Nov. 7, 1926 – Boston SC 4:3 New Bedford Whalers, exhibition match at Mark’s Stadium, N. Tiverton, R.I. (Att.: 3,328)

The Fall River Marksmen were on a road trip to Springfield and New York, leaving Mark’s Stadium available. Both the Wonder Workers (Boston SC) and Whalers had played ASL home games the previous day.

The Wonder Workers took a 3-2 halftime lead, Harold Brittan equalizing with his second goal of the game. “With two minutes to go, Blair won the game for Boston by outwitting the defense and beating Steele, who came out to meet him.” Blair, who also converted in the first half, totaled 38 goals (38 matches), second in the league to the New York Giants’ Davey Brown (52 goals).

There were several games involving New England professional teams being contested that weekend. Fall River drew with the Springfield Babes (2-2) and the New York Giants (1-1). Springfield was in the midst of a 14-game winless streak.

Nov. 6, 1926 – Boston SC 4:2 Philadelphia

Alex McNab, Werner “Scotty” Nilsen, Tommy Fleming and Barney Battles scored for the Wonder Workers, who were in the midst of a 15-match (13-0-2) home unbeaten streak. The Wonder Workers took a 3-0 halftime lead, Jimmy McClure cutting the deficit, the final goals converted on penalty kicks by Battles and James McLaughlin.

Nov. 6, 1926 – J&P Coats 0:1 Bethlehem Steel

Tom Gillespie scored off an Archie Stark pass early in the second half. Gillespie finished fourth in the league in scoring with 33 goals. Coats was mired in a 15-game (0W-7L-8D) winless streak, only two of those matches decided by more than one goal. According to The Boston Globe: “The crowd was treated to the best [ASL] contest ever played in this city. The locals outplayed the Steelmen in every department of the game, Sandy [Parkes], local goalie, having only two stops.”

Nov. 6, 1926 – New Bedford Whalers 5:2 Indiana Flooring
The Whalers snapped a four-game (0W-3L-1D) winless streak as Mike McLeavy scored two goals and Jimmy Montgomerie, Brittan and Tommy Maxwell one. Andy Stevens, who totaled 36 goals, third in the league, had a three-match scoring streak snapped. Bob Millar, who scored both Indiana goals, played for the U.S. national team in 1925 and coached the team in the 1930 World Cup in Uruguay. Millar was a member of the Brooklyn Field Club that won the inaugural National Challenge Cup (U.S. Open Cup) in 1914.

Nov. 7, 1926 – Providence 1:1 Philadelphia

Canadian national team center forward Ed McLaine scored for Providence, Philadelphia claiming offside, goalkeeper Harry Pearce appearing to stand still, believing the goal would be nullified. Pearce, a Philadelphia Phillies infielder from 1917-19, was in goal for Philadelphia for both games.

TODAY IN NEW ENGLAND SOCCER HISTORY