Denaby’s Momentous Victory at Goole Makes FA Cup History

Goole Town 1 Denaby United 2

Cheered on by over 400 of their supporters who had travelled to Goole by ‘bus, train and car, Denaby United exceeded all expectations by beating a powerful Goole Town side 2-1 in the fourth and final qualifying round of the F.A. Cup on Saturday.

This victory, their most impressive and by far their most important of the season. earned for them the right to enter the first round proper of the F.A. Cup competition — for the first time for 26 years. On the last occasion, in 1932, they were beaten 1-0 at Carlisle.

Perhaps less exciting but just as useful to the club is the £100 which they will receive from the gate receipts. Victoria ground was packed and Denaby officials estimate that something like 3,000 people saw the match.

Heroic Miller

The one sad note in this afternoon of victory and excitement was that Denaby centre half Miller, who had a wonderful game, collided in the first half with Goole centre-ward, Howard and both players sustained head injuries. Howard was taken off on a stretcher but Miller appeared to recover and would not be taken off.

In the second half, however, he headed a dangerous shot clear of the net, almost knocking himself out. Although he must have been in pain he finished the game with blood streaming down his forehead and after the match had to have four stitches inserted into the wound at a nearby hospital.

Although Goole looked the more dangerous side early in the first half, Denaby opened the scoring after 17 minutes when inside right HANKIN beat the goalkeeper six yards out to a cross from centre forward Swaby. After 35 minutes, Goole were reduced to 10 men when Howard, who had been constantly checked by Miller, was carried off after a collision with the centre half. He came back fighting after the interval, a large piece of sticking plaster on his forehead, and scored Goole’s only goal a few seconds from time.

Solid Defence

Although they had commanded most of the first half, Denaby’s full-back was outclassed during the second and only a solid defence kept them in the lead.

‘Keeper Ted Smethurst, playing’ his first senior match for a month was at his best and earned the applause of both the Denaby and Goole supporters.

The opinion of many after the match was that if the Goole forwards had “kept their heads” instead of attacking blindly they would have eventually taken the lead. Despite his injury, Howard lead the attack efficiently but his fellow forwards failed to back him up and excellent shots were hammered wide of the mark time after time.

Lively Finish

Denaby went further into the lead after 82 minutes through right winger BUNCLARK. Centre forward Swaby, Denaby’s most dangerous attacker throughout the match, lobbed a low shot towards the goal from an awkward angle about 15 yards out. Bunclark and Goole centre hall Brewin ran for the ball as it rolled along the goal line and Brewin appeared to skid and push the ball into his own net with both feet.

After the match however, Bunclark told me that he had beaten Brewin to the ball and had deflected it into the net a split second before the centre half could block it.

With the final whistle only a matter of seconds away HOWARD took the ball through the Denaby defence and shot squarely between the cool posts from medium range.

The defeat not only put Goole out of the F.A. Cup; it was the first time this season that they had been beaten on their own ground. With 14 points, they are fifth in the Midland League table compared with Denaby’s six points at 16th position.