The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-24
By Bob Shand

Any chance the Independents had to
capture the Soccer league championship
went glimmering last Sunday when the
usually formidable greens took the
luxury OF an off day and fell before the
Burns at San Mateo by score of , to
Q. Until they received this unlocked
for setback the Indies were conceded a
great chance to win the championship,
but now such a thing is impossible.
While the Indies Were getting theirs
from the Burns the Albion RoVerS were
doing the Vampires a good turn by
drawing with the Thistles, who have
been running neck and neck with the
Alamedans Tor several weeks. BY drop
ping point TO the Rovers the Thistles
are now one peg lower than the lead
ers, with both OF them three games to
go.
Jimmy Gore of the Thistles was the
star of the last game and displayed
form which, if kept up, viii win him a
place on the team which is going north
this spring. The husky Scot was here,
there and everywhere and on several
occasions came across the field to help
out the back on the opposite side. The
entire Thistle team played a great game
and no eleven men ever tried harder
TO bring about a victory. Young Nc
Richie, in goal, played a marvellous
game, stopping shots which seemed Ger
tain TO reach the net. The goal he
lost could not possibly have been saved
by any custodian, as the ball came in
with terrific force and was in the net
before McRitchie knew what was hap
pening.
The big surprise of the day was the
victory Of the Scotias over the San
Franciscos. as the Scotchmen had not
won game since the opening day Of
the season. The San FranciScos must
be blamed for being the rankest in and
cutters that ever played football in this
league. as only week before they beat
the champion Vampires by the big score
OF to 0.
The biggest attraction. with the ex-
ception Of the international game, that
has been billed this season in soccer
football viii be pulled off today at
and Albion ROvers are scheduled TO
play their return league game. The
former contests between these teams
have been remarkable for the amount
Of class displayed and there is never
more than a goal between them at the
finish. Today's contest has aroused
greater interest than ever before on ac-
count of the Vampires position at the
head of the league table and the pos
sibility OF the Rovers defeating the
Alamedans, thereby giving the Thistles
top place in the race.
That the Rovers are capable of ad-
ministering a beating to the Vamps is
believed by the majority of the fans,
and this belief was strengthened by
the showing Of the Rovers against the
Thistles last Sunday. II the Rovers
win today and the Thistles defeat the
Scotias. which they will in all prob
ability do, then the Scotchmen will be
db the top OF the nSdp Win Il points,
with the Vamps in second place with
20. The result of today's game will
possibly settle the championship of the
league and there promises to be con-
siderable excitement when the teams
hook up.
The Vampires are not so strong as
they were in the earlier part of the
season, SCOTS loss being hard blow.
This handicap is considered by the fans
to be too great to overcome and the
Albions will be looked for by many
TO defeat the Alamedans The Rovers
will play the same men as formed the
team last week. and the management
is brimfull of confidence that the boys
are good enough to go through the
balance Of the season without being
defea ted.
The lads are much interested in the
forthcoming trip TO the northern coun-
try, and there is much speculation as to
who will be the fortunate ones selected
The members OF the association are
keeping close tab on the work of the
players and will not likely make any
mistake when the time to select q
team arrives. There are so many men
Of almost equal merit in the various
field positions that the work of the
selection committee will be no easy
task
The San Franciscos held their an