
- Cliff Mason
- Graham Shaw
- Tommy Hoyland
- Joe Shaw
- Gerry Summers
- Kevin Lewis
- Willy Hamilton
- Derek Pace
- Billy Russell
- Ron Simpson |
|
1 Doug Rudham
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Barry Wilkinson
5 Dick White
6 Robert Campbell
7 John Morrissey
8 Jimmy Melia
9 Billy Liddell
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: K Stokes |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Bramall Lane (capacity )
Attendance: 25,073 |
John Harris (Sheffield U)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- John
Morrissey scores his first goal for LFC.
- Liverpool conceded two penalties in three minutes.
- Liverpool league position after match: 13.
- Sheffield United league position after match: 1.
|
|
Liverpool
find Shaw too hot on spot
Two penalties in three minutes by left-back Graham Shaw gave United the victory
that keeps them at the top of Division Two. But what a narrow shave it was!
Liverpool appeared to have snatched the points when little Morrissey, stand-in
outside-right, headed them into the lead after 63 minutes.
Then, after 74 minutes, came the first penalty - and that started from a fluke.
Right-winger Kevin Lewis completely missed his kick from a Simpson centre but found time
to make an ungainly hook into the goalmouth, where Billy Russell's head was waiting to
steer the ball home. Reserve right-half Bobby Campbell fisted out what would have been a
certain goal and Shaw scored from the penalty.
Three minutes later came the second penalty, this time Simpson was brought down
heavily by right back Molyneux. Again Shaw obliged from the spot.
So the game ended in a flourish after an hour's boredom. Too many passes were going
astray for worthwhile attacks to be built.
Willy Hamilton, Sheffield's brilliant young Scottish inside-right, started the
match in devastating form - and ended it completely subdued by Barry Wilkinson.
Otherwise Liverpool's defence did not look as competent as United's well-drilled
outfit, marshalled by skipper Joe Shaw.
Great saves
If Liverpool goalkeeper Doug Rudham had not been in great form United might have
been at least two up by half-time.
His first spectacular save came after only nine minutes when he dived at Hamilton's
feet. Then he made a wonderful leap to save from - of all people - his own centre-half,
Dick White, who nearly turned a Lewis shot into goal.
White made up for this by kicking successive drives from Summers and Hamilton off
the line a minute before the interval.
Copyright - The People |
Liverpool 2 - 0 Scunthorpe
United
| Wednesday 9 September 1959 19:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
| Liverpool |
Scunthorpe
United |
| 2 - 0 (0-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Melia 25, Hunt 64 |
|
| |
|
1 Doug Rudham
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Barry Wilkinson
5 Dick White
6 Robert Campbell
7 John Morrissey
8 Jimmy Melia
9 Roger Hunt
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
 |
1 Ken Hardwick
- Dennis John
- Brownsword
- Brian Heward
- Barry Horstead
- Len Sharpe
- Jackie Marriott
- Ronnie Waldock
- Peter Neale
- John Haigh
- Martin Bakes |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: R E Smith |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 31,713 |
Phil Taylor (Liverpool)
Frank Soo (Scunthorpe U) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Notes:
- Rodger Hunt
makes his LFC debut.
- Rodger Hunt
scores his first goal for LFC.
- Liverpool league position after match: 11.
- Scunthorpe United league position after match: 19.
- Roger Hunt fondly remembers his first Liverpool game as he told LFC.tv in
February 2009: "Billy Liddell was the star of that team. He had been at Liverpool
such a long time and, as you probably know, they used to call them Liddell-pool. Anyway,
he was getting towards the end of his career and got injured. Hence, I got the call. I
remember that the game was a lot quicker that what I was used to. I was playing more of
centre forward role and I was more of an inside forward as we called it back then. We were
one-nil up when we got a free-kick around the hour mark. Jimmy Melia spotted me and played
a short pass into my stride. I looked up and hit it instinctively. I knew it was in as
soon as I struck it and I can't describe how good it felt to see it smash in off the
crossbar. It wasn't in front of the Kop, but it made me feel so much more confident for
the rest of the game. It was a big moment for me, but there weren't many celebrations
afterwards. I had a cup of tea and luckily enough my father had been at the game so I
managed to get a lift back home with him. The ride home capped a great day."
|
|
New
boy Hunt cracks in a beauty
Scunthorpe can never beat Liverpool but, by golly, they always manage to scare the
daylights out of them.
For Liverpool should have had half a dozen goals in the first 20 minutes yet for a
long spell in the second half they found themselves up against it hanging on to a 1-0
lead.
Indeed, if Martyn Bakes hadn't muffed two chances in two minutes, Scunthorpe might
have pulled off a shock victory. Ronnie Waldock, chasing every through ball and well
backed up by Jackie Marriott, was leading the Liverpool defence a rare old dance. A good
job for Liverpool that in goal at this time Rudham was in superb form, and when Liverpool
brought A'Court more into the game the match was theirs.
We had despaired of Liverpool ever scoring when Melia hit through a sizzler off
Alan A'Court's toe in the 25th minute.
Up to then the total of misses was A'Court (2), Hunt (2), Melia, Harrower and
Morrissey one each, and bad misses they were, too.
Young Hunt must still be wondering this morning how he came to stand and watch a
cross from Melia run through Harrower's legs along the Scunthorpe goal for safety.
The 20-year-old Golborne boy, playing in his first League game, got a good goal in
the 64th minute when he cracked the ball through with tremendous force from 15 yards out.
Scunthorpe were not disgraced. Their defence, after those early let-offs, tightened
up, and veteran Brownsword gradually played the effervescent Morrissey out of the game.
Against his old club John Haigh was a rare grafter in that second half spell when
Scunthorpe were well on top.
Liverpool can be satisfied with the showing of Roger Hunt. The tall, ex-RAF boy
took some time to settle down, but when he gained confidence he held the line together
well, and had one shot and a header brilliantly saved by Hardwick in the second half.
Copyright - Daily Mail, By Donald Mosey, 10.09.1959. |
Liverpool 1 - 2 Middlesbrough
| Saturday 12 September 1959 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
| Liverpool |
Middlesbrough |
| 1 - 2 (1-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Liddell 7 |
Phillips 74, Harris 85 |
| |
|
1 Doug Rudham
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Barry Wilkinson
5 Dick White
6 Robert Campbell
7 John Morrissey
8 Jimmy Melia
9 Billy Liddell
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
|
1 Peter Taylor
- Ray Bilcliff
- Mick McNeil
- Bill Harris
- Brian Phillips
- Ray Yeoman
- Billy Day
- Willy Fernie
- Brian Clough
- Alan Peacock
- Edwin Holliday |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: R J Leafe |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 39,000 |
Phil Taylor (Liverpool)
Bob Dennison (Middlesbrough) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Notes:
- Liverpool league position after match: 13.
- Middlesbrough league position after match: 4.
|
|
Liverpool
in a fade-out
England team manager Walter Winterbottom went to Anfield - to run the rule over
Brian Clough, the man everybody in the North-East says should be leading England's
forward-line.
I'm sorry, you Ayresome fans, but on this display there must still be a query
against big Brian's name. It was just not his day. He started with a horrible fresh-air
shot in the opening minutes, repeated the dose in the 26th minute - and saw full-back
Ronnie Moran kick his best scoring attempt off the goal-line.
But before the brickbats start rolling in from Tees-side I am not trying to write
off Clough completely.
He rarely got the type of support he should be able to expect from his inside men
and spent much of his time playing deep in vain efforts to escape the never-flagging watch
which Dick White kept on him.
Middlesbrough just about deserved to win a game which, if it never bordered on the
'classic', held plenty of action and thrills.
