HICKSON CONJURES THIRD GREAT GOAL
HICKSON CONJURES THIRD GREAT GOAL
March 9, 1953.
The Liverpool Daily Post
Everton 2, Leicester City 2
By Leslie Edwards
Something of a conjuror, this Dave Hickson. He gets wonderful goals, when there is no hint of a goal, and most of his deception of goalkeepers (and defences) is due to the quickness of his brain and his feet. Here we had the most able Leicester City goalkeeper, Anderson, leaving his line and shaping towards fielding, at its bound, an innocuous header from Parker. But here also we had take a chance. Hickson flinging himself horizontally over the pitch to get that trusty forehead of his to the ball first and guide it magically over the line. Hickson fling for a goal which left us breathless, was such that having made it he had to “pull up” scrambling on all fours. This goal was just as spectacular and clever in its way as those against Manchester United and Villa. It lacked only the glamour of a cup-tie occasion. Nor was this Hickson’s only contribution. He spread the ball about him unselfishly; he forged a splendid link with Buckle whom he obviously understands as no other he made a surprise second half volley on the turn with such perfect aim and timing and power that Anderson must have been surprised as the shooter to find his hands in touch with the ball. As if this were not enough, Hickson in what has come to be rather an unusual thing invariably placed the ball, with good grace when a free-kick was awarded against his side.

Man Of The Moment
Hickson was not the man of the match, but I mention him first because he is football’s man of the moment. In which connection I remind readers that when he was goalless at Sheffield last year and Derek Dooley scored four I came away to record the belief that of the pair Hickson was potentially the better. Quite as outstanding as Hickson was the medium sized and slightly balding. Blackburn half-back Baldwin of Leicester City I never remember having seem him before but his play in this match was such that one could scarely see him too often. Startling brilliantly he can never maintain this was an excusable fear – Baldwin went on and on almost flawlessly in defence and attack. If the situation was critical it was Baldwin who stepped in; if Leicester moved to the attack it was nearly always the result of a Baldwin inspiration. No wonder Leicester looked like a Division 1 club no wonder they wiped out Hickson’s goal with one by Worthington and went on to lad 2-1 by as perfect a goal (Dryburgh’s) in its construction, as any we are likely to get. Buckle, again using that well-developed sense of anticipation placed himself in the right spot to take a well-taken equalizer and Everton went on to get a point thanks to two footed and rather fortuitous saves of Leicester shots –one by O’Neill and the other by Clinton. On that all football today produced as much entertainment as this. except for its moments of temper –and football at Goodison Park nowadays always seems to provide them- it was a fine exhibition fast, full blooded, thrilling and with some individual brilliances which made it wholly delightful.

Fine Wings
Leicester, I though gave a first rate demonstration of the value of the wing forwards tentering promptly and without recourse to a visit to the corner flag. Their passing was most accurate. Had Hines played more intelligently T. E. Jones strangehold on him might have been more relaxed. The big Rowley had a good innings and Everton can take credit in the circumstances that the Leicester score was only two. If Jones was up to standard the two Everton full backs left one wondering. Lello did not fit happily and Clinton seemed to lack inspiration, Parker and Cummins too were often out of the picture. Hickson and Buckle in double harness, were still able to give the line a lot of “spike” and more and more is it evident that between them they are likely to be the greatest threat to Bolton Wanderers. The Everton League matches and of the big Cup occasions are vastly different sides that is clear. They did well enough to take a safety precaution point in a match referred superbly by Mr. S. Pickles of Bradford.