Mexborough and Swinton Times – Saturday 23 April 1904
The Midlanders
The match at Denaby between United and Worksop should have been good for two points to Denaby, but after a by no means clever display, the home team had to be content with a draw.
It is some time since Denaby United were beaten at home, but it is also a considerable time since they won a match on their own ground, longer at all events than it ought to have been. The fact that they have not met defeat in their last seven matches is, however, something to be thankful for, and a legitimate cause for congratulating the team.
Thornhill United did well to draw at Whitwick, for although Whitwick White Cross have not pulled many trees up in the competition, they have not been easy to tackle on their own ground at any part of the season.
Following on their meritorious draw against Sheffield Wednesday Reserve, Rotherham Town made a sad mess of Hinckley on Saturday, beating them out of sight to the tune of seven goals to nil. Rotherham now stand sixth in the League, and have made most remarkable progress since Christmas, when they were somewhere about sixth from the tail-end of the table.
Thornhill United and Denaby United are going to finish close together, but Thornhill, with two more matches in hand than Denaby, stands a chance of finishing first of the pair.
A Fast Game at Denaby
The Midland League game at Denaby last Saturday certainly provided bright and attractive football, the sides—Denaby and Worksop—being wonderfully well matched.
At the very start the home left got going, Burgin shooting wide, and again Flannigan caused Cole no end of trouble, but the ball was got away. Hosey dribbled close in, and Scott saved a curling header at the expense of a corner, which was not improved upon.
Worksop woke up, but Hall infringed the off-side rule. A centre from Flannigan saw Beal come to the rescue, his partner following suit. Denaby’s next return saw Dawson first shooting hard, the ball cannoning off Beal and going out to the right, where Corbett beat Scott with a high oblique shot.
Keeping up the pressure Hosey was whistled off-side, just as Corbett shot by at a terrific rate. Pretty passing by the Worksop left saw Millington force a corner—non-productive; and fine work by Rowlingston resulted in another, from which Millington scored with a header.
Denaby retaliated, forcing a corner, which was beautifully placed, but the ball was got away. A minute later Blatt clean missed his kick, letting in Burgin, whose shot cannoned off Cole, and Pycock transferring.
Holmes rounded Lawley and got clean away. Hustled by the home backs, his shot went soaring over the crossbar. An abortive corner fell to Denaby, and again Worksop attacked, Hall, who was off-side, leaving the ball to Rowlingston, who middled beautifully.
Nelson breasted the ball through, only to have the point disallowed. Scott ran out and kicked away W. Corbett.
Denaby again ran down, Roper missing a grand chance through hesitation, the ball going just wide with the red shirts struggling round. At the other end Nelson again broke through in fine style, but Lawley downed him in a questionable manner, appeals for a penalty being unheard.
Hall and Rowlingston were particularly nippy on the visiting left, a fine centre from the former deserved a better fate than Porter’s timely clearance.
Another grand run and centre from the same pair saw Stables almost charge through, but Millington, and the next minute Nelson found himself with the ball at his feet on the very threshold of the home goal. To the disgust of his colleagues, he made a hash of the chance, but Worksop returned again.
Flannigan, however, headed wide. Flannigan ran through, and forced a corner, Beal clearing brilliantly during a hot attack by Denaby, whose persistence caused Scott to rush out and boot away.
At the other end Holmes shot wide. Denaby continuously attacked, Scott and Co. experiencing a warm time. The Worksop defence worked valiantly, but just on the interval their goal again fell, a centre from the right being turned in by Flannigan, Scott falling full length and scraping out just inside the line. The visitors protested, but the point was allowed.
Half-time: Denaby 2; Worksop 1.
Resuming, Worksop won a trio of corners in the first minute, all beautifully placed. Stables fitting out in grand style from the second. The Denaby left broke away, but Cole barred the way with an overhead kick.
Not to be denied the home team returned again, Hosey shooting wide when running between the backs. Play now surged towards the Denaby goal, and Holmes struck the cross-bar with a dropping shot, which bounced over.
A minute later another fruitless corner fell to the visitors, and tricky work by Nelson saw a grand centre headed over.
Fast play by both sets of forwards brought out good all-round defensive work, though once Stables nearly gave away a goal by miskicking with Rowlingston in full sail, the sphere curling back over the home cross-bar.
The corner was wretchedly placed, and Denaby took up the running, Cole finding Roper and Flannigan troublesome. Denaby were persistent, and thrice Scott had to use his hands, his second save being of a sensational order, the ball coming sharp in from close quarters.
Hereabouts Hall was going through when Chadfield fouled inside the forbidden area, and Cole converted from the penalty, twice netting before the point counted.
With the teams on a level footing again, both sides strove for the leading point, and Scott served his side well by bouncing the ball out of danger when surrounded by the Denaby forwards.
Again did he catch and clear a long ranger from Chadfield, and later Cole booted away, and the visiting forwards running down, Rowlingston headed into Stables’ hands.
Back came Denaby, and Cole filled the breach in daring fashion. Pretty passing by Holmes and Nelson resulted in a corner, so finely placed that Stables gave away another, Dean shooting over the bar.
Just after Millington dashed through, and with Stables coming out to meet them, shot over at tremendous speed.
Worksop were evidently lasting the better, and in the closing minutes looked like taking the lead. The home defence held out, and one of the best games seen on the Denaby ground this season resulted in a draw of two all.