KINGSTON-ON-THAMES v. SURBITON RANGERS-
There was a large crowd of the partisans of both teams on the Surbiton Recreation Ground to witness the third meeting of these clubs this season. On the previous Saturday at Kingston the result was a draw of a goal each. Lanham again won the toss and elected to defend the Waterworks end of the ground.

Nightingale kicked off, and Grant securing from the halves made a neat run, but J. Buckwell repulsed. Harris got on and made a good run, but Tully saved and gave to Foster, Hall saving by kicking out. Harris eventually got away and passed over to Crooms. Baker miskicking nearly let in the Rangers, but Short helped his partner out of difficulties, and play was transferred to the other end, where the "Kings" pressed severely, and from a free for hands, Short nearly scored.

The Rangers now returned the pressure, but Tully again came to the rescue. The Kingston forwards made a good combined run down the whole length of the field, but Hall saved by kicking out. From the throw in, Harris got away and forced a corner. Barlow took the kick, and put in a nice shot. Windyett secured and put through, thus opening the scoring for the Rangers.

On restarting, the Rangers again got down, Short immediately after giving a corner, which was well cleared, and Foster and Grant got away and pressed the home defence severely, Hall was hurt in attempting to secure the ball to clear, and had to leave, the Rangers then playing but ten men.

On the ball being kicked off, J. Buckwell sent it well down the field, but Lockett returned, and Grant, Vincent, and Foster made a neat run, the final shot going wide. For a time the "King's" continued to press, but Harris, who was playing a splendid game, relieved by a huge kick, and the home forwards then pressed, Baker and Short defending well. Some pretty play here ensued in mid-field, and half-time shortly after arrived with the game standing:- Surbiton Rangers 1 goal, Kingston-on-Thames nil.

The game restarted by "King's " kicking off, the front rank making a good run down, Harris eventually pulling them up. Ocock secured and made a good run, but owing to the spectators encroaching failed to keep the ball in. Midfield play ensued for a time, E. Buckwell and Harris being prominent. Crooms and King got away, but Short saved.

Crooms was playing a good game, but was too well looked after by Tully to be often dangerous. King forced Baker to concede a corner, which was put behind. A good shot by Grant was well saved by Taylor, and Harris warded off attack. Tully made a good attempt, and immediately after a free against the Rangers nearly allowed the "King's" to score, but Harris saved in a marvellous fashion.

The "King's" forced a corner, and nearly scored off Vincent, but Harris was again on the alert, and kicking out tactics were now indulged in by the home defence. Eventually Crooms got away, and caused Lanham to save a hot shot. Kingston again forced the game, and from a corner Tully shot behind. Crooms again sprinted down, Baker saving by putting out.

Immediately after Short saved what seemed to be a certain goal, and hands against the Rangers nearly let in the visitors, and from the kick a foul was given against the homesters, which was well taken, and a shot by Kemp just went over the bar. A free against the Rangers was well taken by Short, who shot hard and high up, the ball going into the net without a second player touching it.

From the kick out the "King's" again pressed, and Grant was hurt. A corner fell to Kingston, which Lockett placed well, and from the resulting scrimmage "King's " equalised. Grant made a good attempt, but Barlow robbed. Short secured and let Kingston away, but a foul against the Rangers spoiled another good shot of Grant's. Another free fell to Kingston, Short again putting into the net without a second player touching it.

A couple of corners now fell to Kingston, and from the last of these the "King's" were robbed of the sweets of victory, the ball going into the net just as the whistle sounded for time, the shot being on unsaveable one, and once again the result was a draw, the score reading:
Kingston-on-Thames 1 goal
Surbiton Rangers 1 goal

Sides:-
Kingston-on-Thames: F. Lanham, goal; A. R. Short and J. Baker, backs; R. F. Lockett; Greenwood and G. J. Tully, half-backs; W. Ocock, Vincent, B. Grant, Foster and J. Kemp, forwards.
Surbiton Rangers: G. Taylor, goal; T. Hall and J. Buckwell backs; J. Preston, Barlow and E. Buckwell, half-backs; Winyett, Harris, Nightingale, King ,and Crooms, forwards.
Referee. Mr. G. W. Allies, R. A.

Report from Surrey Comet dated 20 February 1897- see report in original format.


Kingston-on-Thames v. Surbiton Rangers.-
This return match was played last Saturday, on the Surbiton recreation ground. When these teams met in the previous week a well contested game ended in a draw of one goal each, and it was generally conceded that on their own ground Surbiton had a capital chance of adding two points to their score. This did not happen, however, and the game ended exactly as the first had done.

There was a good attendance of spectators and the ground was in fair condition until a smart shower fell. Lanham won the toss, and Kingston chose to play up the incline. Nightingale set the ball in motion, but the Kingston forwards at once got it and looked dangerous for a while. Foster made for the Surbiton lines but Hall kicked out.

Even play in mid-field succeeded, and then Harris and Crooms were responsible for an attack which nearly beat the Kingston backs. Kingston then put in a determined spell of pressing, and from a free kick for hands near the Surbiton goal Short almost scored. Soon after Surbiton forced a corner. This was beautifully placed by Barlow, and Windyett scored with much cheering.

On the re-start play alternated from end to end, but there was little real combination. A painful accident befel Hall, a Surbiton fall-back, who fell awkwardly, and so twisted his leg that he was carried off the field and took no further part in the game. Harris was taken from the attack to partner J. BuckWell at back, and the game was re-started.

Grant and Foster gave the Surbiton defence plenty to do, but Harris played even better than before, and when half-time was signalled the home forwards were bothering Kingston.

Shortly after the kick-off Ocock made a good run, but owing to the spectators encroaching on the touch lines it came to nothing. For some time the Surbiton defence was severely tested, and E. Buckwell and Harris were repeatedly cheered for their sound display. Crooms once got well away, but Tully proved a stumbling block, and Kingston gained a fruitless corner.

Play was fast, and Surbiton, although a man short, were having as much of the game as their opponents. Kingston once more forced a corner, and Vincent all but scored. These repeated failures to break down the home defence greatly pleased Surbiton supporters, and the home players retaliating, Crooms caused Lanham to save twice in rapid succession.

A further attack on the Kingston goal was brilliantly repelled by Short, and from a foul against Surbiton Kemp nearly equalised. H. Short put the ball in the Surbiton net from a free kick, but the goal did not count. Kingston continued to press, and from a corner Lockett placed the ball well, and it was hustled through, and the score was thus equalised.

Play ruled fairly equal towards the close, when Kingston made a desperate rally, and forcing a corner scored a second goal after the whistle had been blown. The point did not count, and so honours remained easy.

Teams:
Kingston-on-Thames: F. Lanham, goal; J. Baker and A. R. Short, backs; G. J. Tully, Greenwood, and R. F. Lockett, half-backs; Ocock, Vincent, B. Grant, Foster, and J.Kemp, forwards.
Surbiton Rangers: G. Taylor, goal; J. Buckwell and T. Hall, backs; E. Buckwell, Barlow, and J. Preston, halves; Crooms, King, Nightingale, Harris, and Windyett, forwards.
Referee Mr. G. W. Ailles, R.A.

Report from Kingston & Surbiton News dated 20 February 1897- see report in original format.