South Yorkshire Times January 23rd 1965
Big Need is for General
Spalding United 2, Denaby United 2
A much more consistent Denaby United gained their first Midland League point since October 31st, when they took Spalding by surprise on Saturday, gained a well deserved draw and nearly, but not quite, won the match.
Nearly, but not quite – that seems to be the story of United’s life. They were leading 2-1 until 12 minutes from the end, when Spalding, who beat Denaby 9-2 in the corresponding match last season, managed to snatch the equaliser.
There was one factor which more than anything else prevented Denaby from winning this match – that was their slowness on the ball. At times, late in the first half and early in the second, everything looked just too much trouble. Consequently, with a number of missed chances behind them, United found themselves one down after 29 minutes through VEST.
Denaby had to wait another 22 minutes for their equaliser. After ? minutes of the second half, Whittaker’s corner found its way over Spalding’s defenders – helped I thought by Haydon – and COX was at the far post to take an easy chance.
GOAL DISALLOWED
Inside right Haydon, a new face in the Denaby attack, was continually working to set United’s attacks in progress, as when he pushed the ball through to inside left SMITH, whose shot Notley could only help into the net. That was in the 65th minute, and Denaby were ahead with every hope of a win. Ten minutes later Kelly had the ball in the net for the third goal, but it was disallowed, and in the 78th minute PRICE split Denaby down the centre and equalised.
Aside from Haydon, a former Bourne player, right half Smart continued to impress on Saturday, showing a good deal of intelligence, although lack of experience had him passing back to Cooke rather too frequently. The young goalkeeper, playing his first match for Denaby, also deserved a pat on the back for his courage.
What Denaby need now is a general in the side to make sure that everybody is pulling in the same direction. Too often United attacks show little science or subtlety – one experienced player could do the trick.
TEAMS AND RATINGS
Spalding: Notley 7, Shawley 6, Snade 7, Flack 7, Hindle 7, South 7, Beech 6, Thompson 6, Price 7, Vest 7, Harnwell 6.
Denaby: Cooke 8, Harvey 7, Foster 7, Smart 7, Hinton 6, Woodger 7, Kelly 7, Haydon 8, Cox 7, Smith 8, Whittaker 7.
Referee: Mr. J. M. Morfin (Doncaster) 7
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