Denaby Utd – Denaby 1 Bradford City Reserves 1 – Bradford’s Lucky Point

April 1936

Mexborough & Swinton Times, April 3rd 1936

Midland League
Fair Share
More Missed Chances
Bradford’s Lucky Point

Denaby United 1 Bradford City Reserves 1

Midweek matches never seem to capture the interest and drama of a Saturday game. There is of course, an exception in the case of Mexborough, who seem at their best on Thursdays. But this is not the case at Denaby. Monday’s game with Bradford City was definitely nothing to write home about. They might easily have registered a win, for they were as good in midfield as their opponents, and they had more than a fair share of the goal chances. Unfortunately they did not seize on them with the alacrity that wins games.

There was a high wind blowing, and whether it was the delight of seeing how high they could kick the ball, I do not know, but in the first half at least there was way too much play with the ball in the air. Denaby certainly lost in this flying trapeze act, for the Bradford defence were much taller than the home attack, and they won dual after duel in the air. In fact the first half might well have been called the “War in the air.”

Bradford were strongest in midfield, with James a particle a good centre half. He was Wright’s master, and the home centre forward was little seen. Denaby’s other forwards, Machin, Fleetwood, Hewitt and Law, were a sprightly lot and there was always a threat of danger when they got near the goal area. Unfortunately that threat took a long time to materialise. Whenever the inside forwards got within scoring distance they ballooned the ball over the bar. Peachey and Woodruff, two fine backs, also broke up a lot of attacks.

Denaby were most dangerous on the left-wing, where Hewitt and Law formed a fine combination. It was an this wing that the score eventually came. Hewitt had had a bad luck a moment before he scored. He headed in the ball, travelling straight for the corner of the net, out of the way of the goalkeeper, hit a defender and was cleared. The second time, however, he made no mistake. He headed a very fine goal just out of reach of the goalkeeper’s hands.

With the wind against them I rather expected to see Denaby overrun in the second half but their lead put more dash in them. They enjoyed as much play as they did in the first half, although the occasional Bradford raids were the more dangerous. Their equalising goal. However, was not a brilliant effort. There was a melee before the ball struck a defender and happened to be deflected to Adamson, the visiting centre forward, who had the easiest of chances of scoring.

Interest rather faded away. Fleetwood took a nasty tumble and was off the field for several minutes. This, however, only equalised Bradford’s loss in the first half, when Wharnes was off for a very long time.