Complex sentence: On 2 September 1893, New Brompton played their first competitive match, sporting Excelsior's black and white stripes, with the new team being defeated 1--5 by Woolwich Arsenal's reserve side in front of a crowd of 2,000.
Split into simpler sentences: On 2 September 1893, New Brompton played their first competitive match, sporting Excelsior's black and white stripes. The team were defeated 1--5 by Woolwich Arsenal's reserve side in front of a crowd of 2,000.