Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 03 May 1913
Denaby’s Final Bow.
Denaby United 1 Hull City Reserves 3
Denaby’s last appearance in the Midland League saw the old club go to its death amid depressing conditions, only a handful of spectators watching the home match with Hull City Reserves, and the weather to the last continued to frown on the villagers, who closed their career as senior footballers with a half-hearted display and storms of driving rain.
Denaby were without Westwood, Heath, and Jackson, but the side stuck to its guns to the last, and kept the clever Tiger cubs continually on the stretch for three-quarters of the game. In the first half there was little to choose between the teams, but Hull were the first to score, Lyon getting through after about half an hour’s play.
Nearing the interval, Denaby equalised through Rob Hill, and Hull had done very well to keep on an equality, considering that they had had to face the worst of the elements.
The Last Defeat.
Any notion that Denaby would curl up after the change of ends was quickly dispelled. The home team played with great dash and vigour, and quite held their own. Indeed, there were periods when the forwards should have made the issue safe, but the old fault—weak finishing—was painfully in evidence, and after three or four open goals had been missed, the Hull attack came into the picture, for Goode and McGarry to put on two good goals in quick succession.
In the last ten minutes play dragged to a wearisome conclusion, and the players left the field to the accompaniment of a funereal silence.
Denaby’s Scattered Remnants.
The atmospheric conditions were all against good football; and, with nothing at stake, the match was of a ragged nature, howbeit credit must be given to Denaby for struggling so gamely to the bitter end.
Swinbourne was again a clever and resourceful back, and on his season’s form and that of Jackson, they should both prove useful recruits to clubs seeking sound Midland League players.
As before stated, Heath was an absentee, and, in view of the fine form this undoubtedly clever young goalkeeper has exhibited, he should prove a capture for one of the many agents now hunting the Don Valley country.
The half-backs were plodders without doing anything great, though Rob Hill certainly suggests that in a well-balanced team he will prove a useful footballer.
As for Blackburn, that erratic and migratory “star,” one wonders, now that Denaby have disbanded—so far as Midland League football is concerned—where he will be found when September comes round again. If he can be induced to throw in his lot with Mexboro’, he should materially help the old Town club to regain some of its old-time prestige.
Whether Denaby will run an Association League team is not definitely decided, but, seeing that Mexboro’ have withdrawn from that competition for the purpose of focusing their energy and resources upon their Midland League enterprise, the prospect of football in the Don Valley in the next season is perhaps more encouraging, with the limitation of fixtures already foreshadowed.