Mexborough and Swinton Times, December 13.
Denaby Win a tame Game.
Denaby United 1 Doncaster Rovers Reserve 0
The Denaby first-team, in which there were several changes, picked up a couple of points in the Sheffield Association League, on Saturday, with much less trouble than was anticipated. Their opponents for Doncaster Rovers Reserve, and the game was played on the Denaby ground, a rather late start being made. The teams lined up before, Mr A.E.Allott of Wombwell, the referee.
Denaby kicked off from the clubhouse end, against a slight breeze. In the first 5 min McNeill touched the ball past rightly, in a scrimmage, but he was ruled to be offside. Play was tame a little while, Doncaster, taking up the attack, Dunhill stopped a straight shot from the centre. A corner fell to the visitors, but nothing came of it, and Hardy got away from the clearance, only to be pulled up on the centre line.
The wind got stronger, and blew in erratic gusts, spoiling the attempt of the Denaby forwards to combine. Lindley, was injured while attempting a run on the right, and play had to be stopped for a few moments. Denaby attacked, and Hardy centred finely, but the wind curled the ball back, and Doncaster got down. The Denaby goal had a narrow escape, Hancock, throwing away with a crowd of players upon him. Dudhill missed his kick, but Lawley saved and Hancock, a minute later received a slight injury to the knee.
A rush to the other and followed, and to converse for to Denaby, on the right in quick succession, but nothing came of them.
Aided by the wind, Lindley and Marr again got down, and the latter shot over the bar from long range. Nelson was playing a pretty game at centre, but his passes were not taken as they might have been. Hanson kicked high over the bar when in good position, from a neat pass by Simpson. A little later Lindley finished up a good run with another ‘skier.’
The home left occasionally got going, Meakin playing well with Hardy, but on the whole Doncaster had the best of the exchanges in a somewhat tame game. The final shot of the forwards, however, were once in accuracy, and the ball was several times put behind Hancock’s goal.
After 30 min play. The Denaby forwards got going, giving a neat exhibition of short passing, ending with McNeill, centring to Ryans, who shot through at short range, this putting Denaby ahead.
From the kick-off Hancock, was called upon, and he saved from Nelson in a very tricky manner. The success of the own team, aroused very little enthusiasm, the meagre crowd in attendance, making scarcely a sign of approval. Doncaster continue to most of the attacking, and Hanson again shot over.
At half-time Denaby still had the lead. On the resumption it was observed that the number of spectators had increased. Denaby got away from the kick-off, and Hardy shot from the line, Riley clearing. A little later, in a scramble, Hardy kicked over. Then the visitors had a turn, and Simpson broke clean through and only had Hanson to beat, but he shot wide.
They were still very tame for a while, until McNeill, who played a pretty game, livened matters up with some clever dribbling.
A corner was forced, and in a rush that followed Ryans missed a lovely chance close in. With the wind behind them. Denaby again got down, and a rather exciting scrimmage took place in front of the visitors goal, in the course of which Riley saved a high shot from Chadfield with the ball almost touching the bar. The pressure was continued, but McNeill was ruled offside. A minute later the same player was brought down when about to shoot.
The wind was very troublesome to both sides. The visitors once or twice got away, but were never really dangerous. For the most part Denaby had the best of the play, but the forwards failed to keep perfect command of the ball, which gave Birch and Robinson a chance to offer an effective defence.
The play was almost totally devoid of incident for a while, and the home forwards failed to take advantage of the few opportunities that came their way. After a scrambling attack Denaby gained a corner, but the flag kick was badly placed by Chapman.
The concluding play was in semidarkness, the bad light making accurate shooting difficult. Morley broke away, and after beating three opponents passed to Hardy, who called upon Riley with a high shot. In a melee that followed Riley was hurt, and had to be taken off the field when there was still one minutes to play. The game ended with the score. Denaby 1 Doncaster Reserve 0
Team: Hancock, goal; Dudhill and Lawley backs; Shaw, Chadfield and J Whitehouse, halfbacks; Chapman, Ryans, McNeill, Meakin and T Hardy, forwards