The side selected to represent
England in the first of her international matches this year gained a
convincing victory at Windsor Park, Belfast, on Saturday, when Ireland
were beaten before about 40,000 spectators by six goals to two...
From the start the Englishmen
played the more methodical football on a pitch that was in excellent
order, and within 11 minutes they had obtained a lead of two goals. An
attack by Chambers and Dunne was beaten off, and then Crooks put over a
fine centre from the right wing and Smith promptly scored. A minute
later Waring also kicked through...
England took up the attack
again, and Gardiner, after clearing well from Crooks, was beaten a third
time by Hine. The superiority of the English team was always most
marked, but towards the interval Dunne succeeded in scoring from a free
kick for Ireland...
A pass from Crooks paved the
way for a fourth goal. When he centred a misunderstanding between
Gardiner and Russell occurred, and Waring seized the opening, rushing up
and kicking through. Houghton added a fifth goal, a brilliant low drive
going well out of Gardiner's reach...
Though in complete control of
the game during the last half-hour, England failed to score again until
near the end, when Houghton increased the advantage with a sixth goal.
In the last minute Kelly scored Ireland's second goal.
- The Times - Monday 19th October, 1931