Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 15 November 1924
Denaby’s Surprise Defeat
Heavy Scoring At Castleford
Teams Off-Day
Castleford Town 5, Denaby United 1
Denaby United lost to Castleford Town on Saturday by four clear goals. It was their biggest defeat of the season so far, and the players and officials were as much surprised as their supporters must have been. The team had an off-day, and they showed no traces whatever of their usual form. Castleford were the better side—of that there is no doubt whatever—and they had all the luck which was going. The principal handicap with which the United had to contend was the ground, which is usually the case at Castleford, resembling a mud-heap, with a blade of grass here and there, rather than a playing piece. Heavy rain during the week and during Saturday morning made matters worse, and a “holding” match was allowed to take place immediately before the Midland League game.
The conditions suited the Castleford side to a “T,” but Denaby, who are used to playing on a football ground, did not like them at all, and they did not settle down in the game properly. Castleford swung the ball about in a way good to witness, playing a fine open game from first to last. They were infinitely quicker than the Denaby side, and the forwards never lost an opportunity of banging in a shot. Denaby, relying on close passing, were hopelessly slow, and the Castleford men let them standing time after time. Notwithstanding that, the Town should not have won by so wide a margin, for with any luck at all Denaby would have had at least three goals.
Denaby played almost the same team that beat Maltby in the F.A. Cup round the previous week, the only alteration being the introduction of Pearson at outside-right. Castleford had the same team which inflicted such a heavy defeat on Worsop Town, and which included a new right back in L. Guest, who stands well over six feet high. Brayshaw was easily the best of the Denaby forwards, and the left wing was far more dangerous than the right. Pearson, however, began to find his feet towards the end of the game, and compensated somewhat for several mistakes earlier on. Windle was the pick of the halves. Ashmore played a fairly good game, but he was all over the field, and Cook Castleford’s outside-right, was in consequence able to get away many times when he could have been held. Ashmore’s tendency to wander threw a good deal of extra work on Lack, work which was not really his at all. He made one or two bad blunders, but atoned for them by relieving several critical situations. Taylor’s kicking was clean, and he was more reliable than Lack. Bromage had a busy day, and it very disheartening one. He could have been expected to save none of the five goals, and he cleared shot after shot which seemed almost certain to score. The Castleford forwards all did well. Searby, the centre, a tall dashing player, who scored four of the goals, was always a source of danger and he followed up every opening. Charlesworth and Cook, the wingers, both put in a lot of good work. They were fast and centred accurately on the run, but the former was pulled up for off-side time and time again.
Scarcely a minute had elapsed when Castleford opened their account, and the goal took everyone by surprise. Charlesworth sped across a centre which was not improved upon, but the ball went out to Cook, who dropped it into the goalmouth for Searby to score, Bromage being at the other side of the goal. The equaliser came six minutes later. Cooper centred, and Hawkins secured possession. Didlock left his goal, and when the Denaby centre was tackled he tapped the ball to Brayshaw, who, although worried by two defenders, shot just the right side of the post. The exchange was more rather in favour of Denaby for some time, but Castleford returned to the attack, and Bromage picked the ball off Allen’s toe when he was on the point of scoring. Bromage won a burst of applause—almost the only one with which the visiting team was favoured—for two good saves in quick succession. At the other end Burkinshaw hit the upright. Two minutes from half-time Charlesworth gave Castleford the lead with the best goal of the match—a fine drive from well out, which left Bromage helpless.
From a breakaway early in the second half Cooper hit the crossbar, and Didlock was on tenterhooks for several minutes before the ball was scrambled away. Brayshaw centred, and the ball ran along in front of goal, but the inside forwards failed to take advantage of the opening. Burkinshaw in particular being at fault. Cook broke away and placed the ball in front of the goal; Illingworth clear, one of the backs “skied,” and Searby, ever on the alert, rushed up and tapped the ball into the net. The run of the play after this was almost entirely in favour of the home team. Greenwood sent the ball in front of goal, and Lack endeavoured to hold the forwards to allow Taylor to clear. Taylor, however, was also tackled, and put back to Bromage, who had left his charge. The ball hit the post, and Searby turned it into the net. Just on time Searby netted his fourth goal, after a rather clever effort.
Castleford Town: Didlock; Guest and Smith; Wragg, Batten, and Greenwood; Charlesworth, Allen, Searby, Eagle-shaw, and Cook.
Denaby United: Bromage; Lack and Taylor; Ashmore, Illingworth, and Windle; Pearson, Burkinshaw, Hawkins, Brayshaw, and Cooper.
Referee, Mr. Tomlinson, Sheffield.