Denaby Utd – South Shields 6, Denaby 0 – Saved Penalty and Rebound

March 1959

South Yorkshire Times March 14, 1959

Ted Smethurst Saved Penalty and Rebound

South Shields 6, Denaby United 0

Salute goalkeeper Smethurst for a scintillating display which held South Shields at bay for long periods in Denaby’s first-ever Midland League visit to Simonside Hall, South Shields..

Smethurst, the star player in an unenterprising Denaby side, displayed the guts and tenacity which was sadly lacking in the rest of his colleagues. Smethurst hardly had a hope with any of the Mariners six goals but he crowned a superb display by saving a penalty kick in the 32nd minute

Brilliant Anticipation

Hard-hitting Gerry Dodds, the former Worksop Town centre-forward smashed a low right foot drive which appeared to have goal written all over it with the spot kick. But Smethurst brilliantly anticipated his shot and dived to stop the ball. Dodds charged in to try to crash home the rebound and the United goalkeeper valiantly grasped his second attempt.

Smethurst received a big ovation from the 2,700 crowd and congratulations from Dodds, who has not missed a penalty for South Shields this year.

Throughout the match Smethurst was pulling off fine saves in similar vein, which thwarted South Shields from running up a cricket score.

Denaby’s shaky defenders were completely run off their feet by the fast moving home attack and defensive blunders gave the Mariners plenty of opportunities.

Lacked Ideas

The United attack was virtually idea-less chiefly because Paul Swaby was rarely allowed to escape from the vice-like grip of pivot Tom Passmore. Denaby had several gilt-edged chances during brief periods of pressure only to squander them with poor finishing.

Denaby showed little spirit and after the first 10 minutes appeared to have accepted the fact that they were booked for a heavy defeat. South Shields’ goals came from Robson (3), Johnson (2) and Dodds.

Teams:

South Shields—Burn; Hill, Shields; Owen, Passmoor, Cain: Powell, Johnson, Dodds, Robson, Kelsey.

Denaby — Smethurst; Williams, Bedford; Nicholson, Pilkington, Lawley; Bunclarke. Lambert, Swaby, Friel, Jordon.

Referee—Mr. J. Bruce (Newcastle-on-Tyne).