The Charity Cup Final

Conisborough 1 North Staveley 0

Was played on Saturday on the Rotherham Town Ground before and excellent gate considering the unsettled state of the weather during the earlier part of the day. The preponderance of the spectators seemed to hail from North Staveley, men, women, and children, and fox terriers being present in strong force. Conisborough, too, seemed to have a numerous following, and their supporters increased considerably as the game went on.

The result was a complete surprise for the North Staveley people, and almost as great a surprise for the Conisborough team, who before the game commenced did not think they had half a chance of winning. North Staveley came with a reputation of being a rough team, but, after a very strict application of the rules of football, the Stavelites found out that the referee was to be the boss, and, after the first 15 minutes’ play, they settled down to play the game in a proper manner.

Conisborough’s luck was in the ascendant from the start, for the Conisborough captain named the right side of the coin, and that meant a lot, considering the strong wind which was blowing across the ground. North Staveley kicked off, and the game at once resolved itself into a good old cup tie, both teams playing the kick and rush game to perfection. Neither side had much the advantage in the opening stages, North Staveley showing a disposition for roughing it, but this was promptly checked. The Conisborough midgets on the right wing broke away time after time only to see their efforts spoilt by the Staveley backs kicking out on every possible occasion.

The Staveley goalkeeper was the first to be tested, a good shot from the left being cleverly dealt with. Off-side against Edwards then spoilt a splendid bit of play, a corner to Conisborough coming soon after. North Staveley seemed to take matters very easily, and kept up their kicking out tactics to some time. The Staveley right now put in some good work, and Hardy had to save in, a hurry. Again and again was hardy tested, but he was not to be caught napping, and for once in a way he did not bother with his monkey tricks. Conisborough now woke up, and after twenty five minutes’ play a free kick was awarded them just outside the twelve yards line. On the signal being given for the kick Gladwin hesitated at taking the kick, with the result that the Stavelites pounced on the ball, and away they went along to be pulled up, and the ball again placed for the free kick. This time there was no hesitation for Gladwin passed out to Clarke, and that player with a splendid effort scored the first and what proved to be the only goal of the match.

And the Conisborough people made themselves heard, and don’t you forget it. Conisborough were soon again pressing, and again was the ball put in the net, but the Conisborough players had got the Staveley goalkeeper on his back before the ball reached him, and were penalised accordingly. Several corners fell to Conisborough, but they were all badly placed. North Staveley put the ball in the net from a free kick, but the ball was not played by a second player consequently no score was recorded.

Just before half-time Conisborough might have had a penalty, but no one appealed, and the free kick was placed over the bar. North Staveley pressed at this point, but their shooting was wretched, halftime arriving with Conisborough leading by one goal to none.

Kick was placed over the bar. North Staveley were cock sure of winning, but they quickly found out that Conisborough were going to take some shaking off, indeed Staveley were beaten at their own game, for Conisborough did not forget to play the kicking out game. Hardy was soon called upon, but he was in his best form, and that meant a lot for Conisborough.

The Conisborough right wing pair seemed to be complete masters of all opposition offered to them, and the Stavelites goal narrowly escaped defeat on several occasions. Staveley now woke up, and Hardy had a time of it. Once the ball was dodging about in front of his goal, in exasperating fashion, but he eventually cleared at the expense of a corner. This, like the majority of the others, was badly placed. Conisborough now did a short spell of passing, with the result that the Staveley goalkeeper was penalised for carrying the ball above the regulation distance. A good old melee followed this, but the danger was averted at the expense of a corner.

The game afterwards resolved itself into a kick it out and throwing in match, the Conisborough backs and left wing being great sinners in this respect, but they could not at all be blamed, for North Staveley set them the example in the first half. A slight cessation was hereabouts caused by Goddard having his foot badly kicked, but he was soon all right again and was soon heading a determined attack on the Staveley goal, his final shot just grazing the bar.

The Stavelites now seemed completely beaten, the quick dodgy work of the forwards and the sterling half-back play of the Conisborough men being a great factor in this respect. Staveley had several free kicks close in, but their final efforts were very untrue. The kicking out business continued right half-back, a big heavy fellow, having some splendid tussles to the decided amusement of the spectators, and in which the little chap always came off with flying colours. Staveley pressed for the last few minutes, three shots being very near scoring, but the game ended in a victory for Conisborough by one goal to one.

Conisborough deserved their victory, and the North Staveley players admitted it willingly. Conisborough are entitled to high praise for their plucky effort against their weighty and more experienced rivals, and to turn what was looked upon as almost a sure defeat into a clever victory is something to be proud of. The kicking out business spoilt the game, but North Staveley were the pioneers in this sort of thing, and were consequently paid back with compound interest.

For Conisborough, Hardy, Gladwin, and the three half-backs were in splendid form, and completely broke up the combination of their rivals. The whole of the Conisborough forwards worked well, and played with a dash and pluck which earned for them repeated plaudits from the delighted spectators. For North Staveley, the goal and the backs were the best part of the team. German, amongst the half-backs, had a large amount of work to do, and was the best of his class, but the Conisborough midget (Edwards) bothered him not a little Buchannan was the best of the forwards.

The Occasional Scribe.