Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 29 November 1924
Denaby’s Defeat
United Go Down to a Fine Side
A Doubtful Goal
Boston Town 2, Denaby United 1
Boston have built up a very fine side this season—quite the best they have had since they entered the Midland League. On Saturday, when they entertained Denaby United, they were below form, but they played, nevertheless, clean, clever football, delightful to witness. Weaknesses was apparent here and there, but there was nothing seriously wrong. Denaby, for their part, were unfortunate in that they were not at full strength. Brayshaw, who is, perhaps, the best of their forwards, was down with ’flu, and there were several other alterations in the team which lost to Kettering in the F.A. Cup-tie the previous week. On the run of the play Boston deserved to win, although there was a period during the second half when Denaby swamped the home team, whose defence was fully extended. Furthermore, Boston’s second goal came from a free-kick just outside the area from a foul, which was no foul at all. So Denaby had more than one legitimate grouse.
Boston pressed heavily at the commencement, and within a minute Jenkinson hit the crossbar with a stinging drive. A corner on the left was cleared, and at the other end two Denaby attacks were checked by off-side. After a spell of midfield play, Dreyer shot well over. Hill forced a corner for Denaby, and Jennings brought off a capital save from Bussey at full length, for which he was applauded.
From the goal-kick Boston broke away, and going down the field in splendid style, had the defence in a hopeless tangle. Good work by Whitham resulted in JENKINSON giving them the lead after 15 minutes—an excellent goal well worked for. Soon afterwards, Dwanc got in a beautiful drive breast high, which Bromage did well to save.
During this period the Denaby forwards were rarely dangerous, and the defence was fully extended. The Boston team were very smart on the ball but both Lack and Taylor kicked well. Denaby took up the running for a few minutes and Jennings had one or two long range efforts to deal with. At the other end, Bromage saved from Dwanc at the expense of a corner. Play was more even towards the interval, but the majority of the Denaby attacks were spoiled by the off-side tactics of the home team, which tended to rob the game of interest.
From a centre from Jenkinson, Whitham missed a good opportunity of putting his side further ahead, shooting feebly just over the bar, and Dreyer was just the wrong side of the post with a fine drive. Just before the interval BURKINSHAW broke through, and sent in a slow ground shot which Jennings saved at full length, but the shot rolled him over the line—a success for Denaby which they did not quite deserve. Jennings should have saved very easily.
In the first minute of the second half Denaby got going on the left, Picknett and Cooper combining well, and the latter eventually got in a useful shot which Jennings was expecting from another angle. The ball hit him on the chest and rebounded into play—an extremely lucky escape for Boston. Continuing to press, Burkinshaw and Picknett put in good work, and the goal had another lucky escape. At this juncture Denaby were playing a fine open game, and the exchanges were entirely in their favour. Boston had rearranged their team, Dreyer, who had been injured, going outside-right, Collins inside, and Dwanc to right-half. Taylor was injured and had to be carried off, but he was able to resume after attention from the trainer. McGraham hit the top of the crossbar with a fine drive during a Boston attack. From a free-kick just outside the area, Emery placed the ball well in the goal mouth, and WHITHAM beat Bromage with a fine shot after 20 minutes’ play, giving Boston the lead. The free-kick was awarded for a foul against Emery, but it was a doubtful decision. Bromage saved again amid applause at full length from Whitham.
The home team were pressing heavily, and Denaby were rarely dangerous. From a centre from Odling, Emery headed just wide, and a corner on the right wing conceded by Ashmore brought no result, though the Denaby forwards broke away, and had a run down. The referee had a word with Ashmore and Emery who were apparently getting to high words over some little incident. Denaby got away, but the forwards bungled a good chance of equalising. At the other end, Dwanc hit the foot of the upright with a good drive, and Jennings gave a hot shot from Cooper. Boston lost the services of Odling, who was off for several minutes, and Whitham missed badly, shooting wide when facing a practically open goal.
The Denaby defence, as a whole, played a great game. Bromage was prominent time after time, and he saved the United from having a much bigger score against them. Some of his efforts were really brilliant, and Lack and Taylor were two sturdy defenders, and their kicking left nothing to be desired. The halves all worked hard, but the home wingers took a lot of holding. Had the trio supported the forwards as well as they did the defence, Denaby might have pulled it off. Of the three, Ashmore was the best. The forward line had been re-arranged, Burkinshaw going centre-forward with Bussey and Picknett, as inside men. Cooper put in a lot of good work on the wing.
As for the Boston side, the forwards all did well. They were extremely fast, and never missed an opportunity of trying their luck. In the halfback line McGraham was not his usual self, but Dreyer and Yates were both sound. Whitham initiated many dangerous raids, and Jenkinson was another prominent forward. Odling has not as yet lost his propensity for getting hurt. Teams:—
Boston Town: Jennings; Atkin, Jackson; Dreyer, McGraham, Yates; Odling, Dwanc, Whitham, Jenkinson, Emery.
Denaby United: Bromage; Lack, Taylor; Rhodes, Ashmore, Windle; Hill, Bussey, Burkinshaw, Picknett, Cooper.
Referee: Mr. A. Warner, of Nottingham.