Liverpool started out as if they were out to usurp Boro's goal-scoring reputation.
And the visitors were hard-pushed before Billy Liddell - still a force to be reckoned with
despite his 37 years - put them ahead.
Clough's miskicks - both of them from Billy Day passes - were about Boro's only
contributions of note in the first half. But it was different after the interval.
Liverpool seemed to have burned themselves out. But they looked like holding out
until Rudham completely missed a Day corner and centre-half Phillips made amends for his
first-half slip by volleying the ball into the back of the net.
Brighter vein
Then on we had glimpses of Boro's forwards in a much brighter vein. And it was no
surprise when, five minutes from the end, wing-half Bill Harris put them into the lead
after Clough and Willy Fernie had given the Liverpool defence a 'double dummy' from a
free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.
Middlesbrough made it hard for themselves. In not utilising the speed of their
wingers - perhaps they were playing too hard to Clough.
For Liverpool, who flattered to deceive, Jimmy Melia was their best forward while
White and Barry Wilkinson got through a tremendous amount of effective work.
Edwin Holliday, who always had too much pace for Liverpool back John Molyneux, was
the pick of the Boro front line.
Copyright - The People |
Scunthorpe United 1 - 1
Liverpool
| Thursday 17 September 1959 18:15
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
 |
| "Scunthorpe
United" |
1 - 1 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(0-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Melia 21 |
| |
| Team: 1. Hardwick,
John, Brownsward, Sharpe, Heward, Neale, Jackie Marriott, Waldoch, Donnelly, John Haigh,
Martin Bakes. |
|
Team: 1. Doug Rudham,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Barry Wilkinson, 5. Dick White, 6. Geoff
Twentyman, 7. John Morrissey, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Louis Bimpson, 10. Jimmy Melia, 11. Alan
A' Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Old Show Ground (capacity )
Attendance: 18,851 |
|
(Scunthorpe U)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
|
|
Liverpool
lead - then surrender initiative
Liverpool secured their first away point of the season at Scunthorpe last night,
but that first elusive away win continues to elude them. Taking the game as a whole there
can be no doubt that a draw was all Liverpool were entitled to, for after a first half in
which they did almost everything they pleased except add to Melia's opening goal,
Scunthorpe gained the ascendancy and it was rare indeed that Liverpool threatened danger.
It is curious how some of these games go, for Scunthorpe were every bit as
convincing after the interval as Liverpool had been before it. The trouble, I think, was
that the power of the home team's resurgence caused Liverpool to adopt the dangerous
theory that one goal would be enough.
It wasn't, and when Liverpool found that victory was likely to be denied them they
also realised that Scunthorpe had been revitalised.
Their early hesitancy and uncertainty had disappeared, and as a defence which had
been weak to the point of panic early in the match now took the early Liverpool thrusts in
their stride.
During their monopoly of the exchanges Bimpson was three times presented with
scoring opportunities, and although he failed but narrowly with two of his attempts it was
a failure none the less. A'Court was similarly off target and Hunt, the boy I would like
to have seen in a shooting role above all others, was denied the chance.
White's one error
Mind you this boy Hunt promised great things, even more so as an inside forward
than he did as a centre forward on his debut.
Bimpson too, for all his failure to put his name among the scorers, was a real
threat when Liverpool pinned their faith to the attacking game.
White dealt with the big, mobile and dangerous Scunthorpe centre forward Donnelly
in magnificent style. He never made the slightest semblance of an error until for one
fleeting moment he left Donnelly uncovered when Marriott's centre came over for the
Scunthorpe equaliser 14 minutes from the end.
Both Molyneux and Moran, who was faced with Scunthorpe's most impressive forward
Marriott, were full of confidence and at all times Rudham was as safe as a goalkeeper can
be.
Liverpool should have retired at half time with the knowledge that they had the
game in safe keeping, but purely because of missed opportunities this contentment of mind
was denied them. They had been vastly superior and all that was needed to have turned this
display into a real celebration was the roar of the Kop. How they would have loved the
football Liverpool were able to serve up against an uncertain defence.
Not only was Bimpson in lively mood but Hunt was foraging like a Trojan and laying
on beautiful passes that stamped him as a most promising discovery. For most of the time
he and Melia switched positions, and though it was so unsatisfactory to see Liverpool only
one goal ahead, it was sometimes hard to suppress the feeling that this Liverpool line was
at least as good and probably better than anything we have seen from them this season.
Critics answered
Melia, so often criticised for lack of power in his shooting, gave a magnificent
reply to his critics on 21 minutes when he made Neale and Scunthorpe pay for slowness in
getting the ball away. He took the ball off the half back's toe and, finding himself in
the clear, even though 25 to 30 yards from goal, he hit the ball with all the force at his
command. It was a magnificent shot, going away from Hardwick all the time and a goal from
the moment it left Melia's foot.
A'Court, who was doing almost as he pleased with Brownsword, issued tempting
invitations to Bimpson to add to the score without response. His best effort was a great
drive which hit the top of the bar and sailed into the crowd.
Liverpool's narrowest escape during this period came when Donnelly almost charged
Rudham into the net from Marriott's corner kick.
An early warning to Liverpool that all their superiority, in the absence of a
convincing margin of goals, counted for nothing was delivered by a much livelier
Scunthorpe after half time, when Donnelly, after shooting just outside, forced Rudham to
make a spectacular save at full length with the aid of the posts.
Scunthorpe, for whom only one forward, Haigh, had scored this season, assaulted the
Liverpool goal with a vigour and persistence they had not shown earlier. They were fully
extending the defence and Donnelly, certainly not lacking dash, again charged at Rudham,
only to find the goalkeeper profiting by experience and fisting the ball clear.
Initiative lost
So much had the initiative swung from Liverpool that we found full back Brownsward
coming up to within 30 yards of goal to take a pot shot. It was exceptional indeed to find
Liverpool forwards reaching the Scunthorpe half and it was noticeable that Sharpe and
Haigh had switched positions.
One felt at this point that a single slip might have opened the floodgates but,
shaken though they often were, Liverpool continued to hold onto their advantage. It was
when they had seemed to have weathered the worst of the storm that Scunthorpe struck to
gain the equaliser.
Brownsward appeared to have sent the ball dead but Sharpe chased it, caught it by
the corner flag and swung it across as the most perfect centre. Donnelly met it squarely
with his head and Rudham was helpless so, that with fourteen minutes to go, the teams were
level again.
That goal at least made Liverpool aware of the need for attack, but they had left
it too late and now could not find an opening.
Copyright - The Liverpool Daily Post |
Derby County 1 - 2 Liverpool
| Saturday 19 September 1959 15:00
Division Second |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Derby
County" |
1 - 2 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(1-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Thompson 22 |
|
A' Court 30, Hunt 58 |
| |
| Team: 1. Mitchell,
Barrowcliffe, Davies, Daykin, Young, Upton, Swallow, Thompson, Hannigan, Parry, Powell. |
|
Team: 1. Doug Rudham,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Barry Wilkinson, 5. Dick White, 6. Geoff
Twentyman, 7. John Morrissey, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Louis Bimpson, 10. Jimmy Melia, 11. Alan
A' Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: E Crawford |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Baseball Ground (capacity )
Attendance: 11,822 |
|
Harry Storer (Derby C)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
|
|
Liverpool
worth it!
In a thrill-packed game, the best seen at the Baseball Ground this season, Derby
lived up to their name of being an unlucky side.
The result bore out manager Harry Storer's words when he said before the game:
"Everything is there. Beautiful football but the ball doesn't roll for us yet."
So it seemed when Derby stormed into the picture at the kick-off. Their smooth,
quick football brought the forwards down the field and there were some real scrambles and
desperate clearances in the Liverpool goal.
