South Yorkshire Times, September 3, 1960
Denaby Forwards Lost Score and Winning Sequence
Hopes of the Denaby United fans for a four-in-a-row victory sequence, and a “double” over Gainsboro, suffered a rude shock on Monday.
There were many flashes of individual brilliance, but the goal hungry Denaby forwards will have to remember that it is team work which counts far more. Denaby, fired by the pep-pill of 14 goals in their first three matches, were full of confidence at the start, but it was a confidence that flagged, and, wld-way, faded almost completely.
The “roving” tactics of centre forward Paul Swaby, which brought him a bag-full of goals at Tickhill Square the season before last, proved out of place in this game. His efforts, were wasted, and it seemed that he was taking too much upon his own shoulders as he raced from one wing to the other.
Both sides battled relentlessly, but on the whole this was a colour- less game, lacking incident. Neither side had more than two or three real scoring chances. The Denaby defence, with veteran pivot Howard Johnson playing the stop centre-half for three-quarters of the game, gave a superb display, and turned aside the Gainsborough sorties.
But in the 53rd minute the only defensive error in 90 minutes cost them the game.
Johnson, and colleagues Arthur Oliver, a tenacious right half, and Mellows, were left reeling, and before they had time to recover Sanderson slammed in a picture-goal Trinity’s first this season from a stylish Beeson pass-back. The last ten minutes were all Denaby’s Johnson bamboozled two defenders, only to blaze a foot over the bar. Denaby forced five corners in the last six minutes, but could not find the marksmanship to give them the equaliser.
Inside-man Brian Slater proved dangerous on several occasions, particularly in the first half, when his thunderbolt of a drive was brilliantly taken by Daley.