South Yorkshire Times, April 4th, 1970
Montagu Cup Final
Draw Was a Fair Result of Windy Tussle
Denaby United 0, Northcliffe W.M.C. 0
Northcliffe W.M.C. battled for ninety minutes to score the golden goal which would have put the club’s name in the record books…. but it took just a fraction of a second for their hopes to be dashed to the ground in heartbreaking fashion.
Monday’s Montagu Cup Final was 75 minutes old when a harmless looking ball dropped into the Denaby goalmouth.
A moment of indecision in defence altered the whole picture and Northcliffe centre-forward, John Kelly, suddenly found himself with a bouncing ball six yards out and a forlorn-looking Whitehead facing him in goal.
The shot had to be hit straight away and the Gods smiled on Denaby as young Kelly got too far underneath the ball and sent his shot over the top.
Split Second Drama
It was the kind of second split drama that makes football such a great game, but this was that kind of a match. Neither team ever dominated the other, and both goalkeepers were hard at work to keep the score sheet blank from the kick-off. Denaby fielded ten players with Yorkshire League experience, but Northcliffe gave them scant respect and with the swirling, blustery wind playing havoc with the football, either team could have won it right up to the final whistle. Denaby had the wind in their favour in the first half and it soon became obvious that big Howard Morley, centre-forward, was going to be a real problem for the Northcliffe defence to handle.
Inches Over
The game was just ten minutes old when he rose way above the opposition to send a header inches over the top. Minutes later he brought ‘keeper Harold Whitehead full length to push another header against the post, and though he was given offside the signs were ominous for Northcliffe.
The Doncaster Senior League side could do little against the wind, but onside-forwards Pears and Brian Holden showed immense skill on the ball and gradually Northcliffe began to get a grip on Denaby.
Northcliffe were not allowing Denaby to settle on the ball and in full back, Mal Holden, they had the man of the match. Pettit fought hard to get Denaby on top, and only a last-ditch tackle stopped Bowden scoring before Denaby went just inches from winning the cup when Morley’s header beat Whitehead but crashed against the bar and out to safety.
Travesty
In the second half it was a complete reversal, with Ken Whitehead in constant action and Denaby fighting to keep level.
Keith Whitehouse flashed a header inches wide just after the kick-off, and then Kelly put in a rocket header which scraped the post minutes later.
Pears and Brian Holden were swinging the ball about the park and the “up and under” was a nightmare for the defence with the treacherous wind taking hold and dictating the flight of the ball.
Keith White House flashed a header inches wide just after the kick-off and then Kelly put in a rocket header which scraped the post minutes later.
Pears and Brian Holden were swinging the ball about the park and the “up and under” was a nightmare for the defence with the treacherous wind taking hold and dictating the flight of the ball.
Denaby fought back and a scramble at the opposite end resulted in a goal line clearance, but Northcliffe were still tackling hard and fast and the Yorkshire League men failed to sap their confidence.
Man of the Match
The final whistle came with Northcliffe still pressing but the draw was the best result on the overall play, and certainly the Montagu Cup.
Malcolm Holden was later awarded an eight-day clock by the Northcliffe club after being voted “man of the match.”
Teams:
Northcliffe – Whitehead (H), Holden (M), Whitehouse (Ken), Parker, Taylor, Whitehouse (Keith), Mace, Holden (B), Kelly, Pears, Reed. Sub. Cotton.
Denaby: Whitehead (K), Allen, Sapey (C), Pettit, Bennett, Gray, England, Bowden, Morley, Sapey (H), Reynolds.