Cup aspirations of the Bethlehem soccer cup were further threatened yesterday afternoon when the players going through their final strides for the replay in Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon, Bill Carnihan, center cog in the crack halfback line, was among the missing.

Inquiries elicited the information that the black-haired booter was confined to his bed nursing a severe cold and it is very doubtful if he will be available for the Saturday game.

This misfortune coming with the illness of Bob MacGregor, also a halfback, who will be unable to play, more or less wrecks the veteran combination that has been held intact for the greater portion of the campaigning and during which the local booters maintained a winning stride.

Weather forecasts favor a dry and fast field on which to play the game and while this advantage will be with the Bethlehem team, nevertheless, it will hardly offset the loss of two of the star defenders. Against a speedy forward line such as comprising the Giants and with Davy Brown and Andy Stevens at their best, the outlook for the local clan is anything but encouraging.

Much interest is manifest in the game and with good weather conditions it is expected the several hundred local enthusiasts will motor Philadelphia. Quaker City fans are also het up over the opportunity of seeing this important cup contest and a record crowd is anticipated.

Just what plans the management will make in filling the vacancies of MacGregor and Carnihan will not be determined until it is definitely known that the latter will be unable to make the trip. If his condition does not improve it is practically certain that Matt Wilson will see service with the halfbacks and probably Arthur Robertson. Then again, Robertson, who frequently has played outside left, will be assigned to the wing forward and the pinch-hitting Johnny Rollo, brought back from the forward line to play a halfback position.

Otherwise the team will be the same as the one that opposed the Giants on a muddy field at Brooklyn last Saturday. McClure is most certain to start in goal with Hugh Reid and Jock Marshall the fullbacks. W. Reid will be the only regular halfbacks. The forwards will be Tommy Gillespie, Johnny Jaap, Archie Stark and Alec Massie, with either Rollo or Robertson to complete the combination.