Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 24 October 1902
Denaby United 0 Sheffield United Reserve 0
There is always a special interest attaching to the visit of the Sheffield United Reserve to any of the local grounds, and no doubt, if times and been better, there would have been a big crowd at Denaby on Saturday to welcome the understudies of the English Cup winners. Under the circumstances the attendance was eneouraging. The home side was well represented and the team included Gladwin who played such a good game against Grimsby on the previous Saturday.
The men lined up before Mr. R. Carter, of Worksop in the following order:
Denaby United: G. Hardy, goal; Dudhill and Lawley backs; Goodlad- and Chatfield and Sheldrake, of backs; Lindley, Ryans, T. Roper, and McNeil, forwards.
Sheffield United Reserves: Lewis, goal; Clarke and May, backs; Mollinson, Bright, and Parker, half-backs; T. Bennett, Wilkinson, Browning, Brown, and Hopkinson, forwards.
In the first half the home players kicked towards the colliery end. From the kick-off the Sheffielders went away, and Hardy was called upon by Brown and Browning, and he saved somewhat luckily. Play was rapidly transferred, and Lewis had all his work on to keep the home forwards out, Lindley testing him with a beauty. During a Denaby attack Ryans got the hall well down, and passed across but M’Niel, who did not seem quite at home in a wing position, failed to gather it. A corner fell to Denaby, but nothing came of it, but a little later Lindley shot from a good position, making Lewis save in a hurry. At the other end Brown netted the ball, but the whistle had been blown for an infringement of the offside rule. The visiting forwards forced Sheldrake to concede a corner, and from the flag kick the ball was headed in beautifully, Hardy saved in splendid style.
The play continued for some time, the defence on both sides proving safe. Wilkinson shot behind, the first of several similar shot made by this player during the game. They got up the Denaby forwards were keen, and once Lewis and a rather warm time in saving, with two Denaby men on him. Roper sent in a capital shot from the corner, Lewis fisted away with both hands. Bennett occasion got an opening, but shot wretchedly.
Hardy was brought to his knees in dealing with a shot from Brown, and immediately afterwards he saved from Wilkinson. McNeil, who had been playing at at outside left, now went and soon after the change sent in a very fine shot, the ball just going over the bar. An injury to Parker, brought upon himself by jumping, caused a short stoppage, and immediately afterwards Lindley centred. Roper endeavoured to take the part, but was hustled by Clarke, who handled the ball. An appeal wwas made for a penalty, but not allowed. Denaby looked like getting through, Chatfield shooting at close range, amid a crowd of players born just going outside the post – a very narrow shave indeed. The Sheffield is broke away from the goalkick, and Bennett tested Harding with a capital shot. At half time neither side had scored
The Denaby forwards attacked well at the commencement of the second half, and Lewis was found plenty of work. A pretty movement was began by Sbeldrake, who placed neatly to Roper. “Tim” passed on to McNeil who pushed out to Lindley only to see that player pulled np for offside. Not to be denied, however, Lindley put in a capital wrong a second later, and sent into shot which Lewis had to fist away. The Sheffield left broke away, and Hutchinson looked like going straight through, but Lawley got down to the assistance of Hardy just in time. Then Denaby had another turn, Lindley, after taking a pass from Roper, making a brilliant attempt to score, shooting with Kaye, the big back, and in. The ball went wide by inches only.
A foul against Roper gave the Sheffield men time to reinforce their defence. They repulsed the Denaby attack, and got going on their left. Linley, who played a capital game throughout, stopped a shot from Hutchinson with is head, and afterwards, in attempting to dear his foot, kicked the ball behind, conceding a corner. No advantage accrued from the flag kick, the Denaby defence were caught napping, Browning got away with the ball with a flying start, having only Hardy to beat. When only three yards from goal, with Hardy crouched and dancing to meet him, Browning most unaccountably, shot wildly behind, to the greet joy of the Denaby supporters, who gave vent to their neared feelings with cheers.
Play both sides was faster now. For Sheffield Wilkinson again shot behind, and then sent a skier over the bar. Hardy saved in tricky fashion from Bennett. Hopkinson grazed the bar with a nice shot, and two corners fell to Sheffield, but nothing came of them
Denaby retorted with a dashing attack, and B. Give a corner. No men were driven back, and Wilkinson once more shot behind when well placed.
At the other end Lewis saved in lucky fashion from a header by Gladwin who took the ball from a pass by Lindley. Kay mulled the ball just outside the penalty area, and a free kick was given to Denaby, but the chat was not press. Linley had hard lines in not scoring with good shots. While the Denaby men were having the best of the play, Gladwin wriggled his way out of the scramble, and push the ball past the post, on the wrong side.
Another visit was paid to the Denaby end, but time was called neither side had scored.