South Yorkshire Times, May 6th, 1944
Montagu Cup (Final Replay)
Wath Prevail in Marathon Game
Wath Wanderers 2 Denaby United 1
Wath Wanderers beat Denaby United 2-1 on Saturday at Mexborough, in a game which lasted 2 hours 40 minutes, the deciding goal coming only after 48 minutes extra time. Both teams were strengthened by the appearance of such players as Ardron and Moralee of Rotherham United for Denaby and Robledo of Barnsley for Wath.
Denaby attacked first and Ardron was going through when fouled by Godfrey. He got the ball into the net, but the referee awarded a free-kick against Godfrey. After five minutes pressing by Denaby, Wath broke away and scored but the goal was disallowed. A grand shot by Walters brought Bradford out of position, the ball rebounding from the crossbar for Robledo to head through for Wath After consultation with the linesman, the referee, Mr. E. Wesson (Parkgate), allowed the goal. Denaby fought back and Ardron was often sent off on his own only to be stopped by Bell. A penalty for hands put Denaby on terms, Ardron giving the goalkeeper no chance with his shot. The Denaby goal had a lucky escape when Bradford, thinking the referee had blown Robledo offside, rolled the ball down the field. Robledo pounced on it and set off goalwards, to be caught by C. Shephard and charged off the ball.
At full time scores were level and after 10 minutes extra time each way neither side got the upper hand, and for another 20 minutes the teams struggled. Newey was taken off three times suffering from cramp and Guest had to go off through injury and did not return. In the last ten minutes Denaby went all out and looked like getting the winner, especially when Ardron beat several Wath players to be found in the penalty area, but Hannaby made a marvellous save from Ardron’s spot kick. After 2 hrs 38 minutes’ play Williams tripped Davies in trying to prevent a corner, just outside the penalty area and near the goal-line. The left winger put in a perfect centre and Raynor got the winner with a well-timed header.
Mr. A. W. Youngs, Secretary-Superintendent of the Montagu Hospital presented Raynor, the Wath captain, with the Cup. The replay raised almost as much as the first gate, over £120, making the total for this final over £250.