Then came the moment all Derby was waiting for. Rudham, Liverpool's goalkeeper,
found one from centre-forward Hannigan too hot to hold and Thompson scored at 21 minutes.
Constantly Derby played the ball into the Liverpool goal area. Corner after corner
came to Derby - but no further goals. Then came a breakdown of this tight-knit team.
Unstoppable
For the first time Liverpool got into the game - to grab all the good things that
came with it. Faulty marking allowed Liverpool's inside-right Melia to carry off the ball.
His quick pass to Alan A'Court brought disaster to Derby. He beat three men before firing
in an unstoppable shot after 30 minutes.
Derby were still happy, content and confident during the second half - for 10
minutes. But Liverpool gained a tight grip on the game, and Hunt hit the winner.
Liverpool proved the stronger team at the finish, but Derby should not be
disheartened, for they play the kind of football that will always win support.
Copyright - The People |
L-10
Swansea Town 5 - 4 Liverpool
| Saturday 3 October 1959 15:15
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
|
| "Swansea
Town" |
5 - 4 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(3-3) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Davies 11, Allchurch 14, Webster 22,
Reynolds 73, 88 |
|
Kennedy 8 og, Melia 28 p., Hunt 32,
Moran 70 |
| |
| Team: 1. John King, Dai
Thomas, Griffiths, Hughes, Mel Nurse, Malcolm Kennedy, Len Allchurch, Davies, Bayley
Reynolds, Colin Webster, Dobson. |
|
Team: 1. Doug Rudham,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Barry Wilkinson, 5. Dick White, 6. Geoff
Twentyman, 7. Billy Liddell, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Alan Arnell, 10. Jimmy Melia, 11. Alan A'
Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: G W Pullin |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Vetch Field (capacity )
Attendance: 16,500 |
|
Billy McCandless (Swansea T)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Liverpool were 3-1 down after 24 minutes. Swansea's winner came 3 minutes from
time.
|
|
Swans
win fantastic see-saw
This was fabulous fighting football with a fantastic Liverpool pulling back a 3-1
Swansea Town lead, sneaking ahead by one goal themselves and then seeing Reynolds snatch
Swansea Town's winner only 60 seconds away from the end.
I pity the only man in the 20,000 crowd who revelled in this football in the sun.
Welsh selector Arthur Barrett, of Rhyl, had to attempt to assess Mel Nurse, potential
Welsh centre-half against England at Cardiff in a fortnight's time.
My own guess is that Nurse has made it in spite of one handling award against him
which put Liverpool in the lead for four minutes in the second half.
In front of a jittering John King in goal, he marshalled a Swansea defence often
scratched dangerously thin by a Liverpool attack which boasted Jimmy Melia as its
prompter-in-chief.
The goals tell the story of a scintillating game. Reserve wing-half Malcolm Kennedy
thought he had made a nightmare start to his League side comeback when he conceded
Liverpool an own goal in the eighth minute.
For once, misfortune did not rock Swansea out of their stride. Within three minutes
Reg Davies equalised. Four minutes later Len Allchurch got the second after wandering to
the left wing and, by the 24th minute, when Colin Webster got the third, cool, calm and
collected Swansea seemed home.
Liddell's mark
They reckoned without Arnell and A'Court. The pair combined to pull King out of
goal, Dai Thomas put the only blot on a great game by handling Alan A'Court's final
header, and little Jimmy Melia signalled Liverpool's fight back with a penalty.
That was after 28 minutes, and the goal which made it 3-3 arrived four minutes
later.
Billy Liddell, Mr Liverpool himself, stamped his mark on the game with one of his
immaculate crosses from the right wing and inside-right Roger Hunt made it a goal.
The incredible pace told its tale on the second half until full-back Ronnie Moran
brought it to life again. In the 70th minute, awarded a direct free-kick when Nurse
handled just outside the area, the Liverpool full-back spotted the gap between blocking
line and the post, found it perfectly, and it was Swansea trailing again.
Then came the Bayley Reynolds rescue act which could have made him a late contender
for Wales' centre-forward position when the team is announced on Monday.
Liverpool goalkeeper Doug Rudham had been signalling to the Liverpool trainer that
he was suffering from double vision, but he could not have done anything about Reynolds'
two goals.
Copyright - The People |
Liverpool 2 - 2 Brighton &
Hove Albion
| Saturday 10 October 1959 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
| Liverpool |
Brighton
& Hove Albion |
| 2 - 2 (0-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| A' Court 21, Melia 90 |
Jones 53, Curry 54 |
| |
|
1 Doug Rudham
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 John Nicholson
6 Geoff Twentyman
7 Willie Carlin
8 Roger Hunt
9 Jimmy Melia
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
 |
1 Dave Hollins
- Bob McNichol
- Roy Little
- Jack Bertolini
- Roy Jennings
- Glen Wilson
- Mike Tiddy
- Tommy Dixon
- Bill Curry
- Adrian Thorne
- Freddie Jones |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Harold Hackney |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 30,366 |
Phil Taylor (Liverpool)
William Lane (Brighton & H A) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Notes:
- Willie Carlin
makes his LFC debut.
- John
Nicholson makes his LFC debut.
- Jimmy Melia missed a penalty on 85'.
- Melia's penalty was saved by Brighton goalkeeper Dave Hollins.
- Liverpool league position after match: 13.
- Brighton & Hove Albion league position after match: 15.
|
|
Seconds
out as Liverpool equalise
Just how infuriating can Liverpool get?
After that amazing show at Goodison when their patched-up side walloped Everton,
30,000 fans rolled up on Saturday wondering how many they would chalk up against lowly
Brighton.
They got an unstylish performance, the worst of the season, and the kind of show
that will label Liverpool the "No-no" side of the Second Division whenever
promotion comes round.
I admit they had three youngsters on view, John Nicholson, Willie Carlin and Roger
Hunt, an that not even the Kop's wild booing could put this big Brighton defence out of
its stride.
But when you have youngsters in the team the seasoned men have a bigger
responsibility to carry and an example to set, and that they didn't happen very often.
There was too much of the old slap-happy Liverpool technique of belting the ball in
the area and chasing it. The cool ball-on-the-ground play that paid so handsomely against
Everton was forgotten in the familiar panic-station tactics.
As the game deteriorated into a wild and sometimes unsavoury scramble, so Liverpool
threw away their early grip.
Without Alan A'Court, Liverpool would have been a shambles. He got their first goal
in the 20th minute, had a couple of glorious drives superbly saved by Hollins, and put
across the kind of centres that Gordon Hodgson would have revelled in.
Two defensive foozles in 60 seconds in the second half let in Jones and Curry to
give Brighton the lead. Melia missed a penalty five minutes from the end and Liverpool,
outplayed, rattled and bewildered, looked booked for defeat.
Then a perfect A'Court centre headed in by Mills in the last few seconds of the
extra time allowed for injury gave them a point ... but nothing else to be pleased about.
