Mexborough and Swinton Times February 1, 1929
Gallant But Disjointed,
Denaby’s Battle With Prospective Champions.
Denaby United 1 Lincoln City 2
With a much changed side, Denaby put up, a gallant fight against Lincoln at Tickhill Square on Saturday but lost by the odd goal of three.
What with the transfer of Rodgers to Hull and the absence of his partner, Taylor, the Captain, the defence was weakened and the middle line was without Windle, while Turner was not at his post on the left wing. Denaby certainly have been in the wars lately, the players mentioned being on the injured list, and for the same reason Cartwright and C. Smith could not be called upon. The team that did appear almost made up for the handicap of an unavoidable lack of understanding by a big will to win and for the whole of the second half the leaders of the League had their work cut out to prevent Denaby snatching at least cue point. With the three regulars playing, I am confident that Denaby would have been able to upset their opponents.
Shenton made a very good impression on his first time out at Tickhill Square and will be a worthy successor to Rodgers He always threw himself into the game, his tackling was deadly and his kicking sure. Ogley did not look himself after a long absence with a broken arm from the team and the limb was bandaged. He partnered Shenton and did fairly well. The new centre-forward, Kaye did of seem to get into his stride and lacked dash. Burton and Hancock gave of their best but neither was up to the high standard of the Lincoln eleven.
It was obvious that Lincoln do not have a strong grip on the championship by chance. They have a formidable side, big, strong and speedy with a defence like a wall.
The ground had a light covering of snow which made it tricky. Denaby failed to settle down early and after 15 minutes they were a ‘goal in. arrears, a clever advance by Lincoln coming within striking distance before one realised it, and SAVAGE beat Speight from short range, from Kitchen’s transfer. Denaby threw themselves against the Lincoln defence to no purpose, their combination being lacking, and those long centres by Turner were missed greatly. The second goal came near the end of the half. Kendall was marked on the right and he passed gently into the goalmouth. Speight ran to take the ball from the bounce but it must have struck a lump for it shot away from him into the empty goal.
The Denaby forwards improved in the second half bad luck, a strong defence and poor finishing resulted in only one goal. It came from a fire by Jenkins, who tricked two defenders and gave GREEN a pass which the inside man and no difficulty in sending home with his head.