1877 September Match vs Carlton

September 29 - Madeline Street
Crowd: Approximately 7,000

Carlton 2
Melbourne 3 (Nicholas, Goldsmith ) (half time 22)

The two sides met for the fourth time that year. Carlton had won the first two and the third was drawn, but Melbourne hadn't lost since July and were in sparkling form having thrashed St Kilda the week previous.

Despite early quality play from Coulthard, who Carlton had brought back from Sydney specifically for the match, most of the first ten minutes was spent camped in front of the blue team's goal. Nicholas and Cooper both missed chances. A fight broke out and Lamrock was knocked over, before Carlton again went forward and attacked the Melbourne goal with no success.

It took forty minutes for Melbourne to open the scoring, Nicholas converting after MacDonald had centred the ball for him.

Carlton responded in attack through Coulthard who took the ball and ran 15 or 20 yards with it in direct violation of footballing rules. The umpire, however, dismissed the appeals of the visitors for a free. Not long after Carlton equalised at one goal apiece. Just three minutes later though they were behind again, Goldsmith scoring with a drop kick after receiving a pass from Bennie. Just before half-time Carlton scored again and time was called on a thrilling, controversial first half.

The umpire was involved in another controversy early in the second term when Melbourne seemed set to score through MacDonald before he brought the play back to attend to a Carlton player who had been felled in the play.

Despite the questionable decisions Melbourne kept their attack up and on the 20 minute mark Goldsmith got his second of the match to put the Reds back in front.

Melbourne scored ten behinds and Carlton nine.

F.Baker, Stephen, Barass, Longden and Downes were declared Melbourne's best.

Media
The Argus - 01/10/1877