Mexborough Times – September 4, 1920
Denaby´s debut
Beaten at Halifax.
Compensation at Oakwell.
Halifax Town 3, Denaby United 1
Denaby United commenced their new lease of Midland League life with a match at Halifax on Saturday.
They found themselves opposed by a heavy and forceful team, which overpowered their light defence, and one with the goal to spare, though the Denaby team gave a good all round display, and were not long in settling down. The Halifax proposition proved a little too sturdy for the young and rather raw Denaby side, which includes only one player with previous Midland League experience.
However, Denaby handsomely made up for their disappointment at Halifax by winning at Oakwell on Monday evening. Here again they were opposed by a formidable side, which was well on top of them in weight and experience. They pulled off the match by the odd goal in five, but it is fair to say that they did so by doggedness and pluck rather than by superior skill. They were playing “uphill” both halves, and their defence was on the stretch almost throughout the game. The young fullbacks, Garner and Utley, acquitted themselves brilliantly, and so did Tim Peters, the Nestor of this young team. Tim worked like a slave on the left wing, and saved the situation again and again. It was an ironical circumstance that, towards the close of the game, he had the mortification of putting through his own goal.
Barnsley Reserve 2, Denaby United 3
The Barnsley side had been strengthened, as compared with the team that went down soberly at Hillsborough, by drafting into it Johnny Williams and Tummon from the first team. Tummon played at outside left, and Williams filled the unaccustomed role of centre half. Fryer, who appeared fairly frequent in second division (Championship today) football last season, and Saxton, who has played for the first team were selected for this match. Denaby relied on the team, which went to Halifax.
The Denaby captain is “Bob” Chantrey, the centre half, with Tim Peters his adjutant. Barnsley set off as if they had the match comfortably in hand, and after prior and elicited a brilliant save from Robinson with a freekick which was dead on the mark, RUDDLESDIN picked out an opening in the scramble and shot into the net with a game 8 minutes old, the Denaby defence being in temporary confusion.
The Denaby attack took a long time to get going. Young, the Barnsley amateur,at first had themeasure of Spencer and Hodgkiss, but they wore him down in time. Denaby, however, were lucky to obtain the equaliser, for HAMILTON was clearly offside. He went through and beat Bates, who, it must be said, made a poor attempt at a save. There was little doubt over, the goal with which Denaby went ahead 5 min later stop the movement was started on the left wing and finished on the right, HODGKISS receiving from Hamilton and scoring with a very good shot at 15 yards.
Denaby, who had thus started unpromisingly, were able by dogged, stick it football, to turn around a goal up, and they improved their position within 3 min of the restart, for they rushed down and surprised the Barnsley defence. Saxton miskicked and HAMILTON nipped in like lightning and scored number three.
From this point the quality of the Barnsley football steadily deteriorated, but they were still the stronger and more methodical side, and won hosts of opportunities. Sometimes they were foiled by the clever Denaby defence, but more often by their own stupidity. They threw a good many chances away. The young Denaby backs hurled themselves eagerly into the fray, and upset the opposing combination by sheer dash.
For quite 20 min the Denaby goal was under constant bombardment, and Garner, Utley and Peters were frequently to be found in ‘the last ditch’ while Robinson a smart and stylish goalkeeper also frequently distinguished himself.
Occasionally the siege was raised, and once Spencer almost got through with a very nice solo effort. Bates came out to meet him, however, and he did not put the ball quite wide enough. Hamilton also was occasionally dangerous, but had too great a tendency to get offside. 5 min from the end Barnsley made a despairing effort, and Tummon, tricking McCormack and Garner, sent in a low, square centre which beat his own men, but Tim Peters, racing to stall off the Barnsley centre forward, had the mortification of carrying the ball into the net.
Denaby fought like tigers to keep their remaining lead, and concentrating on defence, they lasted time out, weathering another heavy onslaught. Barnsley Reserve had the greater part of the attack, and they deserved to lose, for they were dismally inept in front of goal; Denaby using their few opportunities to much better advantage.
The Denaby defence showed up well in all departments, Garner, Peters and McCormick being outstanding. The Denaby attack was often called in to help the defence, and that it should have collected three goals in such circumstances was a distinct tribute to the forwards of whom Hamilton and Spencer were the pick.
Barnsley Reserve – Bates; Johnson and Saxton; Frost, Fryer and young; Simpson, Williams, Kay, Ruddlesdin and Tummon.
Denaby United – Robinson; Garner and Utley; McCormick, Chantry and Peters; Spencer, Hodgkiss, Hamilton, Baugh and Marshall
Referee – Mr Johnson, Sheffield