Mexborough and Swinton Times September 18, 1936

Midland League
Denaby Slip Up
Rotherham Win On Rainsoaked Pitch
Goodison’s Promise

Denaby United 2, Rotherham Town Reserves 3

Although Denaby lost to Rotherham reserves on Saturday, they gave good promise of improved form to be expected in their coming fixtures. There could be no real test of football on Saturday, with a pitch like an ice hockey rink, and a continual downpour of rain. The ball was heavy and greasy, and the pitch made the players sometimes perform feats like a ballerina. But Denaby, strengthened at forward, put up a brave show. Rotherham superior stamina beat them more than anything.

Goodison, a recruit from Sheffield United Central League team, played at inside right, and although he rather faded out later on, gave every indication that he is a stylish and useful forward. Two of three touches definitely stamped him as a class player. Smith, a youngster from the Nottingham district, who was on trial on the left wing, started well, but drifted out of the picture when Rotherham had control of the game.

As usual, Denaby were the more dangerous at first. The game was played at a high speed, and the players control, in view of the rain sodden pitch, was remarkable. The game swung to the left wing in the opening stages, and Goodison took advantage of a series of useful passes from Happs at the back. Had there been better coordination with the halves, of whom only Swift in the centre was at all impressive, the forwards could have been much more dangerous. As it was, Goodison and Smith had to be back with the halves, foraging for balls, and trying the impossible task of being up with the rest of the forwards when an attack was launched. Machin gave the spectators a thrill when he shot, but the ball sailed just over the bar. A little later Goodison with a header missed by the same margin. It was nearly old Denaby so far but Rotherham were steady in defence, and begun to force the game.

Goalmouth Tussles.

Dunn, right half, gave the Denaby halves, a lesson in how to treat forwards. He was repeatedly swinging the ball at the foot of Lowbridge, his winger. Lowbridge broke away once, but the ball slid off his foot and went wide. The game was now in its most interesting phase, and Denaby swung the attack back again. Lawson was playing a pretty game and put Machin possession, only for Greaves to dash from goal and clear. There were several goalmouth tussles in which, but for the slippery pitch, Denaby might well have scored. Happs, too, was a tower in the Denaby defence, and his powerful kicking broke up several Rotherham raids and cleared the way for a Denaby attack.

Then Lowbridge broke away. He drove in a shot from close quarters, Tremain could only push it out if you yards for Garton to seize on it and score. This was a tonic to Rotherham, but Denaby got away on the light, and Lawson ran in to equalise just before the interval. Rotherham were playing a slightly superior game in the second half. Denaby made a plucky attempt to go ahead, but Lowbridge again got through and sent a pretty centre in for Garton to bang it past Tremain. The Denaby forwards exerted every effort to get level, but Fieldsend and Rhodes were safe in defence. After continued pressure Fleetwood dashed in to make the scores level again, but shortly before the Garton riddled the home defence to score his hat-trick in Rotherham’s winning goal.