Copyright - The Daily Herald |
Stoke City 1 - 1 Liverpool
| Saturday 17 October 1959 Division
Second |
| |
| |
|
|
| "Stoke
City" |
1 - 1 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(0-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Newlands 61 p. |
|
Harrower 53 |
| |
| Team: 1. Roberton,
Wilson, McCue, Asprey, Andrew, Ratcliffe, Newlands, Bowyer, King, Wilshaw, Cunliffe. |
|
Team: 1. Doug Rudham,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Johnny Wheeler, 5. Dick White, 6. Geoff
Twentyman, 7. Reginald Blore, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Jimmy Melia, 10. James Harrower, 11. Alan
A' Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: R H Windle |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Victoria Ground (capacity )
Attendance: 17,000 |
|
Frank Taylor (Stoke C)
Phil Taylor (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Reginald Blore
makes his LFC debut
- The Reds played the final five minutes with ten men when White was taken off on a
stretcher
|
|
|
S
Sunderland 1 - 1 Liverpool
L
L
Liverpool 4 - 3 Leyton Orient
| Saturday 21 November 1959 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
|
| "Liverpool" |
4 - 3 |
"Leyton
Orient" |
| |
(2-3) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Morris 15, 81, Melia 32, Hickson 50 |
|
Johnston 31, 34, Sorrell
41 |
| |
| Team: 1. Bert Slater,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Johnny Wheeler, 5. Dick White, 6. Barry
Wilkinson, 7. Fred Morris, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Dave Hickson, 10. Jimmy Melia, 11. Alan A'
Court. |
|
Team: 1. David
Groombridge, Wright, Charlton, Facey, Sid Bishop, Sorrell, White, Brown, Tom Johnston,
Foster, McDonald |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: A E Ellis |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 34,321 |
|
(Liverpool)
(Leyton O) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
|
|
Hickson's
head finds way to goal
Five stars to Liverpool, whose spirit (99 proof at least) enabled them to beat a
team miles ahead of them in the Soccer arts and crafts.
Five stars to Leyton Orient for an enchanting show that makes rubbish of claims
that all good footballers reek of garlic.
You can go to Madrid, Rio or Timbuktu if you like, and you'll never see better
football than when Leyton equalised, Fred Morris' first goal.
The ball went from goalkeeper David Groombridge via half the Leyton team to Tom
Johnston's head and thence into the net. NOT A LIVERPOOL PLAYER GOT WITHIN THREE FEET OF
THE BALL.
Leyton were three times behind and only once in front. But Liverpool folk, the
noisiest during the game, and fairest after it, were admitting all round that their
favourites' faces should be as red as their shirts for pinching both points.
Seldom has that strong defence been in such a tizzy for so long at a time. Leyton's
superiority, indeed, was enough to embarrass them but did it? ... It did not!
Liverpool chased down in a sort of Wolverine style and thrust in the goals that
counted.
Perhaps it was Fred Morris' enthusiasm. Certainly Liverpool are right in building
their hopes for the future on Roger Hunt, one of the gutsiest, brainiest young things in
this strenuous occupation. Certainly Dave Hickson showed what a fine investment he is.
Perhaps it was that magnificently resonant crowd ... though I think the noise
perhaps excites some Liverpool players so much they play with rather less polish at home
than away.
Copyright - The Daily Express |
Huddersfield Town 1 - 0
Liverpool
| Saturday 28 November 1959 14:15
Division Second |
| |
 |
|
| Huddersfield
Town |
Liverpool |
| 1 - 0 (1-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Massie 20 |
|
| |
 |
1 Ray Wood
- Brian Gibson
- Ramon Wilson
- Ken Taylor
- John Coddlington
- Bill McGarry
- Kevin McHale
- Denis Law
- Bob Ledger
- Les Massie
- Derek Hawksworth |
|
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Bobby Campbell
7 Fred Morris
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 Jimmy Melia
11 Alan A' Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: R M Jordon |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Leeds Road (capacity )
Attendance: 16,185 |
Edward Boot (Huddersfield T)
(Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Manager on Liverpool bench with 14.11.1959 to 12.12.1959 not know me.
- The Huddersfield goal came when the Reds were playing with ten men, as White was
off the pitch getting a stitch put in to a head wound. All in all though it was reported
as yet another poor Reds away performance.
- Liverpool league position after match: 10.
- Huddersfield Town league position after match: 6.
|
|
Liverpool's
spirit left at home
This was yet another disappointing away performance by Liverpool and one is fast
becoming resigned to the fact that until the side can produce the spirit it shows at home
the prize of promotion will stay out of reach. Not until the last 15 minutes at Leeds Road
did Liverpool get into things with the prospect of achieving anything.
Before that they had been made to play a secondary role to a Huddersfield team
which at least had the attribute of making the quick challenge for the ball and of using
it with speed and thought which Liverpool could never equal.
They never seemed able to get into a groove which indicated they could get a goal
or two and up to the final quarter of an hour, if Huddersfield had been leading by more
than their single success, by Massie on twenty minutes, it would not have been a false
picture.
They squandered chances and the ironical thing from Liverpool's point of view was
that Massie's goal came during an eight minute period when centre half White was having a
stitch inserted in a gash to the side of his head.
Victory deserved
Despite a lot of first half pressure and occasions in the second half when they had
the Liverpool defence in a quandary, Huddersfield could not add another but, because they
scored when Liverpool only had ten men, it does not mean that they did not deserve their
eventual victory.
The Huddersfield reaction was that it was the best game they had seen at Leeds Road
for some time. One wondered how successful they would have been if Liverpool had repeated
the spirit, coupled with the determination to be first to the ball, by which they
conquered Leyton.
Unfortunately, it was just not there until the last 15 minutes when they did stir
themselves in a belated effort to snatch a point.
They went near to doing it for A'Court made Wood save at the foot of the post,
Morris headed just over, and Hickson reckoned he was pulled down when about to shoot. This
was a hair-line case and the referee did not agree, but if Liverpool had drawn
Huddersfield would have thought themselves unlucky, especially when they remembered how
Hawksworth drove over from six yards, and how Law did the same, and how the ball was kept
out by the most fortunate interventions.
No penetration
Liverpool's big trouble was that they could not find penetration. Campbell was not
an improvement on Wilkinson and Wheeler is finding the lack of pace telling when it comes
to recovery.
Moran and Molyneux were put under a lot of pressure because of the failure of the
wing halves to get a grip on the Huddersfield inside forwards and their desperation could
be understood at times. White, in spite of his injury, played strongly and did much to
bolster the defence.
Slater is not always convincing in his outcomings for the high cross, but in this
game made several notable saves and had no chance with Massie's low drive, which came when
Hunt - then at right half - could not properly clear a centre from the right.
Liverpool's forward display lacked initiative and the ability to deliver the quick,
telling pass. Morris was seen rarely, probably because he did not get as much of the ball
as A'Court, whose tendency to run into trouble was another hindrance to progress.
Neither Hunt nor Melia could open up a solid looking Huddersfield defence and
Hickson had little scope against Coddington, but was far from being the worst of the line.
Not once did he get a through ball.
Although Law does not look a 40,000 pound-class player, his cleverness, speed and
precision passing stand out. If only his finishing was anything like as good.
Copyright - The Liverpool Daily Post |
L-20
L-
L-
Charlton Athletic 3 - 0
Liverpool
| Saturday 26 December 1959 14:15
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
| Charlton
Athletic |
Liverpool |
| 3 - 0 (1-0) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Fryatt 34, 74, Lawrie 89 |
|
| |
 |
1 William Duff
- Trevor Edwards
- Don Townsend
- John D Hewie
- Gordon Jago
- Fred Lucas
- Sam Lawrie
- Jim Fryatt
- Stuart E Leary
- Ron White
- Johnny Summers |
|
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Bobby Campbell
7 Jimmy Melia
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: C W Kingston |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
The Valley (capacity )
Attendance: 15,491 |
James Trotter (Charlton A)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 4 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Liverpool league position after match: 12.
- Charlton Athletic league position after match: 6.
|
|
Liverpool
slip up in the Valley
Definitely not a happy Boxing Day for Liverpool!
On a slippery pitch at The Valley, they slithered to defeat against a punchy
Charlton side that registered its first home win since November 7. And the man who sealed
Liverpool's fate was young inside right Jimmy Fryatt - playing only his second League game
for Charlton.
