First Division, 9th match: 03/11/1888, Saturday, at 15:00.
Notts County F.C. — Preston North End F.C. 0:7 (0:2)
Place: Trent Bridge, Nottingham.
Referee: William Henry Jope (Birmingham).
Linesmen: ?
Estimated attendance: 7.000.

Notts County F.C.: Owen — Guttridge, Clements — Brown, C. Shelton, A. Shelton — Hoder, Moore, Allin, Daft, Jardine.
Umpire: J. Hindle.

Preston North End F.C.: Trainer — Howarth, Holmes — Robertson, Russell, J. Graham — Gordon, J. Ross, J. Goodall, Thompson, Drummond.
Umpire: R. P. Woodhouse.

Goals: Goals: J. Goodall(2min, 55min, ?), J. Ross(47min), Gordon(10min, ?, ?).


Preston played a steady, plodding game from start to finish — never relaxing their efforts. Their passing in the open was grand, and when within shooting distance they never hesitated to send the ball in at a pace which astonished Owen. The defence of the North End, too, was strong, for while the half-backs supported the forwards admirably they looked after Notts so well that the visiting full-backs had not a great chance of distinguishing themselves. The score about represents the game, in the last ten minutes of which Gordon scored twice, and Goodall ran clean through the lot, and shot past the goalkeeper.

Preston played so well all-round that it is difficult to praise one at the expense of another, but certainly Gordon, Ross, Goodall, Graham, and Howarth left nothing to be desired. Howarth was guilty of what some people described as a mean trick — namely, stopping the ball with his hand at a time when Notts seemed destined to score. It certainly is not the game if he did it purposely.

For Notts, Guttridge was the most useful full-back, while Alfred Shelton appeared at his absolute best. He played superbly. Hodder and Daft were perhaps the best forwards, althought Moore worked hard. Allin was a failure, and Jardine's show compared badly with his deadly form against Burnley.