The Bethlehem Steel soccer club profited by the game played in the American Soccer League on Thursday and will go into its battle against the New York Giants here on Saturday afternoon in undisputed possession of third place. This advance was made possible when Brooklyn and Newark played to a 3 goal draw.

In fact the Steelmen not only advanced into third place but also crept closer to the top of the club standing when J & P Coats, a team defeated easily by Bethlehem, took the measure of Boston, the league leading club, in probably the biggest upset of the soccer season to date. The Threadmen won by the score of 3 goals to 0.

While other teams were engaged in league battles, the Steelmen sent a team comprised mostly of reserves to New Bedford for an exhibition tilt and with a drastically rearranged lineup succeeded in holding New Bedford to a four goal draw. In this game Bethlehem tried out a new left wing on which Billy Allan, a fullback, was at inside and W. Ballantyne, a former Hub player recently secured by Bethlehem at outside. Allan scored on of the goals, Rollo another and McConnell, two.

Anticipating a hard game against the Giants here on Saturday and another hard league tiff when the team is compelled to travel to Fall River for a Saturday engagement, the regulars were held in reserve for its main strength for these two games.

But for the Giants who romped away with a victory last Sunday Bethlehem would be within reaching distance of the league lead. It is that defeat that the Steelmen are determined to avenge and with a Giant outfit inspired by their victory in the last meeting, expect a hard battle.

Many of the injured players have responded rapidly to treatment this week and all with the exception of a very few have been able to participate in training. Edwards is coming along nicely but will not be available for Saturday’s game. In his place, the Steelmen will use one of the Browns at the custodian. Either J. Brown, who was loaned to Bethlehem by the Newark Club, or Brown, the Canadian, who in the emergency was signed by Bethlehem and reported to the club today. The latter comes to Bethlehem with an excellent reputation and will more than likely get his test as a goalie against a speedy and accurate shooting New York Giant forward line.

The probable lineup will be as follows:

Bethlehem Steel – New York Giants
Brown – G – Fabian
McLaughlin – RFB – Shillinger
McMeekin – LFB – Moorehouse
W. Reid – RHB – Cameron
Carnihan – CHB – Guttman
MacGregor – LHB – Hard
Gillespie – OR – Schwartz
Granger – IR – Hauesler
Stark – CF – D. Brown
Jaap – IL – O’Brien
Goldie – OL – Gruenwald