New-York tribune., 1918-05-20
Bethlehem Wrests Soccer
Title From Fall Riuer, 80
Ratican, With Two, and Pep
per Boot Goals Deciding
u. S. Championship
By C. A. Lovett

The title of soccer football cham
plons of the United States reverted
to the powerful kicking machine
representing the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany in the replay of the final of the
national challenge cup competition
yesterday at the Harrison, N. j., base
ball park. AS the match developed no
doubt was left as to the supremacy
of the Pennsylvanians over the Fall
River Rovers, who earned the cham
pionship for the first time in their
long history in sensational victory
ever the Bethlehem combination year
ago.
Bethlehem scored thrice on the New
Englanders, twice in the first half. 1t
was not until the second period that
the passing champions seriously threat
ened the steel workers. goal but the
Bethlehem defence could not be solved
ard the Fall River aggregation sur
rendered the famous trophy. formerly
known as the Dewar Cup, without be-
ing able to score on the conquerers.
1t was, despite it's onesidedness, an
enrudance taxing struggle, with a max
imum OF action and a deal of adroit
to a high pitch of enthusiasm more
than 10000 fans, several thousand trek
king over from Manhattan and hun
dreds coming from more distant points
in Pennsylvania and New England
The fine field of the former Newark
Federal League baseball plant made
possible the very highest quality of
football play.
Corners All Bethlehem's
Throughout the first half the Schwab
eleven had it very much its own way,
forcing seven corners, none Of which,
however, contributed to the two Bethle-
hem tallics of the period, although six
were beautifully centred by Fleming
from the left. Twenty-nne minutes after
the starting whistle, HarryeJ. Ratican,
the big, speedy centre forward who
was drafted by Bethlehem from the
sional league, forced his way through
the pack and from ten yards out, and
unassisted, drove past Albin for the
games first goal.
Once the defence had been broken
down, Bethlehem's task became much
easier, and just two minutes later
Referee Creighton awarded penalty
against Left Halfback (and army SER
geant) Charles s. Burns, of the
Rovers, which made rather certain a
Bethlehem victory.
Fleming took the kick for the
penalty-a cannonball shot that was
saved in brilliant style by Albin, and
on the rebound, with no support at hand
for the goalkeeper, Pepper crashed
through the Pennsylvanans' second
marker
With a commanding read of two
goals established, Bethlehem was CON
tent TO break up the determined but
ineffective Fall River attacks. The
suddenness of the pair of goals, with
the preponderancc of corners, under.
mined the Rovers' morale.
Ten minutes after half time, Kirk
patrick, Bethlehem's stocky left half
back, was keeed over violently in a
mix-up in midfied. landing on and Sc
verely wrenching his neck. Play was
halted while the fallen player was re-
suscitatcd, and finding himself not Sc
riously injured, kirkpatrick resumed
his position and was soon himself
again. Indeed, he showed to considera-
BILE advantage in the later phases of
the struggle
Royers Rally in Vain
Duncan, Bethlehems last line of de-
fence, was almost without employment
in the first half, the Rovers failing to
force single corner, but he was much
buster in the second stanza. The only
critical point for the steel team came
ten minutes after the restart. when
Duncan, charged by the New England
forwards, cleared his goal while on his
knees. Immediately afterward he stag
gered before the net, and it developed
that he had been hurt with a hiow from
the ball in his midregion. First aid
revived him, and he remained at his
post to the end.
The third and final Bethlehem goal
came midway in the second half and
was earned by Fleming after a brilliant
run Gown the left wing, although Rati-
can, to whom Fleming centred, netted
the ball.
Two corner kicks obtained by the
New Englanders in the second half
went behind the goal. Captain Swords
of the Rovers, too, failed to find the net
in several opportunities, but his often
sive work in general was of high or
der Ferguson, at leftback for the
Rovers. excelled, and "Sinkey" Sullivan
at centre forward for the vanouished