Sheffield Independent – Monday 02 October 1899
The English Cup – Qualifying Stage – First Round
Denaby United 1 Sheffield Club 1
On the ground at the mining village, before about 500 spectators, and in fine though dull weather, with slight easterly breeze. The visitors assumed the aggressive, and at once gave Hardy some trouble. But the necessary relief was at hand, and the city team found the defence sound. Play returned to Bolsover, and after about ten minutes’ exertions Denaby obtained a goal by a smart shot from Roper.
The home team were cheered by this success, and did their best to add to the unit, but the Sheffield custodian was able to save, and the whole of the visiting combination was sound. The game was fast and at times somewhat too rough, needing the intervention of the referee.
The Sheffielders attacked the home citadel time after time in the hope of success, and once the game was stopped a while, Hardy being winded. Both sides exhibited some neat passing, and were fairly well matched. Potts and Benson did good work, and Hardy and the Whitehouses were in good form, but various parts of the contest I brought out the qualities of all the players more or less, so that to particularise preferentially is hardly desirable. The home team very energetically tried to increase their score, and occasionally there was fine passing. But the attacks in front of Bolsover might have been more discriminating.
At the opening of the second half both sides played with dash. Owing to the slippery nature of the ground, due to the heavy rainfall early in the morning, there were frequent falls, and several players sustained nasty bruises. After about a quarter of an hour from the restart the Sheffield Club equalised.
Denaby then put on additional spurt, but they were successfully repulsed. The city club pressed doggedly, especially towards the termination of the struggle, but the condition of things remained unaltered, and when the whistle finally blew the game was : —
DENABY UNITED 1 goal. SHEFFIELD CLUB 1 goal