Admirable Sportsmanship

Denaby 5 Upton Colliery 1

But for a most admirable show of sportsmanship in its best sense by eleven triers from Upton Colliery, Denaby United might have taken all the plaudits in their 5-1 F.A. cup victory at Tickhill Square on Saturday, for this was undoubtedly the best performance we have seen from United this season. Upton, doubtless expecting little from the encounter, could feel a little saddened that it had to be reserved for them!

‘United might, perhaps point at the moral that “a change is as good as a rest” for there were five team switches through illness and injury. Bobby Southall dropped back to partner Len Hague at full back and Lawley was brought in at centre half for the still absent Barnes. The forward line read: Naylor. Foster. Egan, Jowitt and Womack. Making a total of 22 players on whom Denaby have called for first team duty so far this season in a matter of only 11 matches. It was Jowett’s second match (he played at Nottingham earlier in the week and scored United’s only goal): it was Lawley’s first with the Midland League side

The overall result was an exceedingly smooth working team with a punch in the forward line that was a revelation after our earlier experiences, and with that by now accustomed grip In defence. They were a pleasure to watch. –

Upton’s only team change was the inclusion of Bowen, at inside left. for Hardy. Like the biblical fishermen, they toiled all day and caught nothing — their fourth minute goal apart. This applied particularly to centre forward Gilbert. But he was merely typical of Upton’s concerted ninety-minute effort.

How often a game can rapidly deteriorate when a side is falling irretrievably behind and resorts to spoiling tactics. This never happened in Upton’s case. One left Tickhill Square filled with admiration for their clean craftsmanship and their honest, hardworking attempts to pluck a fast disappearing brand from the burning.

The two men of the match were Stocks, in the Upton goal, and Pilkington, the Denaby left half. What a shot he packs! It surely won’t be long before Pilkington finds a regular place In the forward line.