Two golden goals made it a dream Christmas for 19-year-old Jimmy, who played with
all the assurance of a veteran. But Jimmy wasn't the only menace to Liverpool. All five
Charlton forwards showed a punch and polish sadly lacking in the visitors' front line.
Even the likely Dave Hickson couldn't shake the Charlton defenders out of their
confidence. He had a very quiet game, while England left-winger A'Court never got the
better of brilliant Charlton right back Trevor Edwards. The best scoring chances came to
right winger Jimmy Melia. Once he headed an A'Court cross over the bar - and then he was
bundled off the ball by Edwards and John Hewie.
These were the sort of chances Charlton didn't miss.
In the 34th minute Leary split the Liverpool defence and young Fryatt hammered a
great shot past goalkeeper Bert Slater. And it was Fryatt on the spot again in the 74th
minute to snap up a Leary pass and crack home his second League goal.
With the Liverpool defenders finding it difficult to turn on the slippery pitch
Charlton pressed home their advantage. Wingers Summers and Lawrie were particularly
elusive, and both kept Slater on his toes with snap shots.
Willie Duff, in the Charlton goal, had to change his muddy jersey at half-time -
but it was a bit of a mystery how it got dirty!
Although quite effective in their approach play the Liverpool attack lacked the
golden goal touch.
One of their best scoring efforts came from right half John Wheeler, who stormed
through to crack a great shot against the post. But the forwards just couldn't take their
cue from Wheeler - and it looked as if their luck was right out when a Jim Harrower
goal-bound shot was deflected for a corner.
It was left to Lawrie to show another net result for Charlton when he spreadeagled
the Liverpool defence and raced through to score with the last kick of the game.
Copyright - Empire News |
L-
Hull City 0 - 1 Liverpool
Liverpool 2 - 1 Leyton Orient
| Saturday 9 January 1960 15:00 FA
Cup 3rd Round |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Liverpool" |
2 - 1 |
"Leyton
Orient" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Hunt 1, 90 |
|
Foster 62 |
| |
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Tommy Leishman
7 Jimmy Melia
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
|
1 Groombridge
- Eagles
- Stan Charlton
- Ken Facey
- Sid Bishop
- Sorrell
- White
- Brown
- Tommy Johnston
- Ken Foster
- Terry McDonald |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: J K Taylor |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 40,343 |
|
Bill Shankly (Liverpool)
(Leyton O) |
 Price: 3 pence
|
|
Hunt
gets the first - and the last
The glory was Leyton's. That's small consolation for a cup defeat but the brilliant
fight-back of these skilled Londoners certainly delighted the sporting Anfield fans - if
not quite as much as that finish which stamped Liverpool as being as great at the end as
they are at the start.
It was during time allowed for injuries that Liverpool managed to scrape into the
fourth round.
Bert Slater made some magnificent saves in the Liverpool goal as Ken Facey adopted
a forward urge in the Sorrell manner.
Liverpool almost missed their way, for they had all the encouragement in the world
to make this a comfortable win.
They were a goal up in 45 seconds.
Ever dangerous
Alan A'Court, beautifully fed by Jimmy Harrower, forced back Groombridge into
conceding a corner. A'Court landed the ball right at the head of Roger Hunt, who scored
with a magnificent header.
Early in the second half Dave Hickson, who had been so good early on, missed a
schoolgirl's chance from Tommy Leishman's hooked pass. A'Court, Melia and Harrower missed
chances, too.
Orient drew level in 62 minutes when Terry McDonald tried an angled shot which the
diving Slater punched out - but only towards Ken Foster who gleefully slammed it into the
net.
It became Liverpool's turn to make mistakes but they were confident they had a
penalty when Hickson and Sid Bishop went down in a heap.
Orient players thought it was a penalty, too - but the award was a free-kick to
Orient.
Slater denied Leyton a leading goal as they crammed on all sail.
But the ever-dangerous Hunt, possibly the best forward on the field, was always
looking for the half-chance every Liverpool player wanted to create.
The referee was watch-glancing when Dick White moved up past three players to find
A'Court at outside right. The ball was pushed inside for Hunt to crack it into a corner of
the net.
So a game which could so easily have gone Leyton's way opened on a high note and
finished in a crescendo.
Copyright - The Sunday Express |
L-
Middlesbrough 3 - 3 Liverpool
| Saturday 23 January 1960 Division
Second |
| |
| |
|
|
| "Middlesbrough" |
3 - 3 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(1-3) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Clough 5, Harris |
|
Thomson 10 og, Hickson 35, Hunt 40 |
| |
| Team: Ken Thomson,
Brian Clough, Alan Peacock, Bill Harris |
|
Team: 1. Bert Slater,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Johnny Wheeler, 5. Dick White, 6. Tommy
Leishman, 7. Jimmy Melia, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Dave Hickson, 10. James Harrower, 11. Alan A'
Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Windle |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Ayresome Park (capacity )
Attendance: 28,550 |
|
Bob Dennison (Middlesbrough)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 4 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
|
|
Roger
Hunt had poise and polish
Six goals equally shared; a point each for two fine fighting teams with their eyes
set on promotion, fluctuating fortunes which in the end favoured neither side - and
thrills.
Within five minutes Boro's Brian Clough had reached a milestone in his career as he
shot his 150th League goal.
But his jubilation was short-lived. Within another five minutes an unlucky own goal
by Ken Thompson gave Liverpool an equaliser and inspiration.
Their attack clicked with delightful precision, and looked good for a basketful of
goals.
Brilliant saves
A glorious Dave Hickson header made it 2-1. Roger Hunt, playing with polish and
poise, added another.
I would not have given much for Middlesbrough's chances by the interval, but how
wrong they proved me.
Clough got a second goal, and had two other efforts brilliantly saved by Bert
Slater.
But Liverpool hung on grimly, and looked as though they might take both points
until Ron Moran got in the way of an Alan Peacock centre eight minutes from time.
Referee Windle was right on the spot and immediately whistled for a penalty for
handling.
It looked a harsh decision but it gave spot-kick expert Bill Harris his sixth
successful penalty kick this season, and Middlesbrough a deserved share of the points.
Copyright - News Chronicle and Daily Dispatch |
Liverpool 1 - 3 Manchester
United
| Saturday 30 January 1960 15:00 FA
Cup 4th Round |
| |
|
 |
| Liverpool |
Manchester
United |
| 1 - 3 (1-2) |
| |
| GOAL |
| Wheeler 36 |
Charlton 12, 44, Bradley 70 |
| |
 |
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Tommy Leishman
7 Jimmy Melia
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
 |
1 Harry Gregg
2 Bill Foulkes
3 Joe Carolan
4 Maurice Setters
5 Ronald Cope
6 Shay Brennan
7 Warren Bradley
8 Albert Quixall
9 Dennis Viollet
10 Bobby Charlton
11 Albert Scanlon |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: A Murdoch
(Sheffield) Linesmen: S A Leeding (Red Flag), H L P Holmes (Yellow Flag) |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 56,736 |
Bill Shankly (Liverpool)
Matt Busby (Manchester U) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
|
|
Charlton is
back in the reckoning
England team manager Walter Winterbottom saw Bobby Charlton become a V.I.P.
footballer once again at rainy, muddy Anfield. Two expertly-taken Charlton goals in the
first half knocked hotly-fancied Liverpool cold.
Back-in-form Charlton was the hero all right. But, in my view, United won an
exciting, no-tackles-pulled Cup-tie because of a superb middle-line.
Fast-covering, crash-tackling Setters established himself as the new general of the
often-criticised United defence. But centre half Cope and left-half Brennan were no less
responsible for the elimination of Liverpool's inside-forward power.
