November 4th 1922
Denaby Defeat Wednesday Reserve.
Hamilton in Form
Denaby United 2 Wednesday Reserve 1
Denaby United: Ekins; Haslam and Taylor; Reed, Cowan and Hill; Hamilton, Kennedy, Bretnall, Kemp and Powell
Wednesday reserves: Birch; Randall and Ramsbottom; Wright Dickinson and Levick; Matthewman, Binney, Taylor, Wolfe and Henshall.
Denaby United gave a dashing display on Saturday when they entertained the Wednesday reserve, and avenged themselves for the defeat they sustained at Hillsborough. They won as they had lost by the odd goal in three, but the margin of victory, in the result, hardly indicated the margin of their superiority on the day’s play. Well supported, the forwards attacked with vigour from the onset, and Bird in the Wednesdey goal, had a hard afternoon’s work. Shots were rained all around him. In fairness to the visitors, it should be said that they played for most of the time with only 10 men, and for a brief spell in the first half with only nine. But when every allowance is made for the Wednesday´s handicap Denaby thoroughly deserved both points. They won on their positive merits, and but for the smartness of Birch and Ramsbottom, the visitors only full-back after Randall had retired hurt 8 minutes from the start, the United must have put up a big score.
Randall had been hurt even earlier in the game in tackling Kemp. His knee was injured, and in trying to stop Kennedy he got another knock, and retired for the rest of the game.
Play had opened at a great pace, Wednesday won the toss, and they immediately forced a corner, which yielded them nothing and Bretnall and Hamilton were soon conspicuous at the other end. There was a claim for a penalty on Denaby port when Kennedy, racing through with Bretnall, was brought down in the penalty area, but the referee disallowed the claim, and the centre forward had the ball neatly taken off his toe by the goalkeeper. Then Birch had to run out and kick clear, to be tested a moment later with an awkward shot by George Hill. On swept the home attacks again, and Hamilton harrassed by Ramsbottom, slapped the ball against the upright.
Dickinson was playing at centre half for the visitors, in place of Froggatt who was unfit, and he tried a long shot which earned applause, but nothing more helpful. The ball went on, and Kennedy, at the other end, showed that he could easily do the same sort of thing himself.
A second misfortune befell the visitors when Wright lost his balance and fell heavily. He followed Randall to the dressing room.
It appeared as if the Wednesday misfortune were not yet ended, for Birch, in running out, came into collision with Kennedy. The game was held up for a time, but Birch found himself able to resume without leaving the field, and, heartened by a generous cheer, he remained to frustrate many a well intended effort. Wright returned, when Denaby’s persistent aggressiveness was threatening to overwhelm the combination of a clever set of opponents thus weakened by casualties. But Denaby got on the top side of the play and 5 min before the interval BRETNALL
put them ahead. At close quarters Hamilton put the ball against the bar, on the underside and the centre forward scored from the rebound.
When the team’s turned around it took Denaby only a matter of a few seconds to increase their lead. HAMILTON
sent in a fast ground shot which beat Birch completely, and the winger was all but through with another fine effort Birch just managed to fist away.
After 10 min, the Wednesday broke away, as some pretty work on the part of Matthewman, Binney and Trotter, gave Henshall a chance. For once the home defence, which otherwise played a sterling game was slow to size up the situation, and HENSHALL was allowed to reduce the lead with ease.
The Wednesday however, never looked like pulling the game out of the fire, and only bad luck prevented the effect of Henshall´s marksmanship been wiped out. It was Denaby who had set the pace, and it was Denaby who continued to force it. Just before the end the visitors supporters thought they discerned signs of the better staying powers of the Wednesday men, and they encouraged the hope that at last their team will come out on top. It was a hoax doomed to disappointment. The whistle blew with Denaby still the better side