South Yorkshire Times December 28, 1968
Denaby Hit Rock Bottom
Denaby United 2, Kiveton 3
THOSE expecting Saturday’s meeting of league -11- leaders Kiveton Park and challengers Denaby United to be a match to remember were bitterly disappointed. Well before the end of this dour struggle the Tickhill Square crowd must have been wishing that they had opted to mingle with the Christmas shoppers in the towns; this would surely have been more rewarding.
If this is the season of goodwill and peace then the players certainly didn’t show it. This match was one of many fouls, displays of bad temper, and virtually no constructive football.
Two goals in the first five minutes gave the promise of better things to come. A defensive blunder by Denaby let in Brack, who gave the visitors the lead after only 90 seconds. Two minutes later Johnny Gilbert, the most enterprising player afield, made a good solo run, and Morley, who seemed well marked, levelled the terms when his shot was deflected home off a defender.
Conflict
Kiveton regained the lead with live minutes of the first half remaining when Cooper netted, but just on half time the constant niggling erupted into full scale conflict. Smith, the home ‘keeper, and Kiveton winger Pashley were involved in an ugly goal mouth flare-up which ended with both sides being reduced to 10 men. Pashley received his marching orders and Smith was carried off with a gashed knee.
The second half proved equally uninspiring. I lost count of the number of petty fouls. Neither side seemed particularly bothered at keeping the ball in play, and the crowd by this time, too, had lost their interest.
Caunt equalised for Denaby after 84 minutes, but the visitors raised their game for a brief moment to grab the winner, scored by Brack, only seconds later. The ease with which Kive-ton were allowed to take the winner emphasises the „headaches facing Denaby Manager, Harry Lee, in his task of remoulding the side into the efficient force which so narrowly missed out on the honours last term.
Teams:
Denaby United: Smith; Wiggles, Whitehead; Fricker, Parker, Roddis; Gilbert, Whittaker, Morley, Caunt, Law,
Kiveton Park: Tye; Roberts, Taylor (S.); Jennings, Meecham, Yates; Rollett, Cooper, Taylor (P.), Brack. Pashley, Sub. Brennan.