Decisive Result, But Denaby Left It Late

Denaby United 4, Leeds Ashley Road 1

There’s a saying that “faint heart never won a fair lady” and likewise football matches are lost by the fainthearted.

Another good old saying is “better late than never” which it seems was the watchword for Denaby United in their 4 – 1 win over Leeds Ashley Road on Saturday.

It was a classic example of United’s habit of leaving everything untill the last minute, a practice which hardly inspires confidence.

On Saturday they had the 60 minute blues and took an hour to put themselves on top of an energetic Leeds side which took the lead through Cockroft who hit the ball in off Gordon Smith after 12 minutes.

Midfield Gaps

Denaby’s patchy play left great midfield gaps of which Leeds took every advantage, thanks to United’s general reluctance to tackle first time.

Continually laying off the ball, United created space for the other side instead of commanding it themselves.

Barton finally levelled the scores, scrambling the ball home from Mike Smith centre after 60 minutes. It was only then that United displayed the sort of positive style which wins games – and beautiful girls.

Mike Smith and Alan Cooper worked a Wiggles centre onto the head of Barton for a full flighted 75^th minute goal. Six minutes later Gerry Smith made it three – one from an impossible angle of a powerful Alan Cooper centre and it was Cooper again virtually on time, who got the ball in the middle for Mike Smith to seal the victory after Trimmell mishandled the ball. United finished in fine style and deserved their win, but why, oh why, couldn’t they have settled matters earlier?

Teams and ratings. –

Denaby: Gordon Smith 7; Wiggles 8, Caunt 6; Wright Eight, Cooper (B.) 7. Collins 6; Cooper (A.) 7, Launders 6, Barton 8, Smith (M), 7, Smith (G.) 7.

Ashley Road: Trimnell 7; McConnell 7, Bradbury 6; Kay 7, Newhall 7, Green 7; Grande 6, Ward 7, Aveyard, Tetley 7, Cockroft 8.

Referee: Mr J. D. Four (Sheffield) 8,