South Yorkshire Times November 20, 1948

Denaby’s Fourth League Victory
Thrilling Battle

Denaby United  4 Bradford City Reserves 3

Bradford City reserves went near to robbing United of their fourth Midland league victory of the season. Score at half-time was one all. Then he scored three times in the second before city, playing neat football, gap narrowed the gap to one.

It was a galloping finish to one of the most entertaining games we have had at Tickhill Square so far this season. In spite of a dismal soaking in the first half, and a surface slippery as an ice rink, there was plenty of grand football with flashes of speed and clever footwork which might have turned the verdict either way. As it was, Bradford took the lead by a SHEARER goal in the 19th minute, a ball that sped under McKendrick’s body, a reverse rounding off one of City’s rarer raids this half and very much against the run of the game.

United crowded more and more action into the exchanges and in their turn, a mighty kick from full-back Jack WILLIAMS deceived Middleton and rounded off for United a series of astonishing misses.

In the sixth minute of the second half wing and midfield raids on the Bradford goal brought a goal from DALE (once he hit the goalkeeper, with the return in the scramble he hit the post, and at the third attempt he put United’s nose in front). That was all United needed and we saw a series of five-forward moves which brought another DALE goal in the 21st minute (started by Barke, shared unselfishly by Dickens and Oxborough) and an OXBOROUGH goal three minutes later.

With yet another of the surprises of this game, even a 4-1 lead was not enough to overcome a Bradford enthusiasm which never waned, and the two goals they scored, through SHEARER in the 32nd minute and HARDCASTLE in the 38th, were shining examples of opportunism and endeavour.

Praise must go to a spirited side which never eased up — and with the palm of victory, plaudits to Denaby for pulling out just that extra snap which won the verdict.