Denaby Utd – Denaby 4 Bradford Reserves 2

September 1906

Mexborough and Swinton Times, September 29th 1906

Denaby United  4 Bradford Reserves 2

To get on, the clashing of Denaby’s fixture, which was re-arranged one, with Bradford Reserves, and Mexboro’ and Hull City Reserves, was unfortunate, and it was hardly surprising to find that the gate was somewhat under the usual strength.

Both teams were very strong, the visitors having an exceptionally strong side, and the only alternation in the home eleven was the substitution of Donald Lees at centre half for Tompkins, who was injured.

They faced each other in the following order: –

Denaby: Hancock; Welsh and Lawley; Nimrod, Lees, and Westwood; Brocklehurst, Hunter, Hopkinson, Harrop, and Eyre.

Bradford: Gott; Halliday and Roberts; McLean, Penman, and Potter; Bartlett, Coates, Chadburn, Redding, and Garton.

Lawley won the toss, and elected to kick towards the Colliery. There was no wind to speak of, but the weather was dull. The visitors were the first to become dangerous, a pretty movement by Penman, Chadburn and Coates being nullified by a wild kick by Halliday, which went yards wide of Hancock. Following a clearance by Lawley, Chadburn again led the visitors’ attack, only to see Nimrod cleverly dispossess Garton when the left wing was going in full cry.

A spirited rush to the visitors’ end saw Roberts relieve, when Brocklehurst and Hunter seemed certain to go through.

Both teams were playing remarkably good football, the visitors’ forwards being very quick on the ball. Once when they were going strong. Bartlett gave Chadburn a good pass, but the latter was badly fouled by Welsh. Denaby made a spirited burst, and after Harrop and Hunter had each had a try at goal, a melee ensued, in which Eyre and, Harrop were prominent, the latter heading over Gott, and a goal being certain, but Penman fisted out, and a penalty resulted.

Lawley, however, shot high over, much to the chagrin of the home supporters.

The game proceeded very fast, both ends being visited in turn, and Welsh stopping in fine style an excellent movement by Redding and Garton went away, boating three or four opponents, passed to Hunter, who, in turn, passed to Harrop, the last named boating Gott with a smashing shot.

Immediately on resuming the visitors attacked with spirit and after Lees had cleverly outwitted Chadburn, Hancock cleared a beauty from Penman. A subsequent corner to the visitors resulted in Potter equalising with a splendid high shot, which had Hancock beaten all the way.

The game continued to be fought out at an exceedingly fast pace, both goals being rapidly visited. Bartlett and Coates were once conspicuous on the visitors’ right for some pretty and skilful judgment, while Gott was compelled to clear from Brocklehurst with a crowd of players round him.

Five minutes before the interval Harrop gave Denaby the load after a scrimmage in front of goal. Both sides were particularly fast on the ball, and it was anybody’s game at half-time, when the score was:

Denaby United             2 goals.

Bradford City Res.      1 goal.