Originally Posted by
ScjR
Not Easy For Liverpool Until Last Half-Hour
THEN A ROUT WAS SAVED BY QUAIRNEY
L'POOL 2, ROTHERHAM 0
BY STORK
Liverpool were a long time in mastering Rotherham to-day. It was not until Arnell had scored that Liverpool really got on top. Then only Quairney stood between the Anfielders and a big victory. He made astounding saves and was undoubtedly the hero of the match.
LIVERPOOL. Rudham: Molyneux Moran; Saunders, Hughes, Twentymen: Payne, Evans, Liddell. Arnell, Acourt.
ROTHERHAM UNITED. Quairney: Selkirk, Johnson; Marshall, Noble. Williams; Simpson. Grainger, Wilson, Bambridge.
Referee: Mr. K. A. Collinge (Sale).
There was not the usual big crowd for to-day's game. One of the reasons being the inclement weather. The other was that Rotherham had lost some of their attraction and had hit a really bad patch.
I hear that Eric Anderson is to undergo a nose operation. It appears there is an obstruction and he will have this done prior to starting to play again following his injury.
Rotherham opened with speed and a good measure of ability but the Liverpool defence was able to stand aside, but not before Grainger had a bump on the head in time to out-head Hughes.
ROTHERHAM ATTACK
It was end-to-end football, and after Liddell had been robbed by Selkirk, the Rotherham attack came down en masse and it seemed there was trouble in store for Rudham and his colleagues. It did not materialise however. Liverpool were soon back in the enemy quarters and Quairney had to leave his goal to prevent one of the opposition taking up Twentyman's forward pass.
Acourt once exploited a crossfield pass to Payne whose shot was not near enough to goal to cause Rotherham any heartburn.
One incisive movement by Liverpool had every appearance of bringing the required result but Marshall must have read the play exceedingly well for he was up there to spoil what definitely looked to be a great opportunity.
Liverpool's open play was creating difficulties for Rotherham and it was only a little hesitancy on the part of Evans which held them up once again. He was just a little too long in getting the ball under control and was ultimately robbed.
ESCAPE FOR LIVERPOOL
The Rotherham defence had to undergo plenty of pressure but were quite equal to it, so much so that Selkirk once came up and had a shot at the Liverpool goal, the ball crossing over the bar.
It was immediately following this that the Liverpool goal had an escape. A header by Wilson went high up into the air and Rudham did the only thing possible when he came rushing out.
The ball, however, went to Farmer who nodded it goalwards and it was dropping into the Liverpool net when Molyneux dashed across goal and kicked clear. At this stage Rotherham were a definite menace, and the Anfielders defence had to pull out all the stops.
CORNER THRILLS
A corner for Liverpool created tremendous excitement and the Rotherham defence was lucky not to fall. Evans headed against the crossbar and the ball came down amongst a ruck of players and Liddell had a crack.
Again the ball was blocked and the Liverpool centre tried once more but by this time the goalmouth was completely packed with players, and it was no wonder the ball could not go through.
There was another melee in front of the Rotherham goal, but once again it escaped. A Liddell shot was deflected, as was an Acourt effort. Bambridge made some nice centres and from one of them Grainger got a chance to show his shooting power. He hit the ball hard, but unfortunately for him it lacked direction and it flew into the Kop like a rocket.
Grainger tried very hard to put his name on the score sheet and went close with a gliding header after Bambridge had made the opening for him.
Half-time. Liverpool nil. Rotherham nil.
Liverpool went straight into the attack on resuming and a neat movement between Arnell and Liddell produced an opening for Acourt. The Liverpool winger neatly took the ball round the challenging Johnson and then had all the goal gaping at him. Acourt shot with power and determination, but got under the ball which went crashing over the bar.
YEARNING FOR A GOAL
This was a chance missed, but there had been others by both sides previously. Liddell was caught in a very fine offside position, but even if he had not been, Quairney had saved his vicious drive. The crowd was simply yearning for a goal.
A promising movement by the United fell down when Bambridge put his centre behind. Liverpool had left their shooting boots at Bury. One of the best movements of the whole match should have brought something better than a goal kick for Acourt, who had the final say in the matter, elected to shoot immediately he received the ball. He could easily have steadied himself and ran in a little cltoser but but no doubt his enthusiasm got the better of him and so a sporting chance went a -begging.
OFFSIDE POSITION
Evans looked to me to be in an offside position when Liddell pushed the ball up to him but there was no signal from the lineman so Evans tried his luck with a shot. Quairney, however, was equal to the occasion.
At last the long awaited goal arrived, and it was a good one. Liddell won a corner from Noble and quickly picking up the ball he took it to the flag and took the kick himself .
There was naturally a cluster of players round the goalmouth but Arnell dashed between them all and leaping high in the air nodded the ball into the Rotherham net at the 61st minute.
The scorer, after receiving the congratulations of his colleagues, staggered around the field and had to receive the attention of Trainer Albert Shelley. This goal had lifted the game out of the ruck, for so far this half had been anything but thrilling.
RUDMAN IN ACTION
This goal brought the game to life and let it be said that the visitors were not taking this goal lying down, for they attacked consistently for a time and Rudham had a handling case, and a corner taken by Simpson was again put behind.
A foul on Payne was the forerunner to a strong attack on the Rotherham goal and Liddell, racing through to the inside right position, hit a fierce drive which passed outside. The Liverpool captain must have thought someone had touched it en route, for he went up and had a word with the referee, about it.
A LIDDELL " SPECIAL "
There was more excitement at this stage than at any time during the match and another corner to Liverpool was indirectly the cause of Liverpool's second goal.
The danger was never properly cleared, and when the ball came back to Liddell he pulled out one of his specials. His shot flashed into the net at lightning speed. I doubt whether Qualrney ever saw the ball as It flew to the back of the net.
Liverpool were now really on top for the first time, although Rudham had to edge the ball over his crossbar to save Bambridge's effort from landing in his net.
Rotherham's calls on Rudham were few and far between, and a Payne shot was carried away for a corner and Twentyman brought out a good save by Quairney.
TOP-CLASS SAVE
When a pass by Arnell to Liddell touched a Rotherham man it put Liddel on side, but Quairney once again brought off a top class save, as he did a moment later from the same player
It was one-way traffic though for the Rotherham attack were being confidently handled by the Liverpool defence in which Hughes was a tower of strength.
The man of the match at this moment was undoubtedly the Rotherham goalkeeper. He made sensational saves from Arnell and Saunders. No one could have blamed him had the 'score been doubled, for Liverpool were now hammering the defence and it was only Quairney who stood between the Reds and a big goal crop.
It was Quairney again who prevented Evans from figuring on the score sheet. He caught a downward header by Evans which really astonished the latter. Winning corners was as easy as shelling peas to Liverpool now, but no further damage was done to Rotherham, who went down fighting.
Final:— LIVERPOOL .... 2
ROTHERHAM ...nil
Official attendance: 31,810
Liverpool Echo - Saturday 29 October 1955
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