1906-07 Western League : Section B

The football season is dying hard in London, and nearly ten thousand people witnessed the Western League Championship match at Stamford Bridge, the gate realising £269. The weather was trifle  muggy, but the game was splendidly contested and although Went Ham only beat Fulham by a goal their victory was of a most decisive character. The Southern League champions played Thorpe at left back in place of Charlton, otherwise both clubs placed their full strengthen in the field.

The teams were capitally matched in the first half, but after the interval the Fulham defence was sorely pressed. West Ham’s luck was, however, clean out, and they everything but score goals, shot after shot being charged down, and it was not until two minutes before time that the East-Londoners’ dash and thrust were rewarded. Fulham were very clever, but their cleverness was no match for their sturdy opponents, who broke up their combination so effectively that in the second half the few Fulham attacks came from the wing men. On the other hand, the West Ham forwards were always dangerous when they got away, and only Fryer’s magnificent Judgment and resource kept them from piling up a heavy score. Blackburn and Watson simply made hacks of Collins and Ross, and the latter has never had such a bad time since joined the club. His methods were scrupulously fair, and towards the close appeared to give up trying to stop Blackburn and turned him over Collins’s, care. Stapley’s dashes down the centre were most thrilling, and once in the first half he got clean through the defence and had Fryer helpless, but his shot struck the bottom the post screwed away. Watson had plenty of time to score from the rebound, but kicked wild, and sent the ball in the direction of the corner flag. Again Stapley got through, but Fryer twice fisted out at close range in superb style, the second time while he was on the ground. Kingaby repeatedly beat Jarvis for speed on the Fulham right, his centres were not often accurate, though once Kitchen just reached a high shot and tipped the ball over bar. Freeman looked all over a scorer on one occasion, but after dribbling through lost control of the ball.

The second half opened in desultory fashion, but after a time West Ham simply overran their opponents. A fine centre by Blackburn was snapped up by Grassam, who shot hard at goal. The ball jumped out of Fryer’s hands over his shoulder, but the goalkeeper managed to  hook the ball out in marvellous style. Another shot from Watson struck Thorpe on its way to the net and was diverted over bar, and it seemed as though Fulham were to escape, but two minutes before time Blackburn slung across a long centre, and Lindsay returned to Grassam. The latter shot straight for goal, and Fryer threw himself the direction which the ball was taking. This time the leather struck Morrison, and to Fryer's chagrin the ball went into the other side the net. Thus West Ham gained their first championship by a goal to love.

Fulham:

Fryer, Ross, Thorpe, Collins, Morrison, Goldie, Kingaby, Freeman, Hamilton, Hogan, Threlfall

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Referee: T. Howcroft