Setters was the most industrious defender around. Cope, going to the ball first
time, made Hickson just another name in the programme, and Brennan played more robustly
than I've ever seen him.
These three kept United in the game when the forwards were struggling.
Gregg was beaten in the very first minute by Hunt, but Setters, covering his
goalkeeper intelligently, stopped the ball three yards from goal.
United's first shot - in the 13th minute - brought a goal! Charlton swept past
Wheeler and Molyneux and pulled a low shot across goalkeeper Slater's body into the far
corner.
United had to revert almost completely to defence once again, and after Gregg had
dropped a free kick, Wheeler equalised with a right-foot cross-drive.
Penalty
A minute before the break Charlton licked two defenders and sent Bradley away on
the right. For once the England winger managed to get the ball across, and Charlton was
there to slam it home.
In a close decision in the 52nd minute, Sheffield referee A.Murdoch refused a
penalty after Hickson had been floored by Foulkes.
Then came United's best attacking spell.
In six minutes a terrific Charlton drive, again on the ground, hit the diving
Slater in the mouth. Moran miraculously headed off the line after Quixall had placed away
from the small goalkeeper; Slater had to save again from Charlton and, finally, Bradley,
redeeming himself, scored the third goal with a rising left-foot shot from Quixall's pass.
Copyright - The People |
Plymouth Argyle 1 - 1 Liverpool
| Saturday 13 Febuary 1960 15:15
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
|
| "Plymouth
Argyle" |
1 - 1 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(1-1) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| |
|
Hickson 32 |
| |
| Team: 1. Barnsley,
Fulton, |
|
Team: 1. Bert Slater,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Johnny Wheeler, 5. Dick White, 6. Tommy
Leishman, 7. Billy Liddell, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Dave Hickson, 10. James Harrower, 11. Alan
A' Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Home Park (capacity )
Attendance: 16,996 |
|
Jack Rowley (Plymouth A)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
|
|
Shot-shyness
is barrier to Liverpool
A good point for Liverpool from a hard, tense, often exciting and always
entertaining match. They could have won if they had shot more regularly, for it was this
reluctance which robbed them of full reward in the long period of supremacy they had in
the second half.
It came immediately after half-time and the Plymouth goal was the scene of several
scrambles due to Liverpool's mistaken policy of taking the ball too close, instead of
trying a shot before the defence had time to take covering positions.
In the finish Liverpool had to contend with a revived Argyle and if Liverpool could
claim to be unfortunate when Fulton headed off the line from Hunt with only a couple of
minutes left. It had to be remembered that former Everton centre forward Kirkby had
previously somehow put his header past the wrong side of the post from about four yards
out.
A draw was perhaps the fairest result because Plymouth had one or two good spells
and missed more chances.
Sturdy Defence
It was a game of hard tackling by both defences and after Liverpool had opened
promisingly with A'Court shooting over. Argyle put on their best spurt with wing halves
Newman and Williams providing excellent backing for an attack which moved quickly and used
the wingers Anderson and Penk excellently.
During this time Liverpool had a lot of anxiety, for twice Carter was through and
on the second occasion beat Slater as he and the goalkeeper collided but the ball trickled
outside.
If Kirkby's shooting had been as good as some of his heading I think Liverpool
would have been behind before the half-hour, for twice he sliced the ball hopelessly when
good work by Anderson and McAnearney had left him with ample time to pick his spot.
Liverpool went into the lead with 32 minutes gone when Hickson suddenly produced
that dash which makes him so dangerous and before Fincham or goalkeeper Barnsley could do
anything about Hunt's headed flick from A'Court's pass, Hickson had the ball in the net.
Hickson's joy at scoring after an eventful week was apparent and if he was not much
in the game his demeanour all the time was faultless.
But for a very good save by Barnsley from Hunt, Liverpool might well have made the
game safe just after Hickson's goal, for they went on top.
Plymouth, however, had Anderson and Penk to pose a problem for the defence and when
Argyle came again before the interval it was Anderson who swung over the centre from which
Penk headed in strongly and when Slater knocked the ball out, Carter slotted the equaliser
three minutes before half-time.
During Liverpool's second half ascendancy A'Court, striding down the wing, put over
centres which should have brought results if first time shooting had been in Liverpool's
armoury. Harrower must be faulted on this score and so must Hunt on a couple of occasions,
but against this Hunt was the Anfield chaser and menace.
He did excellently and I recall two headers which brought the best from Barnsley
and then in the last minute he beat the goalkeeper to A'Court's cross only to see Fulton
nodding away from the line.
Harrower did a lot of probing without finish and Hickson's quietness left Hunt and
A'Court the best forwards, for Liddell was the most effective when centring. He tried hard
to get a shooting opening, but, one felt, lacked the essential final speed.
Moran, if not always happy against Penk, played steadily as did all the defence,
with White, who had to have a stitch in a cut eye lid, just as good as was Fincham for
Argyle.
Copyright - The Liverpool Daily Post |
Liverpool 4 - 1 Swansea Town
| Saturday 20 February 1960 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
|
| "Liverpool" |
4 - 1 |
"Swansea
Town" |
| |
(2-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Hickson 11, 44, Hunt 58, 89 |
|
Reynolds 64 |
| |
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Tommy Leishman
7 Billy Liddell
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
|
1
- Davies
- Lanky Mel Nurse
-
-
-
-
- Allchurch
- Webster
- Reynolds
- John King |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 31,663 |
|
Bill Shankly (Liverpool)
Trevor Morris (Swansea T) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
|
|
Hickson's
best for Liverpool
Swansea had inside-right Davies suffering from a knee injury received in 11
minutes, but even so they were never a real threat to Liverpool.
Davies received a cut on his right knee which exposed the bone, and he was off for
20 minutes having the wound stitched.
He returned, and was only just baulked by Molyneux before striking the bar.
In a controlled Liverpool combination, Dave Hickson played his best game since
being secured from Everton.
Lanky Mel Nurse could not control Hickson even in the air, and Hickson's use of the
ball compared with the accuracy which veteran Billy Liddell showed.
Liddell was not as much in the game, but when he was he accomplished things with
rare precision, making the first two goals by his own competence.
Liverpool took the lead in 11 minutes when Liddell's centre was turned aside by
Hunt for Hickson to lash it into the net.
Although brilliant work by John King in the Swansea goal kept Liverpool at bay for
long spells, in the 44th minute Liddell, from the outside left position, headed the ball
in so accurately that Hickson was able to head the ball over King into the net.
King brought the house down with a magnificent save from Wheeler.
Only criticism of Liverpool is that they were too often prone to treat the affair
all too lightly.
In 58 minutes, Wheeler and Hickson split wide the Swansea defence and Roger Hunt
increased the lead with a beautifully-placed shot from 18 yards.
It was all against the run of play when in 64 minutes Allchurch and Webster enabled
Reynolds to reduce the arrears.
A minute from time, with the Swansea half-backs still completely incapable of
holding the Liverpool forwards, Harrower enabled Hunt to grab another goal, to bring the
score line more in keeping with the trend of play.
Copyright - Empire News |
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 - 2
Liverpool
| Saturday 27 February 1960 15:15
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
| Brighton
& Hove Albion |
Liverpool |
| 1 - 2 (0-1) |
| |
| GOAL |
| McNeill 64 |
Hickson 40, 60 |
| |
 |
1 Dave Hollins
2 Tommy Bisset
3 Roy Little
4 Jack Bertolini
5 Roy Jennings
6 Glen Wilson
7 Mike Tiddy
8 Ian McNeill
9 Bill Curry
10 Adrian Thorne
11 Freddie Jones |
|
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Tommy Leishman
7 Billy Liddell
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 James Harrower
11 Alan A' Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: C Woan (London)
Linesmen: M R Nester (Middx; Red Flag), D D Juggins (Essex; Yellow Flag) |
| |
|
| VENUE |
MANAGERS |
Goldst. Ground (capacity )
Attendance: 21,118 |
William Lane (Brighton & H A)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 4 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Notes:
- Liverpool league position after match: 6.
