Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 8 November 1924
English Cup
Third Qualifying Round
Mudlarking At Maltby
Denaby Go Forward
Maltby Main 0, Denaby United 1
Which team of those who played in Division 10 in the English Cup should go into the hat to champion the cause of that area was settled easier than the score would suggest when Denaby defeated Maltby Main on the ground of the latter on Saturday.
Denaby’s progress had been a laboured one, and this stage was reached by means of Monkton, beaten at Denaby after a draw at Royston; a defeat of Wath by a somewhat fluky goal at Wath; and the ultimate defeat of Wombwell after four encounters and seven and a half hours of tussle.
Maltby arrived by wins at Darfield by 4-0; at home to South Kirkby by 6-1, and away at Castleford and Allerton by the only goal scored, so that they had the record of eleven goals to one. Little wonder that when I put my head round the dressing room door at Maltby, and asked for the teams, I was told, “Peddar (the goalie) and ten others.”
Maltby, as far as rivalry or facilities are concerned, was off the map, but that did not deter enthusiasts from getting there. Vehicles of all descriptions made the journey, but nevertheless the demand exceeded the supply and I was told that 500 never got beyond the “Five Lane Ends,” as there were no ’buses to take them. This number may have been exaggerated, but by one o’clock—the match began at 2.45—there were at least 50 waiting at this point. Quite a number of those who went appeared to be making a week-end of it, and scores of acquaintances were renewed. It is pretty evident that those who went from Denaby could not have made the row which greeted Denaby’s efforts, there must have been a lot of Maltby residents whose blood was fired, and allegiance to their former team rekindled.
The day opened promisingly, but an hour before the kick-off the rain came down and continued throughout the match, making the conditions as miserable as possible, for there was not a trace of covered accommodation, so that describing such a match was a doubtful pleasure.
The players appreciated the conditions no more than did the spectators, for playing in mud on treacherous, slippery ground is not conducive to good football. Under the circumstances both sides gave really good exhibitions, and mistakes were surprisingly few. Accurate timing was a trouble, for the players had to consider foothold and tread warily. And so, taken all round, the match can be considered good value.
Denaby relied on the team which beat Wombwell at Mexborough, Stanley Pearson having a spectator. Maltby made one change from the selected, Daniels being replaced by Fergusson.
Dick Ashmore lost the toss, and after Hawkins had set the ball rolling, Hill sped up the wing, but Adkin cleared. Fergusson transferred play to the other end by a good run along the right. For about ten minutes play was balanced, and Maltby were first dangerous. The ball came in awkwardly from the left, but Bromage got it. He received such attention from the Maltby forwards that the best he could do was to throw the ball to Taylor, and Maltby booted it down the field. On the slippery surface anything could have happened at that juncture. A run along the home left resulted in Bromage having to pick up, which he did easily.
The Denaby spectators then almost had something to cheer about, for Adkin missed his kick and Hawkins sped after the ball en route for the goal with only Peddar in his way. The mud beat Hawkins and Peddar came out to kick away.
A corner for Maltby after 17 minutes’ play was put over by Sykes, and from another from the left Denaby cleared. Hawkins set Cooper going, and the winger put the ball right across the goalmouth, and Peddar was lucky in being able to touch out for a corner, which was eventually put behind. Illingworth took a free-kick from the left, and tried a long shot, but it was wide of the mark. A beautiful centre, from which Denaby should have scored, came from the left, but Burkinshaw was entangled in the mud so that he had to dally, and Hill came to the rescue, but shot wide. The treacherous surface was telling its tale. The first and only goal came after 25 minutes. Burkinshaw tapped the ball across to Brayshaw who made no mistake with a shot Peddar could not get at. This was very cheering to Denaby’s supporters, but it gave a tremendous impetus to the team which must have had visions of the dour struggle with Wombwell before their eyes—and from that point the players hung grimly on to the lead, whilst never relaxing their efforts to increase it.
The backs were splendid, especially Lack, whose powerful kicking was a feature of the match, in fact, one of his goal kicks, aided by wind, reached the opposite end penalty area.
Shortly after this goal Hawkins received the ball, and bustled his way right through to net again. It appeared to be a good goal, and Denaby’s supporters yelled, but the referee disallowed it, ruling that Hawkins had touched it, despite the fact that the player showed him the dirt on his face where the contact was made when the ball hit him in the mouth.
Just on half-time Maltby made a determined effort, and Box dropped a lovely shot on the crossbar, a few inches lower and anything might have happened in the muddy goalmouth, but the whistle blew with Denaby United still retaining the lead.
After a quiet opening of the pitch the players entered straight round, and after some midfield play Sykes banged in a shot from a free-kick which Bromage gathered and cleared. From end to end the play went with Denaby dominating, but the goalkeeper was not often called upon.
There came an incident in which Maltby can be reckoned to have been decidedly unfortunate. A corner hovered in a shot which just hit the foot of the upright with a tremendous rattle, and rebounded at an angle across the goal, and as the rest of the forwards were not far enough up to take advantage the ball was cleared. Bromage could only have reached that shot by a superhuman effort, and had the ball rebounded straight to Cooney he might conceivably have netted from his second shot, a by no means uncommon incident in football. At the other end Brayshaw, with a valiant effort, brought Peddar to his knees, but on the wet ground he could not get along quick enough to follow up. During this half Brayshaw and Hawkins changed positions. Ashmore then gave Denaby a chance to add another, planting a free-kick right across the goal, but all the forwards missed the chance. The next incident marked the finest shot of the match, though no reward came from the effort. Cooper touched the ball to Brayshaw, and Walter shot hard whilst on the run, only just missing the goal. Straight to the other end went play, and Eyre caused Bromage to handle, and Denaby got a free-kick for impeding. Lack then received a kick, which put him out for a few minutes. More of this sort of end play resulted in Burkinshaw hitting the support of the net with a rattling goal shot. Immediately after this, there was a melee around the Maltby goal from which Denaby ought to have added to the lead.
The only other incident of note occurred almost at the end. Eyre, standing in Denaby’s half with only Taylor and Bromage in that section of the field beside him, received from a clearance, and set off for goal. His course was unchecked by the whistle, and though Taylor ran he could not reach the player, and it was left to Bromage to check the effort, which probably on account of the ground conditions, had not much sting in it by the time Eyre reached the goal.
Despite the conditions the game was well contested and we saw some typical cup-tie football. Denaby’s defence, which has been such a feature this season worthily maintained its previous promise. Bromage saved well, Taylor’s timing was good, and Lack kicked powerfully. The halves were a good trio alike at breaking up movements, and in feeding forwards. Windle and Ashmore putting in a lot of good work, whilst Illingworth was always where he was most needed. The forwards played as well as the line has done this season, but there is no gainsaying the fact that this is the weakest portion of the team. Hill had not much to do, but was speedy, the inside men did well under the conditions, but for once Cooper was not up to standard, probably due to the fact that he came from Maltby, and, being well known, was never left unattended.
Maltby’s defence was sound. Peddar is a really good goalie, and Adkin and Smith are good backs. Sykes was the pick of the halves, and Box and Cooney stood out from a very good line of forwards.
The “gate” would be about 1,400, and the receipts were £33 17s. 10d. Teams:—
Maltby Main: Peddar; Smith, Adkin; Millington, Stuart, Sykes; Fergusson, Magnall, Box, Cooney, Eyre.
Denaby United: Bromage; Lack, Taylor; Ashmore, Illingworth, Windle; Hill, Burkinshaw, Hawkins, Brayshaw, Cooper.
Referee: Mr. F. H. Worriss, Sheffield.