New-York tribune., 1919-03-16
Robins Eleven
Play Bethlehem
At Newfed Park
A. F. A. Semi-Final Is First
of Series of Important
Soccer Games i'm the East

Opening with an A. F. A. semi-final
match at Harrison Field, formerly
Newark Federal League Park, bring
ing together Robins Dry Dock F. c.,
of Brooklyn, and Bethlehem Steel +. G.,
of Bethlehem, Penn, present national
champions, a series Of big games of
the current soccer football campaign,
pretty much punched in the East, is
''on." The metropolitan district is
more favored than usual this year.
A week hence, at Olympic Park,
Paterson, N. j., Merchant Ship Foot
ball Club, Team A, Of Hartman, Penn,
will clash with Paterson +. C. in the
second A. F. A. semi-final. 1t is under
stood that the Paterson club got the
very great advantage of a home field
by making s700 guarantee. The park
liz inadequate and the shipbuilders'
club would seem to have sufficient
grounds for strenuous objections.
The following Sunday, March go,
national championships Of the kicking
game. Morse Dry Dock +. c., of
Brooklyn, and Paterson are to hook
up in this important match, and it ap-
pears to be about toss-up between
tho two clubs on their merits. The
Western" semi-final of the u. S. F. A.
competition may belle its name. The
titled Bethlehems and the Bricklayers
and Masons' eleven, of Chicago, will
competition committee will announce
OH Monday, in all probability, whether
the game will be played on March 20
at Lehigh University Stadium, Bethle-
hem, Penn.--a neutral field, in prefer
ence TO Schwab Field, Bethlehem-or
on Comiskey Field, Chicago, on
March 80.
Champions Might Stumble
To days game at the big ball plant on
the Hudson tubes is of particular in
terest There are those who look to
see the Robins club take fall ont of
the chesty champions. James Means
Robertson. one of soccer's Scandina-
Wan tourists of 1915, has built up a
powerful club to represent the Erie
Basin shipmenders, and James is no
mean back himself. He has landed the
capable fullback, John Lance, from
the Bethlehem camp, and Lance will
oppose his former team mates this
afternoon.
Bethlehem, on the other hand, will
be at it's best. Ratican will be back at
centre forward, and any opposing club
knows that portends ill. sgd Brown,
States, will be at right halfback for
the steelmakers. Students of the
game say Canada never developed a
header player.
Oddly enough, it will be Browns
second game on the Harrison turf. He
will be making only his second ap-
pearance in the Bethlehem organiza-
ton, having made his debut-and an
impressive one-against New York F.
C. in National League game at Beth
lehem a week ago yesterday. 1t was
tanned and starred for the picked team
of Canadians that came down here last
November, losing to Bethlehem in a
game played for the benefit of the
United War Work Fund. Bethlehem
played a return benefit game on
Toronto University Field in early De-
cember, and in the two games the
Bethlehem managers were so i'm
pressed with Browns work that he
was induced to sign professional
form for the Schwab club several
weeks ago.
Teams Records Imposing
Bethlehem's record this season,
while trifle less imposing than in
some earlier seasons, is adequate to
instill fear in opponents hearts. In
twenty-five games this year Bethle-
hem has been victorious eighteen
times, tied thrice and beaten but once
by a picked team Of the st. Louis
League, goals to 8, at Cardinal Field,
st. Louis, on New Years Day. The
same Mound City club three days be-
fore tied Bethlehem. Ii, Ratican,
himself a graduate Of the st. Louis
school, saving the Pennsylvanians with
tying goal in the last thirty seconds
Of play The pick Of the Delaware
River Shipyards League and the Mer-
chant Ship Team A have also tied the
champions.
Bethlehem has scored 73 goals to
her opponents 10. The Robins record
is 90 goals for, 10 against. The Brook
lyn outfit has played three fewer
games than Bethlehem. Only two clubs
have beaten Robins all season, thanks
to Robertson's pluck and initiative.
These are Morse and Bethlehem.
Morse turned the trick twice by 2--1
scores, but Robins also twice defeated
Morse, by 10 and 3-2 scores. At
Bethlehem some weeks ago, in game
in the early part Of which Laverty, of
the Robins, sustained fractured leg,
the dry dockers continuing with but
ten men, Bethlehem was victorious by
4 goals to l. Bethlehem is always 80
per cent stronger at home, and Robins
will be very much stronger to-day,
with eleven men and some changes in
the lineup, than the team was at Beth
lehem. So it is not impossible that
the Pennsylvanians will meet with q
surprise this afternoon.
The kickoff is billed for 2:45 p m.
Charles K. Creighton, Of New York
City, will referee, and the official lines
men anuointad are Williar- RowJav ne
Newark, and James Walsh, of Har-
rson.
Ready fnr Chess Match