Denaby United v. Barnsley Reserves

The first home match of the Denaby Midland League team was played on Saturday, before a fair number of spectators in fine weather. The visitors were Barnsley Reserves, and the eleven contained two players who formerly played with the Mexboro’ Town Club. The men lined up in the following order:—

Denaby: Tayles, goal; Dudhill and Lawley, backs; Street, Chadfield, and Sheldrake, half-backs; Lindley, Ryans, McNeil, Roper, and Hardy, forwards.

Barnsley Reserves: Greaves, goal; Griffin and West, backs; Helliwell, Dyer, and McCartney, half-backs; Elder, Richardson, Corman, Mawson, and Bourne, forwards.

Referee, Mr. R. Pitchford, Darna.

The home team played from the Denaby end, and play in the first quarter of an hour was interesting, both ends being visited. Greaves was twice called upon to save, and at the other end Tayles put in some capital work. A corner to Denaby followed, which was beautifully placed by Lindley, but the Barnsley backs relieved.

During a Barnsley attack Sheldrake nicely tricked Dyer, and set Hardy going, but the ball was run out. After this Denaby kept up the pressure, and a slow overhead shot by McNeil caused Greaves to handle. The keeper cleared without much difficulty, but immediately afterwards he had more work to do, following a nice centre by Hardy. A breach of the off-side rule by McNeil gave the home men back. Barnsley got down, but Street defended vigorously, and beat Corman, who was going straight for goal, having obtained possession from a nice centre by Easley. A short visit to Greaves’ end was repelled, and play was rapidly transferred. Mawson sent in a high shot, which Lawley headed away, the final clearance being accomplished by Tayles, with a huge thump. Denaby returned, and Roper shot behind. Just before the interval Lindley also shot wide across the goal mouth. Half-time arrived with no score.

For the second half Dudhill played at right half, with Street at back. Barnsley attacked, and from a foul against Sheldrake close in, became dangerous, but the home backs cleared well, and at the other end Lindley centred finely. The opportunity was allowed to pass, and Bourne got away, only to be pulled up by Street. Even play followed, until the Denaby forwards, headed by Lindley, rushed down, and almost bustled the ball through, but Greaves saved at the expense of a corner. No score resulted from the flag kick, but the pressure was maintained, and Roper headed behind, just past the post.

The home men attacked strongly after this, and with a combined run ended in McNeil scoring the first goal. Barnsley rushed up, and gained a corner. The flag kick was beautifully placed by Bourne, high across the goal mouth, but no score resulted, the ball going behind. From the goal kick Denaby made another rush, and Hardy getting through put in a stinging shot, which just passed outside the post. Griffin and Roper had a disagreement, kicking at each other while on the ground. For this they were cautioned by the referee.

Immediately afterwards Griffin fouled the ball within the penalty line, and the referee gave his decision in favour of the home team, much to the delight of the spectators. Lawley took the kick and scored, but the kick had to be taken again, owing to an infringement of the rule. Not to be denied, Lawley netted the ball at the second attempt, thus placing his side two goals ahead.

Encouraged by this success, Denaby played more vigorously than before, a feature of the attack being a beautiful centre by Sheldrake. Shots at goal were tried by Hardy, Roper, and McNeil, and Lindley forced a corner. The ball was placed close to the bar, and Greaves saved in capital fashion. Barnsley got up, but were soon driven back, and Lindley, taking a pass from Ryans, shot in at lightning speed, causing Greaves to handle in a hurry. The home side kept up the pressure, and McNeil, while on the ground, passed out nicely to Hardy, who again gave Greaves some trouble.

The Barnsley forwards were lacking in dash on the few occasions on which they got within shooting range, and once Mawson shot feebly behind. Sheldrake cleared from a centre by Bourne, and McCartney returned with a shot that went high over the bar. A foul close in goal gave the visitors a chance, but Street cleared, and Lindley, getting away, shot strongly from the corner flag, with a man on him. Lindley was injured just on the call of time.

Result:—Denaby United, 2 goals; Barnsley Reserves, 0 goal.