Denaby Utd – Denaby 1 Nottingham Forest Res 0 – Incapacitated Forest Beaten

April 1955

Incapacitated Forest Beaten 1 – 0 at Denaby
Denaby United 1 Nottingham Forest Res 0

There was nothing flukey about Denaby United’s  1 –0 victory over Nottingham Forest Reserves at Denaby on Friday; indeed, the goal margin was not a true reflection of play.

But first, one must take into account that Forest were severely handicapped when the’ keeper, Harry Walker, had to go off with a broken finger. The accident occurred when he intercepted the ball at the feet of the Denaby forward at the edge of the penalty area. Alan Orr, right half, went into goal.

Until Walker’s injury, both sides had shared that honours. The football was rugged but Denaby certainly gave as good as they got. Once or twice Weakley made good openings for the inside man, but late finishing and a brilliant display by the ever cool Nottingham defence prevented any score.

Following the injury to the goalkeeper midway through the first half, the whole course of the game altered. Denaby pressed hard, and Dixon was thrusting the ball through the middle to his new inside right, Billy Dale, making his second appearance in the first team. He had a reasonably good game, but at times he tended to hang on to the ball too long and many useful opportunities were wasted.
During the period when extra time (for injuries) was being played in the first half, Denaby were awarded a corner on the left. Doug Prior centered the ball perfectly. There was a scramble in the forest goalmouth and Dale emerged with the ball to score a goal which caught the visitors defence on the wrong foot.

After the interval, Forest inside left. Jim Percival, replaced Orr goal. From then on it was one-way traffic – to the Notts goal. But all credit is due to the Notts defence, who held the goal hungry Denaby forwards at bay. The defence was magnificent and centre half and captain. Harris Gager, marshalled his men brilliantly.

Some idea of Denaby superiority will be gained when one considers that the Notts forwards only twice penetrated the home defence in the first 20 minutes of the second half.

Why, then, did Denaby not go further ahead? It was the same old story. As soon as they got within shooting distance the forwards seem to hesitate too long. That was fatal. For the Notts defenders were quick, first time tacklers.

An injury to outside right Bernard Weakley hindered Denaby’s progress, brought against the Iron Curtain like defence, the home forwards showed little prospect of scarring.

Denaby goalkeeper Norman Rimmington had one of his quietest gains for some time and with the exception of a few anxious moments in the dying minutes of the game, when the visitors made two or three do or die efforts, he was able to enjoy the pleasant summer -like evening.

And as the game drew to a close Dixon tore a huge hole in the Forest defence but his first-time effort was kicked off the line by right full-back, David Smith. Just before the referees whistle sounded at the end of the game, Dixon “scored” what appeared to be a smart goal.

Referee, Mr. A. E Wragg, of Sheffield, who had kept a close watch on the game, pointed to the middle of the field, but then his attention was drawn to a flag-waving linesman. After a hasty consultation, Mr. Wragg disallowed the goal.