Mexborough & Swinton Times, 7th February 1925
Frickley and Denaby Draw
A Disallowed Goal
Frickley Colliery 0, Denaby United 0
Frickley had several changes in their team to meet Denaby at South Elmsall on Saturday. In the first place, two new men were introduced. Price, of South Kirby, took the place of Coope, who is on suspension, at right back, and Close, of Harrogate, was given a trial at centre forward, displacing Robson, who took up his old position of inside-right, a position usually occupied in the Frickley team by Rogerson, who was still home as a result of the Scunthorpe match. Slack was brought in at right-half-back, to all a vacancy caused by the illness of Lack.
The weather conditions under which the match was played were simply terrible, and of course, football form was thrown to the wind – or absorbed by the mud. Miskicks in front of goal were frequent on both sides, and players who are known to be speedy, were unable to ‘get’ with any of their usual quickness. Rain fell heavily almost throughout the match, and at half-time the teams changed into different shirts – Frickley rather ironically, put on white.
Denaby won the toss and Frickley were set to attack the Colliery goal, with the rain being driven into their faces, Denaby exerted pressure on the left, and Slack pulled up Cooper by kicking the ball out of touch. From the throw-in which was near the home goals Brayshaw kicked wide. Marsh received from the goal-kick, and he and Close and Robson made great headway. The ball was put out to Brown, who beat all opposition, but in his hurry to put the ball into the middle he put it too far back up the field. This did not prevent Marsh recovering and Gittos, who was admirably placed to return it, missed his kick, and the ball passed to Scott, who missed the goal by inches. It was one of the few thrills of the game. Cooper then broke away, and beating Slack put in a fine shot, to which both Dean and Bussey rushed to help it into the net, but Wollerton was too smart for all three, and seizing the ball, ran out of goal between the two Denaby forwards and Robson sped down the field and put out to Brown, who took advantage of his position and get well away. His centre, however, was put in too hard, and the ball went right across the field to the opposite wing, where Scott hit the outside of the net with a fine effort. In the next movement, Scott took the initiative and finished up by attempting to score. The shot was true, and Bromage kicked out, for Reed to return with a hefty kick which was magnificently saved.
The home forwards were not to be denied, however, and following a sharp struggle, Close netted what appeared to be a beautiful goal, but the referee disallowed it, he having just that moment blown the whistle for a foul. Denaby then got away on the left, and a corner was forced, but before the flag-kick was taken, the whistle blew for half-time.
On resuming, it was early seen that both teams were out to score a deciding goal if it was at all possible although play was remarkably clean, and the services of a trainer were never needed. Play was very even until 13 minutes from the end, when Frickley became the superior team. Wollerton was the first goalie to be called upon, and he saved well from Dean. Gittos carried play into the Denaby half, where Reed was pulled up by Taylor. Dean broke away again, but Price was able to dispossess him, and for the time being, check the Denaby advances. The visitors were persistent, however, and Wollerton made a clever save from Cooper, Slack relieved matters by getting into the Denaby goal area, where he was brought down. A corner was conceded by Denaby, and the flag-kick led to a great attack on the Denaby goal. Two free kicks were awarded Frickley from close in, but the goal was kept intact.
Then followed a long period of hard midfield play, in which the staying powers of the two teams were tested to a high degree but still the game was kept well free of bad fouls.
Towards the end, Frickley came out the better team, and but for the smartness of Hawkins and Taylor and Bromage it would have been a sorry day for Denaby. Gittos was just wide with a long shot, and very shortly after the Frickly team were all pegging away, and Denaby had to resort to kicking the ball out of touch. Close made two brilliant runs, the second of which was against four opponents, all of whom he beat, but failed to get past the visitors’ goalkeeper. Teams:0-
Frickley Colliery: Wollerton; Price, Kenvon; Slack, Reed, Gittos; Brown, Robson, Close Marsh, Scott.
Denaby United: Bromage; Hawkins, Taylor; Windle, Illingworth, Hill; Pearson, Busey, Dean, Brayshaw, Cooper.
Referee: Mr A King, of Scunthorpe.