Conisborough Town 3 v Eastwood Mission 0 – Rough & Tumble, Kick & Rush

May 1896

Mexborough and Swinton Times May 1, 1896

Conisborough Town 3 v Eastwood Mission 0

I think if I were the Conisborough football club committee I will purchase of field a little nearer Hooton Roberts. The one they now possesses is about 10 miles from everywhere. However, I spent a very enjoyable afternoon last Saturday watching Conisbrough Town and Eastwood Mission.

I think Conisborough St Peter’s would have been a more appropriate name for the team, as most of the players hailed from that organisation.

Now for the game: Conisbrough won the toss, setting Eastwood to face the incline, and a burning sun in their eyes. Fast and exciting play after the kick-off, each and been visited in quick succession until Eastwood began to gain the upper and, the Conisbrough goal undergoing a complete siege.

It was evident that the visitors meant to win, not being very particular what sort of tactics they resorted to. The game now turned into rough and tumble, kick and rush, the referee been quite unable to stop it. Instead of making an example of a player and sending him off the field he merely cautioned him.

The Eastwood centre forward, who went by the delightful name of “Fattie” being very prominent in these kind of squabbles. However, Eastwood still continue to have the best of the exchanges until nearing the interval, when the Castle Lads went away into the visitors quarters and one of the Mission backs tried the experiment of knocking the ball out with his hand, consequently a penalty was awarded, from which they scored.

At the interval the score stood Conisbrough 1 Eastwood 0

After the interval, Conisborough seemed to improve their play, and most of the play was in the Eastwood half. From a long shot by Mitchell the Castle Boys scored their second goal, after three minutes play.

Away went Eastwood after the centre kick, and forced into corners in quick succession, which proved futile. Conisbrough now took up the running, and Harry Kelly scored the third and last goal for Conisbrough. Tame and uninteresting play was the order till time, when Conisbrough won a rough game by 3 goals to nil.