Glacial Pitch Did Not Prevent Skill

Denaby United 1, Barton Town 1

IN the conditions, remarkable — the first reaction to Saturday’s match at heavily snow-carpeted Tickhill Square for the Denaby United-Barton Town Yorkshire League game. Many a referee would have refused with justification, to approve play, and neither side could have been very happy at the prospect of the glacial pitch because they both Iike to play skilful soccer.

Denaby confounded the doubters by moving straight into fast clever football, and the ball ran well and true. Brian Parker and Jenkins looked especially dangerous

United were plagued by Barton’s well-executed offside trap, to which they fell easy prey.

Left-winger Cooper worked well for Denaby, who had about 90 per cent of play in the first half-hour. But they were playing no more than competently, and not making any real chances. Some spark of enterprise could have sewn up the match far the home side in the first quarter of an hour, But Barton’s new-boy full-back, Mike Wilkinson, and Whitworth, his partner, seemed quite happy to deal with anything they could produce.

Barton’s forwards made only occasional sorties, which never looked like getting results.

Second miss

Right after the interval Peter Caunt made his second successive penalty miss after Alan Cooper was hacked down in the area. Barton’s goalkeeper Hodson pulled the shot down beautifully, but without much trouble. Before disappointment could really set in for Denaby a great Jennings-Parker move brought them a goal from PARKER.

A few minutes later, Barton’s striker, MARTIN, snapped up a well-taken equaliser from what looked like an off-side position.

Barton came more into the game, now, and play swung from end to end with both sides missing chances. All in all, play throughout was better than both side’s have sometimes turned out in heavenly conditions.

Denaby, who were really a little fortunate to have beaten Barton away earlier this season, will be upset at not having pressed home their early advantage, and Barton should give a bonus to their defence.

Teams:

Denaby: G. ‘Smith, Wiggles, Gaunt, Wood, C. Parker, Ainscough, M. Smith, Whitaker, B. Parker, Jennings, Cooper,

Barton: Hodson, Wilkinson, Whitworth, Teal, Cawthorne, Alston, Richardson, Williams, Martin, Chapman, Farrow,

Referee: Mr. L. Hayes (Doncaster).