while the individual skill of the forwards drew deserved attention, ashton's ability to take his chances and macey's footwork and clever use of the ball in particular, the team as a whole intelligently exploited the recent amendment to the offside rule, such that a player was on-side if two, rather than the previous three, opponents were ahead of him. the half backs were strong defensively and constructive in their use of the ball, and the full backs were "capable spoilers". the amateurs were the better side all over the field; "c.h.c.", writing in the "daily mirror", called them "as fine an amateur side as we have seen for some seasons. there was an abandon, a joie de vivre about their football that we would like to see in more matches."