Mexborough and Swinton Times October 9, 1936

Denaby Excel
Frickley Bombarded and Subdued
But Full Of Enthusiasm

Denaby 6 Frickley 2

Frickley were bombarded and subdued before the game was 15 minutes old at Tickill Square on Monday. We had a little glimpse of attempted precision and method but it was a Denaby marksman who got the goals. Their forcefulness and thrust seemed convincing enough to snatch a lease of a dozen before the interval; it was ironical that their first two were lucky affairs which ought never to have seen light of day.

A defensive lapse let Fleetwood through when the game was but 18 minutes old; that prove the virtue of playing to the whistle. The comparative nervousness of Cuthbert, an experimental goalkeeper from Grimethorpe Juniors, was responsible for the second, scored by Fleetwood 11 minutes later. To drop a bouncing ball a few inches from the goalmouth always has its disadvantages.

Shaky Defence

this game certainly revealed the shakiness of the Frickley defence. Frickley are missing Turner that was a first – and the widest loop Paul. It was just as ironical that Cuthbert wrote off at least a couple of classical coups, and muffed the simplest efforts of the Denaby marksman, as the fact that Demi worked so scientifically for their goals and took them when least expected. Then, for a second thing, Hunter was a little shaky and Meades had not a particularly inspiring afternoon. They were lapses which toll their tail. Naturally, there are two sides to a story, and the other one in this case was the brilliance of the Denaby attack.

Saturdays Cup victory lent an added sparkle to an exhilarating pace. Clever work by Shepherd, dour efforts by Ranskill, menacing centred by Ellis and the generalship of Eddie Fleetwood won openings which merited and took reward. I’ve rarely seen Eddie Fleetwood play a better game,. The third goal was a perfect example of cool skill, judgement and precision.

Just Outside

within 29 minutes, Denaby had a two-goal lead. The third goal was a highlight of the game. The ball was handled only a few inches outside the penalty area and with a defence bunched into the Frickley goalmouth Fleetwood took an apparently innocent kick slowly and deliberately over their heads. As if directed with uncanny judgement the ball curled in midair directly to Hardy’s head (practically uncovered at the corner of the net) and he had merely to flick the ball to the back of the net. It was true to say that Frickley never lacked enthusiasm. A little further consistent support from the arms might have seen a different reward. Taylor’s goal (Frickley’s first) came when least expected. A defensive lapse (Denaby’s first) was a contributory factor.

Yet to Be

Half-time arrived with the score standing at 3-1. The best was yet to be. Frickley’s efforts of the first half were merely a shadow of their enthusiasm in the second. It was disappointing that Cuthbert should miss holding Ellis’s snapshot when the session was booked for minutes old. It was initially downhearted they could well do without. But they were tremendous workers this half and is was not surprising that the hard-working Taylor should have provided the opening from which Love scored their second goal.

Then a solo effort by Ellis cleans the game. Five – two was a wide margin, and one from which Frickley never seemed to recover.