Taking full advantage of the soldiers' slow beginning, the Club team carried the ball into their opponents' territory right from the opening bully and applied pressure, Well organized attack put Karanjia on the spot in the 5th minute and the latter ticked a tricky shot past Thompson for the opener, F, Kermani made the play, drawing the soldiers' defence to one side and passing to the inside-left, who streaked forward and beat the keeper, Upon the resultant bully, the United forwards resumed with forceful plays, The Infantrymen started a few counter attacks but these were unavailing as Pate and Fonseca were unbeatable in the rear, At ten minutes time, Karanjia was through again on a pass by Murray who sped down the right flank in smooth collaboration with Veir, Picking the cross up skilfully, the shooter tried a second crack at Thompson and succeeded to put his team ahead by two clear goals, Realizing the seriousness of the situation, the Bolan brothers and Bellerby began to "click" Slowly but steadily, they gained on the. opponents and Cpl, Bolan's scoring power told when he swung into the United net a fine shot which caught Collaco unawares before the game was 20 minutes old This started the fireworks for shortly afterwards, Bellerby was assisted by L/Cpl, Bolan and rifled into the far corner of Collaco's goal and now almost certain of winding up to another triumphant season with an unblemished recoi For fully three quarters of the game the Germans, fighting their hearts out against odds that were apparent to everyone, managed to hold the Loyals' thrusts and keep a clean slate, As a matter of fact. they even went as far as to secure he lead when Schoemann came through with a lucky goal in the middle of the second session. The scorer was hit on the chest by an incoming ball but as the umpire permitted the play to be carried on, he gently pushed the spherald past the bewildered army keeper.
Although the encounter was an important one, both sides were not at full strength. The Loyals missed the services of It. Whiteing at right half-back and Pvt. Byrne in the inside left position while the civilians were minus their star forward, Pracht. The latter's absence caused the German team to play Siemssen n the absentee's position and Jessen as outside left. Apparently, the whole forward line had 105 ite former effec! mess as no one was able to "spark" the attack. Throughout the whole first half, the ball was seen in the German areas and the soldiers' goalie was not played aren once. The teams lined up before the opening bully as follows:—
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.