Denaby Utd – Denaby 4 Sheffield Utd Res1 – Denaby Open Out Well.

September 1906

Mexborough & Swinton Times, September 8, 1906

Denaby Open Out Well.

Denaby United 4 Sheffield United Reserves 1

The crack reserve teams from Sheffield never seem to enjoy their visits to Denaby somehow, and this season, like others, their search for League points at the colliery ground has met with but little success. I should not like to infer that Denaby could win every time, but if the United Reserve team is this year to have a look in with the Midland League they will to considerably alter their form. The committee of the colliery club are to be congratulated upon having been successful in providing such an admirable ‘curtain raiser,’ and although the weather conditions were all against a good and exciting game being witnessed yet considering everything, everybody ought to be quite satisfied. It would only be a waste of space to again remind our readers of Saturday’s weather, so let it be sufficient that the ground was hard and dry, and the very air apparently charged with a living fire. There was a capital attendance of spectators under the circumstances, and, needless to say, they were quite agreeably surprised at the excellent form shown by the home eleven. When they turned out they received quite a flattering reception, as also did the visitors. The Denaby team appeared in their new colours, and real smart they looked, too, the olive green jerseys and white knickers having a most pleasing appearance.

The Teams And The Game.
Needless to say, there were many unfamiliar faces on both sides. Denaby were, no doubt, trying an experiment, and again the committee are to be congratulated upon their excellent judgement. Saturday’s victorious complement, strange to relate, only included five of last year’s players, viz., Hancock, Welch, Lawley, Nimrod, and Tompkins. The position of left half, which has been in the past so admirably filled by Arnold, was now taken by Westwood and the whole of the forwards, which was another peculiar thing, were all ‘captured.’ It was a daring thing to do, but the committee, of course, knew what the players could do, and they came off trumps. They played marvellously well together, and if Saturday’s form is anything to go by they will require a lot of beating.

The United team was strengthened by the inclusion of Pattinson, Lang, Mellors, and Parker, but none of them shone, and the whole side did not harmonise at all. There appeared to be a lack of that combination which has always been so conspicuous a feature of their play.

As to the game, Denaby showed a decided superiority in every department, and although the Reserves opened out well their only goal being very smartly and cleverly worked for, they were always a beaten team afterwards. The game, after the home team took the lead, was never really interesting and exciting the exchanges being good and bad in turn. Efforts were made spasmodically, and there appeared to be a lack of enthusiasm. Of the new players Harrop took the eye. He made Eyre an excellent partner, and that wing was by far the most dangerous. Hopkinson worked well in the centre, and Earles and Brocklehurst got through any amount of good work. The half-back line, as well as the whole of the defence, was very strong. On the visitors side Croot was the pick of the forwards. The halves worked well, and Booth was slightly the best of two excellent defenders. Mellors could not be blamed for the goals, for he had no chance.

Denaby’s victory of four goals to one was well merited and extremely satisfactory.