South Yorkshire Times, December 31, 1949
Denaby (Leading 4-1) Beat Frickley 4– 3 to complete a Merry Christmas
Denaby United 4, Frickley Colliery 3.
Saxton (picture)
Had it not been Christmas Eve, Tickhill Square would still have looked gay in Saturday afternoon sunshine, Frickley Colliery’s 15 busload of supporters lending a cup tie flavour to the first Midland league meeting of DeThreatnaby and Frickley this season.
Rarely does a “Derby” game serve up really good football, but Saturday’s game was a notable exception, particularly in the first half.
Denaby reached the interval a goal to the good. They later held a 4-1 lead and there were many sly, good- humoured digs at Frickley’s supporters among the 2,000 “gate.” But in spite of It all, I felt Denaby were lucky to win. Frickley had certainly looked the better side in the first half; always the side more likely to get goals. Their forwards had a punch Denaby were lacking and had Whitehead, notably Little. or Davies, accepted their chances with both hands, it might have been a very different story at half-time,
Taylor’s goal, however, which gave Denaby their interval lead, was a lovely shot out of the blue which had the agile Williams moving like the man on the flying trapeze. There was a good deal of protest about a later Denaby goal. Williams following the referee to the halfway line until the latter consulted a linesman. The point stood.
This is how the goals came:
Taylor (D.), 34 mins 1-0
Saxton (D.), 57 mins, 2-0
Davies (F.), 60 mins 2-1
Saxton (D), 65 mins 3-1
Rowney (D) 76 mins 4-1
Whitehead (F.). 78 mins 4-2;
Gambles (F). 87 mins 4-3.
Osborne, Vardy, Lockwood and Alf Lee stood out. Taylor played one of his best games for Denaby. Williams played exceptionally well in the Frickley goal and Vizard similarly well in the half-back line. Harkin got through a good deal of work and Davies was a good forward.