Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 08 December 1933
Siddall’s Match-Winning Spell
Denaby United 4, South Kirkby 2
Something of the difference in class between Midland League and Yorkshire League football was demonstrated at Tickhill Square on Saturday when Denaby, typifying the former, beat South Kirkby, who are at the head of the latter competition, 4-2. The difference was not in some ways as great as the score suggests, however, and most of all South Kirkby lacked a marksman to put the finishing touch to some quite good midfield play.
Though holders of the trophy, Denaby did not seem to take the game too seriously and it is quite possible that if South Kirkby had accepted one or two of their early chances they would still be in the competition.
Though there was much uninteresting play in this game, sufficient was seen of South Kirkby to indicate that they are a much more methodical side than when they operated solely in the Sheffield Association League. The old determination and rugged defensive tactics were still to be noticed, but there was less wild kicking and the half-backs really did try to use the ball to advantage, their attempts at placing being generally deliberate if not invariably successful.
Glasby shone most in defence but he was not without constructive ideas. He was Kirkby’s outstanding player, covering splendidly and showing fine anticipation. He practically shut up Denaby’s inside game, though in fairness to him it should be said that he was heavily handicapped against a player of Siddall’s calibre by his small stature. Smart and Sanderson were rare workers and fed their wings assiduously, and in the forward line Atkins and Mundy were most impressive, though Price did some clever things in the first half.
Whitehouse should have given South Kirkby the lead in the first 20 minutes when he got clean away but his shot struck the crossbar and bounced away. Soon afterwards Price also missed an early chance and, when Denaby took the lead after half an hour, it was partly through a defensive lapse.
There had been a lot of scrappy midfield play and the ball had been gradually scrambled into the Kirkby penalty area when Fitzgerald raced into the melee, took the ball right in front and shot. Though well placed the shot did not seem hard enough to beat Capstick, but the former Mexborough goalkeeper mishandled and the ball rolled over the line.
Though Denaby had rather the better of the play they did not monopolise the game, their chief remaining opening coming until a really brilliant spell by Siddall settled the issue.
In the space of ten minutes—the last five of the first half and the first five of the second—the Denaby winger completed a spectacular hat-trick. He nearly broke the net with the first of the two shots with which he scored before the interval. Both goals were obtained by cutting in after tricking Hayes, and the third was an equally spectacular effort immediately after the resumption. Four goals down, Kirkby doggedly refused to give in and played some of their most effective football in the last half hour.
Atkinson reduced the deficit soon after Siddall had made up his “hat trick” but it was not until ten minutes from the end that Mundy got Kirkby’s second with a splendidly placed shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Denaby were chiefly occupied in defence towards the end but appeared satisfied with the lead and Taylor and Skelton were enjoying the mastery of the Kirkby forwards. Skelton played an outstanding game and his speed, resource and strength were of great service. Smith was the best of the halves and Siddall was the better of two brilliant wingers.
Fitzgerald’s ball control was the feature of a thoughtful display and Carter, a Sheffield youngster tried at inside-right, though raw, was often dangerous on account of his quite exceptional turn of speed.