Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 15 January 1904
Denaby United 1 Licoln Reserve 1
Lincoln Reserves, who have occupied a very lowly position all the season, were entertained by the Denaby team on Saturday. Not a very great amount of interest was taken in the fixture, there being a poor attendance of spectators when the ball was kicked off to time. The home team were weakened being without Roper and Holmes, whilst Ryan, whom I have not seen figuring much of late was also an absentee. One of their half-backs, Hirst, ran the right outside position, whilst Tom was introduced at left inside, but throughout the game the forwards could never get thoroughly going, and occasional outbursts of cleverness were spoiled by wretched shooting. Lincoln seemed a light, but likely lot when they came on to the field, and once in the game looked like taking back to the cathedral city two very valuable points.
HOW THE GAME WENT
As to the game, the first match was much in favour of the colliery team. The ground was in a very soft condition, and it was not very long before the players showed signs of the “mud larking.” Right bang off the reel a chance of scoring came to Denaby, but Whitehouse, who, by the way, seemed rather excited and with a tendency to nervousness, dallied too long with the ball instead of banging into the centre. Following this up came some good work by Torr and Dyal saw Whitehouse again in possession, but again the ball was got away. After a burst by the Lincoln forwards, a long kick by Lawley relieving Dyal and Torr, good work saw the former sends in a splendid centre, and Hessey with only the visitors’ custodian, Webb, to beat, shot wide. This was a very lucky let off for Lincoln, for Hessey when he generally shoots nearly always finds the net. Denaby were hereabouts doing all the pressing, and some exciting play under the Lincoln crossbar resulted in the ball being cannoned against the bar, and he got away, although many of the spectators asserted that it hit the inside of the bar. The referee, however, allowed the game to proceed, and at half-time no goals had been scored.
The second half saw Lincoln begin to hammer the Denaby defence, and for a time Porter and Lawley had their work cut out to stay the dangerous rushes headed by Kelley. Taylor and Elmer were also prominent, the former being responsible for some splendid centres, which were cleverly got away by Massey. The homesters by sound defence made things turn for Snarey and Bentley, who defended well. A few minutes from the restart after some fine combination on the part of the homesters, Hessey made up for his previous mistake, and opened the scoring. Things livened up now, the visitors doing most of the pressing. A few minutes later Taylor was set off on the right from a clearance by Snarey, and centring finely, enabled Kelley to equalise with a magnificent header. After this, midfield play was the general rule, although both ends were visited in turn. The play slowed down, and at times was rather rugged. No further scoring took place, and Denaby after all had to be content with a division of the honours.
There was not much to choose between the teams. On the Denaby side Massey was troubled very little. Porter and Lawley played a strong game, as usual. Nimrod in the half-back line played well, and worked hard, whilst Linsdell and Dowson helped the forwards well. Whitehouse, in the forward line, was not exactly a success, but probably, with more practice he will be able to come out in his true form. Chapman was always a willing partner, and did not play a losing game. Hessey seemed a bit off colour in the first half, but finished the game up in rattling style. Torr, in his new position, gave a good account of himself, whilst Dyal was always the Dyal we are accustomed to. On the visitors’ side Kelley was the pick of the forwards, although Hudson and Taylor were very close up. Both backs, Snarey and Bentley, did well under difficult circumstances, whilst Webb, in goal, was very safe. The halves were only fair.