League Cup Match was Like Boiled Beef without Carrots

Denaby United 0 Hallam 1

Who do you blame for a match like this? It would be a brave man who tried to name a single culprit behind this dreary excuse for football.

Hallam came out winners by a single foolish goal, scored within minutes of the kick-off at Tickhill square on Saturday, but on this showing they didn’t deserve any further progress in the Yorkshire league cup competition. Denaby might just have deserved to win through. But only on their first-half showing. In the second half they looked no better than Hallam and the results were like boiled beef without carrots, sausages without mash, peaches without cream, – dull, dull, dull.

Who do you blame? No one. You can only feel sorry for all 22 players, for the harder they tried the worse it got.

Lone Chance

Only one chance was grasped. And that won the match for Hallam after five minutes as centre forward Martin picked up a Williams backpass that should never have happened. Hyde was given no chance, and that was that.

The rest of the first half was lightened only by near misses from Jolly, Smith and Toyne, for Denaby, and by Wilkinson for Hallam. Denaby should have had the match tied up by half-time. Bad luck, and poor shooting barred their way, and in the second half the heart went out of the game. Midfield there was plenty of individual endeavour from both sides, but when it came to that vital punch in front of goal… Nothing.

Teams and ratings:

Denaby: Hyde 6; Whant 6, Foster 6;Dalton 6, Williams 5, Colin 6; Jolley 6, Phillips 6, Kelly 5, Smith 5, Toyne 6.

Hallam: Lord 7; Hanwell 6, Thackleton 6; Platts 5, Bramwood 6, Carnal 6; Gordon 6, Wilkinson 6, Martin 5, Redfearn 5, Naylor 6.

Referee: Mr D. A. Ambler (Doncaster) 7.