Denaby Utd – Denaby 2 Stockton 2 – New Signings Impressive In Denaby Opener

30 August 1958

South Yorkshire Times August 30, 1958

Eight New Signings Looked Very
Impressive In Opener at Denaby

Denaby 2  Stockton 2

Can Denaby United supporters look forward to a more successful season in the Midland League now that the team has been almost completely re-organised ? It seems, following Saturday’s opening match of the season, that this is quite possible.

The eight new signings who made their debut at Tickhill Square, including a complete new forward line, gave the impression that the selectors have at last found a combination which will restore some of Denaby’s former glory.

A Fair Result

The 2-2 draw was a fair result. Visitors Stockton, making their first appearance in the newly constituted league, were a fast, hard hitting side and showed every promise of making their first season in the league a successful one.

Their speed in attack had the Denaby defence in trouble almost before the sound of the referee’s whistle had died away, and after only three minutes they were in the lead with a, long shot by their fast-moving inside right, Evans.

Stockton’s ” shock tactics ” soon had the Denaby attackers clamouring for reprisal, and for some minutes the visiting defenders were subjected to a worrying time. Left wing Bainbridge crashed the ball against the upright, inside right Hankin collected it on the rebound and his short range shot levelled the scores.

Evenly Matched

Throughout the remainder of the first half the two evenly matched teams kept up snappy, end-to-end play and Denaby ‘keeper, Smethurst, and his counterpart, Coverdale, both did well to prevent powerful attacks developing into further goals.

The Denaby crowd was brought to its toes after 39 minutes when Denaby right winger, Bunclarke, who, with Hankin, had been a great source of trouble to the Stockton defence, was brought down in the penalty area. Bainbridge lined up the ball and hammered it home to make the score 2-1.

Stockton attacked hard but were unable to penetrate the Denaby defence, then only a few seconds from half-time, Evans carried the ball through and levelled the scores.

The second half saw Denaby pressing home attack after attack. Centre forward Swaby trapped an accurate pass from the right wing but failed to take the chance.

The services of Stockton goalkeeper, Coverdale, were frequently called on, and while blocking one shot, he slightly injured his nose.

Denaby were at Sutton on Wednesday and the result will be found elsewhere.