Denaby Utd – Denaby 3 Mexborough 2 – A Christmas Day Revival

January 1926

Mexborough and Swinton Times January 1, 1926

Denaby the Masters
A Christmas Day Revival.

Denaby United 3, Mexborough Athletic 2

The meeting of these teams on Christmas Day at Denaby posed used, under the conditions, a surprisingly good match. On a snow-covered surface, a fast, interesting game was seen, and the 4,000 spectators (the majority from Mexborough), got full value.

Denaby produced form which confounded their critics. Mexborough looked a certainty on paper, but Denaby rose to the occasion splendidly. Maybe it was the reconstructed halfback line, for this was something like the one we were accustomed to see last season, a line which knew what to do and did it. It was good alike in spoiling and feeding. Redfern played well in the middle and is well worth preserving with. Windle throughout was where he was wanted but Croot did a good deal of aimless wandering. He has undoubtedly the makings of a class player, but he has one or two little tricks he would be well advised able to rid himself of. Incidentally these tricks were more men evidence at Mexborough then at Denaby.

Denaby carried all before them in the first half, but Mexborough rose in their might in the second half and with the stimulus of a penalty kick early on – and a very doubtful one – they might have pulled the game out of the fire. If it appeared that Bisby’s arm caught Bramley when the players were right in the corner of the “box”. The referee only was doubtful and he consulted a linesman, then pointed to the spot. Beresford took the kick and scored. The tonic thus administered bucked Mexborough, and they soon were on equal term for Bradley scored after Beresford had brought Bromage to his knees with a warm shot.

Mexborough had not been without their misfortunes for only 10 minutes had elapsed when their morale was shaken by Hetherington tipping with his head a header from Brown, from Drew’s centre, into the goal.

Taylor added the second after 25 minutes from a pass by Brown, also from Drew. The last named played better than he had done for weeks. Redfern once caught the joining of the bargain upright with a hot shot, and Windle and Wheelhouse were useful in clearing from melees. Cope showed brilliant anticipation when he advanced to smother Taylor’s shot at a time when it looked odds-on for him to score.

The goal which won the match was as fine a piece of work as has been seen on the field. Skeels received on the left wing just in Mexborough’s half. First Burkinshaw was eluded. Then Purcel bore down as Skeels cut across, but a pretty tip put the ball past him, so Cope advanced, and Skeeles cleverly got the ball past him too. The result was just on the run of the play

Teams: –

Denaby United: Ramage: Wheelhouse: Bisby, Croot: Redfern. Windle; Drew, F Brown, Taylor, Allen, Skeels.

Mexborough Athletic: Cope, Burkinshaw; Purcel; Harrison, Hetherington. Saxton; Storer, Bramley, Jukes, Beresford, Baxter

The attendance was over 4000 and the receipts nearly £112