- Brighton & Hove Albion league position after match: 17.
|
|
Arrogant
Liverpool must not ease up
Liverpool outplayed and outclassed Brighton for most of the game, but could easily
have conceded an equaliser by easing up in the last 20 minutes.
Wing-halves Glen Wilson and Jack Bertolini, after a nightmare first half, suddenly
swept back into the game and the Brighton attack at last gave Liverpool backs Molyneux and
Moran some anxious moments.
Liverpool played with almost condescending arrogance, especially in the early
stages of the second half, and left winger Alan A'Court was superb.
In a badly overworked Brighton defence, Jennings and Little stood up magnificently
to the onslaught and Hollins, in goal, had no chances with the goals.
Both sides had chances in the first half before Liverpool went into the lead five
minutes before half-time.
Billy Liddell way out on the touch line sent over a long harmless-looking centre,
but the Brighton defence was caught napping when Hunt feinting to go through allowed the
ball to run to Dave Hickson who crashed it past Hollins.
Unrelenting Liverpool pressure brought the inevitable goal a quarter of an hour
after the interval. A glorious pass from Harrower sent A'Court away and Hickson, chesting
down the left winger's centre, drove the ball into the net.
Three minutes later, all against the run of play, Brighton reduced the lead when,
in their first raid of the second half, Mike Tiddy dropped over a well-placed centre and
little Ian McNeill headed a good goal.
Copyright - The Sunday Express |
L-
Portsmouth 2 - 1 Liverpool
L-
Aston Villa 4 - 4 Liverpool
| Wednesday 30 March 1960 19:15
Division Second |
| |
 |
|
|
| "Aston
Villa" |
4 - 4 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(0-3) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| McParland 66, Thomson 72, 85, Lynn 75
p. |
|
Hunt 19, Hickson 24, 60, Molyneux 44 |
| |
| Team: 1. Nigel Sims,
Lynn, Neal, Crowe, Dugdale, Birch, Adam, Bobby Thomson, Handley, Wylie, Peter McParland. |
|
Team: 1. Bert Slater,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Johnny Wheeler, 5. Dick White, 6. Tommy
Leishman, 7. Billy Liddell, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Dave Hickson, 10. James Harrower, 11. Alan
A' Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: J Finney |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Villa Park (capacity )
Attendance: 27,000 |
|
Joe Mercer (Aston V)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Notes:
- Liverpool lead 4-0 but conceded three goals in 9 minutes and almost lost!
|
|
Liverpool
let 4-goal lead slip
This was the most fantastic come-back performance I have ever seen. Aston Villa
were trailing 0-4 down with half an hour to play, and were looking so disjointed and
playing so badly it seemed they were in for a real tanning. Then they suddenly slammed
three goals in nine minutes.
Five minutes from the end Bobby Thomson raced through and cracked the equaliser and
in the very last minute Peter McParland missed a wide-open chance that would have brought
an unbelievable win.
For so long it had seemed that Liverpool would be the first side to double Villa
this season. As it was they were the first team to get four goals against the Second
Division leaders.
Fierce shot
If Liverpool had not missed several openings, notably by Roger Hunt, they would
have run this strangely slow-moving Villa defence out of sight.
Villa crashed back more with physical determination than skill to turn their
grimmest hour of the season into the most exciting finish seen on the ground for many a
day.
Hunt scored the first after Nigel Sims had fisted out a fierce Billy Liddell shot,
and Hickson nipped between the slow, square Villa defenders to shoot home No 2 after a
Jimmy Harrower pass.
Just before the break John Molyneux made it 3-0 when John Wheeler slipped a
free-kick pass to the full-back whose shot was deflected in by a Villa defender.
Just on the hour, Hickson was given all the room he wanted to head home a centre by
Alan A'Court.
Lashed home
McParland began the transformation when he whipped through on his own in the 66th
minute. Thomson lashed home another six minutes later and three minutes after that Lynn
scored with a penalty after Wheeler had handled, and Thomson equalised.
Copyright - News Chronicle and Daily Dispatch |
L-
L-
Leyton Orient 2 - 0 Liverpool
| Saturday 9 April 1960 Division
Second |
| |
| |
|
|
| "Leyton
Orient" |
2 - 0 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| McDonald |
|
|
| |
1 David
Groombridge
-
-
- Tom Johnston
-
-
-
-
-
-
- McDonald |
|
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Gerry Byrne
7 Billy Liddell
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 Jimmy Melia
11 Alan A' Court |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Brisbane Road (capacity )
Attendance: 13,007 |
|
(Leyton O)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 4 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
|
|
Hunt
has lost his nippy approach
For only about twenty minutes in each half did Liverpool give any real hope that
they could win this match. In those periods the football and the moves were better than
anything Leyton produced, and, strangely enough, Liverpool did better against a strongish
wind, but the efforts were not sustained and the gradual fade-out of the attack left the
London club good winners.
It was in the first half that Liverpool had the wind in their faces and the early
constructive ability of Melia, plus his willingness to seek the ball, gave Liverpool the
superiority and there were two occasions when Leyton were fortunate not to concede a goal,
but there were also occasions when Liverpool did not score because the power in finish was
not there.
The ball was light and the pitch firm, so that Liverpool's early better control was
full of promise, particularly as Leyton were slow to find a settled level and when they
did impose themselves more into the play, failed to use the wind as a shooting aid.
Often they dallied in front of goal, helping the Liverpool defence, but just when
there were prospects that Liverpool would go into the second half on terms left winger
McDonald put Leyton in front with 35 minutes gone and after that one began to look in vain
for signs that Liverpool could pull back the goal.
Nothing lethal
At the start of the second half there was an attacking superiority and quite a few
shots, but nothing lethal about them and gradually Leyton took a grip and another goal to
Johnston in the 75th minute made sure that they would have the satisfaction of thwarting a
hat-trick of Liverpool victories against them this season.
When they were in command Leyton played the faster and therefore the more dangerous
football and Johnston, at centre forward, was never out of the game as a threat. True,
there were times when he over-elaborated a little but his movement from the middle and
general distribution helped Leyton emerge the stronger looking team.
This was the difference between the two centre-forwards for Hickson, after starting
quite well, faded out and certainly these days one sees little of the zest and challenge
which has upset so many defences.
Liverpool's inability to make a sustained effort must be worrying to those who
direct the club because after the initial bursts the fall away left them without urgency
and no-one seemed capable of the inspiration to lift them up again. Melia always tried
hard and showed the way early on with speedy passes, but later he dwindled and when the
pass was not made quickly enough the Leyton defence was always too good to allow
penetration.
But they had started shakily and it was then that Liverpool might have got a goal,
especially when right-half Facey deflected an A'Court centre towards his own net for
Groombridge to make a great save with one hand, and when Melia got Hunt through, but the
young inside man took so much time getting the ball under control that the chance was
lost.
Poor finishing
A reason for Liverpool's lack of forward drive may be the fact that Hunt has lost
his nippy approach, because only once did he produce a fiery finish and then Groombridge
made another fine save.
A'Court is not finishing well. He had plenty of opportunities in the first half to
get over his centres, but too often failed because of trying to beat full back Eagles and
at other times the centres were poorly directed and of no distance.
Liddell who has obviously lost his speed, did his best work in the second half, but
close marking ensures that if he is not getting over the centres, there is little else to
offer.
