Denaby Utd – Chesterfield Reserves 6 Denaby 2 – Plucky Fight – Chesterfield Goal Rush

February 1936

Mexborough and Swinton Times February 28, 1936

Denaby’s Plucky Fight
Chesterfield Goal Rush

Chesterfield Reserves 6 Denaby United 2

Denaby suffered one of the severest away defeat of the season on Saturday, when they were beaten 6-2 at Saltergate by Chesterfield Reserves.

Chesterfield were slightly the better side in all departments. In attack they worked with wonderful style and their sustained movements slowly wore down the Denaby defence. Sykes was the only defender who appeared capable of withstanding their calculated onslaughts, but even he failed late in the second half, and in the last few minutes of the match, Chesterfield dominated the entire play.

The first half Denaby shaped very well, Machin at centre forward, played with confidence. From the outset he showed good understanding and appeared happy in his combination with Guest. On the whole the Denaby forwards played the more confident football in the early stages and Chesterfield were not so sure in front of goal.

Erratic Shooting

Two minutes from the start Griffiths worked through the Denaby defence to send a terrific shot across the goalmouth. The ball went to the foot of Rey, the winger, but he sliced the shot and Earnshaw cleared with ease.

Denaby replied strongly and Machin put Guest in possession, but just as the movement was beginning to appear promising Guest attempted to round Robertson but was not quick enough and was robbed not 10 yards from the Chesterfield goal. It was only the erratic shooting of the Chesterfield forwards that saved the Denaby goal in these early stages and after half an hour they appeared to find some of the smoothness which so far been conspicuous by its absence.

Rey was again responsible for the motivation of the attack and after passing several forwards made a perfect run down the wing to send over a well judged centre which Dawson met with a shot which dipped under the bar to give Chesterfield the lead.

Some very clever manoeuvring on the part of Machin and Guest brought about the Denaby equaliser. Machin got possession but instead of sending the ball out to the wing he moved out from the centre himself while Guest cut inside. He drew the Chesterfield backs so that there was finally only very simple pass needed to put the ball to the toe of the winger, who was now well placed in the centre. Guest’s shot was the best of the match and gave the Chesterfield goalkeeper no chance.

Just after the interval Chesterfield went ahead again after a period of pressure through Harvey, who drove in a low shot close to the post. Fearnley was another member of the Denaby forwards who did some good work in the first half.

Shaping Well

After the interval Denaby shaped very well and it was not long before Machin equalised. Robertson put the ball back to Johnson, but it was not far enough for him to gather it. He attempted to stop it with his fault but it rebounded to one of the Denaby forwards, who passed to Machin with an open goal.

Chesterfield returned to the attack and Harvey was unlucky when he placed the ball on the top of the net.

It was all in the last 10 minutes that Denaby were completely eclipsed. Disaster are been held off with grim determination, but when it did come it was nonetheless severe. 10 minutes from the final whistle Harvey went through to score for Chesterfield, and before the end three more goals have been scored for them.