One could not be completely happy either about the defence, for it seems to me that
Moran's solidity is missed when he is not at full back. Byrne played coolly and with
plenty of promise and it is a temptation to wonder whether there could not be a
re-alignment at full back without losing Moran's strength in the position.
Moran and Wheeler, with White were the most consistent Liverpool players. They
worked hard to try and get sustained operation from the attack and in the second half
Wheeler moved forward repeatedly seeking a shooting opening.
Groombridge looked like the better of the two goalkeepers.
McDonald got his goal when White's corner floated right across goal for him to
side-foot the ball into the roof of the net and Johnston had the easy task of nodding his
into the net when a centre from Brown passed across the face of goal, with Slater staying
on his line.
Copyright - The Liverpool Daily Post |
Liverpool 4 - 0 Bristol Rovers
| Saturday 16 April 1960 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
|
| "Liverpool" |
4 - 0 |
"Bristol
Rovers" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Melia 21, A' Court 56, Campbell 59,
Hunt 67 |
|
|
| |
1 Bert Slater
2 Gerry Byrne
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Johnny Wheeler
5 Dick White
6 Robert Campbell
7 Ian Callaghan
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 Jimmy Melia
11 Alan A' Court |
|
1 Radford
- Hillard
- Watling
- Sykes
- Pyle
- Mabbutt
- Patherbridge
- Biggs
- Bradford
- Ward
- Hooper |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: Reg Leafe
(Nottingham) |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 27,317 |
|
Bill Shankly (Liverpool)
Bert Tann (Bristol R) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Notes:
- Ian
Callaghan makes his LFC debut.
|
|
Ian,
at 17, has a dream of a debut
Liverpool seem to have at last solved one of their most pressing problems, that of
outside right. Eight men of experience have been tried there this season without giving
complete satisfaction.
So Anfield manager Bill Shankly introduced 17-year-old local boy Ian Callaghan who
signed professional only six weeks ago.
And what a debut the boy had. So good in fact that at the final whistle Peter
Hooper dashed up to shake Ian by the hand, referee Reg Leafe ran over to give the lad a
word of praise, and the 27,000 people stood and cheered him. And Callaghan deserved it,
for he had a part in three of the goals.
After 21 minutes a pinpointed corner by Callaghan saw Radford get in the way of a
Hunt effort, but being unable to hold the ball he made a present of it to Melia.
Liverpool missed innumerable chances through lack of speed and they made a tough
job of an easy assignment until Dave Hickson was accidentally kicked in the face six yards
from goal. Wheeler hooked across the indirect free-kick to give A'Court an easy headed
goal in 56 minutes.
Three minutes later Callaghan cut inside and his shot was so powerful that Dave
Pyle, the Rovers' centre-half, was laid out, and the nonchalant Campbell slipped in and
side-footed the ball into the net.
Hickson, more of a provider than a striker, glanced a pass up the middle for Roger
Hunt to race through and score a fourth goal in the 67th minute.
Copyright - The Sunday Express |
L-
Rotherham United 2 - 2 Liverpool
| Tuesday 19 April 1960 18:30
Division Second |
| |
| |
|
|
| "Rotherham
United" |
2 - 2 |
"Liverpool" |
| |
(2-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Kirkman 11, Swann 16 |
|
Hickson 51, Hunt 73 |
| |
| Team: Alan Kirkman,
Gordon Swann, Peter Perry, |
|
Team: 1. Bert Slater,
2. John Molyneux, 3. Ronnie Moran (c), 4. Robert Campbell, 5. Dick White, 6. Tommy
Leishman, 7. Billy Liddell, 8. Roger Hunt, 9. Dave Hickson, 10. Jimmy Melia, 11. Alan A'
Court. |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Millmoor (capacity )
Attendance: 10,123 |
|
(Rotherham U)
Bill Shankly (Liverpool) |
 Price: 3 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
|
|
Liverpool
to go up - in 1961
All-red Rotherham, playing in the scarlet shorts in which they beat Arsenal,
rattled Liverpool with that same mid-season zip to lead 2-0 in 16 minutes.
On the dusty, iron-hard Millmoor pitch the Liverpool defence was chopped wide open
by long passes.
Centre-half Dick White and left back Ron Moran, both misjudging the bounce of the
ball, allowed Alan Kirkman (11 minutes) and Gordon Swann (16) to clinch the match - in
Rotherham eyes.
Indeed, Rotherham should have been three up had not that bothersome bounce on the
six-yard line prevented 21-year-old outside left Swann from adding to his first League
goal (27).
Rebound
But Liverpool are my promotion favourites for 1961, and in the second half they
showed why. In the first five minutes they fired in four shots, two more than in the whole
of the first half.
In the 51st minute two shots from Billy Liddell were blocked by Peter Perry before
the fiery, dust-stained Dave Hickson hurtled in to hit the second rebound.
Eight minutes later Hickson hit the bar and Roger Hunt (twice) and Melia were again
blocked by the goal-line red wall.
The 73rd minute climaxed a great Liverpool recovery when Hunt equalised, following
a corner kick from Jimmy Melia; passed on by Bob Campbell.
Rotherham with this spirit are still a formidable side but need an inside forward
of authority to sketch tactics.
Not all goals can be expected to come from defensive mistakes, as Moran emphasised
by coolly clearing off his line from Ken Waterhouse in the last minute.
Copyright - The Daily Express |
Ipswich Town 0 - 1 Liverpool
Liverpool 3 - 0 Bristol Rovers
| Saturday 30 April 1960 15:15
Division Second |
| |
|
|
|
| "Liverpool" |
3 - 0 |
"Sunderland" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Hickson 8, Hunt 47, Melia 85 |
|
|
| |
1 Bert Slater
2 John Molyneux
3 Ronnie Moran (c)
4 Robert Campbell
5 Dick White
6 Tommy Leishman
7 Ian Callaghan
8 Roger Hunt
9 Dave Hickson
10 Jimmy Melia
11 Alan A' Court |
|
1
- Peter Wakeham
-
-
-
-
- Charlie Hurley
-
-
-
- |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: |
| |
|
|
| |
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 25,916 |
|
Bill Shankly (Liverpool)
Alan Brown (Sunderland) |
 Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
|
|
Melia's
goal - centre or shot?
Liverpool folk know a footballer when they see one, but I never thought I should
see the day when the Kop gave out more polite applause than whacking great roars.
It was evident that they enjoyed centre-half back play as Charlie Hurley, of
Sunderland, plays it. This man who strokes the ball as if he loves rather than hates it,
who never needs to hurry.
Even when Charlie knocked Davy Hickson so hard he bounced twice, they chided him
only momentarily.
Davy, also in fine form, escaped from Charlie only twice, but he scored from about
ten yards out with an astonishing header. You couldn't blame Hurley for that. It was only
a one-eighth chance.
Hurley and Liverpool's Jimmy Melia, who was one item Sunderland had not - a
complete inside forward, a starter and yet a finisher of attacks.
Jimmy just failed with one big dipper. Peter Wakeham scooped it from under the bar.
He scooped Jimmy's next big dipper, too, but landed in the net with it.
Roger Hunt scored the other, but Roger looked a bit stale, which is not surprising
after a wonderful season for a young man whose number is scarcely dry yet.
He is one of a potentially very smart forward line; a line that will take Liverpool
where they should be - in Division One.
Copyright - The Daily Express |
LFr-1
Everton 0 - 3 Liverpool
Liverpool 2 - 1 Everton
Dundee (Dundee, Scotland) 1 - 0
Liverpool
L
|
Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Price: 4 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Price: 4 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Price: 23 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Price: 4 d (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of this
programme)
Price: 3 pence (the price is specified in a year of made and sale of
this programme)
Price: