Mexborough Times, November 27, 1920
Denaby´s Bombshell
Goalless Spell Broken, and Grimsby Reserve Trounced
Denaby United 6 Grimsby Town Reserve 2
In view of their previous record, the performance of Denaby on Saturday was the most remarkable in the League. Most people following Midland League football were prepared to see Denaby sacrifice two more points; their own supporters of the dead who for a win, and practically no one expected that Grimsby town, the United´s opponents, would be vanquished 6-2. Rarely has a football crowd been so agreeably surprised as that which assembled on the Tickhill Square ground on Saturday. Denaby were a goal to the bad at the interval and they had been playing an indifferent game. Grimsby, who included in their side a good sprinkling of men who hads een service with their senior team, had played a clever, dashing game, and their forwards had shown themselves full of fire and danger. They had had the home defence, metaphorically bound, gagged and tossed into a corner time after time, and only carelessness in front of goal could account for the smallness of their lead.
When half-time came, and the Fisherman turned about to kick down the slope, there was a superabundance of pessimism in the hearts of the United supporters. The Denaby forward had framed much better than usual, it was true, and the spell of goallessness, extending over several weeks, had been broken; the side was a goal behind, and had lost the natural advantage of the pitch, and was up against a team which would not deteriorate, which might indeed, improve as the playing place became less strange to them.
There certainly was ground for this hopelessness. Upon what could the spectators place their faith? There would hardly be justified in looking for anything in the way of a remarkable rally by the United. The United had never yet sprung a surprise packet on anyone. Exactly!
The United have been holding their bombshell in the background. The explosion of it came so unexpectedly that it completely stunned the Grimsby men, and for a time quite took away the breath of the sturdy little band of supporters who had been waiting and praying for it since the season opened.
Smith set the fuse alight by flying on his wing and shooting the ball past Jones in the first 2 min of the second half. Then came the long hoped for lead, the consolidation of it, and the piling on the agony. The bloodthirsty Denaby forwards answered reluctantly to the ceasefire whistle, for they were covering themselves with glory and were in the happiest time of their careers.
Denaby left the field, vindicated and victorious, to the accompaniment of a well-deserved outburst of cheering. The crowd felt elated . Eight goals was good measure for anybody´s shilling. But for six of them to be scored by a side which people have begun to despair of! Really, theyhad cause to be elated. When one comes to look back over the opening half one begins to realise that during this period the forwards showed great promise on occasions.
These patches were, however, somewhat obscured by the thrilling display, which was given by the Grimsby forwards. In everything except shooting this quintet were really superb, and the Denaby men were thrown into the shade to a great extent. The on-site tried hard and in the first 7 min. Hamilton, Machin and Chantry and equal Jones to the test. The visitors were playing a methodically clever and dangerous game, and before the game was finally sold them once or twice set the hair of the home supporters on end.the fullbacks not settle down to the game, it was apparent that the evil moment must come soon. It came after 7 min, when Blake put across a neat centre, which GOLIGHTLY, standing unmarked, shot into the net. This was a sickener and there were those in the crowd of nearly gave up the ghost there and then. The reverse seems to act as a spur to the home forwards, will let to the attack, and by their forceful, winning tactics, evoked some really hearty cheering. Hamilton set line in motion, snapping up a pass from Chantrey, he fired in a hot, oblique shot, and the ball, being sent back to him, was banged back again, this time with even greater force. Jones stopped both shots in brilliant fashion, but it was plain to be seen that they worried him considerably. After a header over the bar by Machin, the fishermen came once more and again we held our breath Retaliation for this came in the nature of the equaliser, HAMILTON, set going by Peters, sprinted down from his wing, and beat Jones, with a really magnificent shot. A mistake by the Denaby defence let in Grimsby for the second time. SMITH wanted no better invitation than that which Livingstone gave him and swooping down, he had the ball past Lund in a twinkling.
Half time came around with Denaby making a gallant attempt to draw level again. Owing to the failing light, a speedy resumption was necessary if the game was finished. Changing round immediately, the half was not 2 min old when SMITH levelled the scores by taking careful aim from 20 yards out. A few minutes later GREY secured the lead which gave his side the lead they had long deserved. This was by no means the beginning of the end, for the visitors struggled desperately to wipe off the deficit. For 10 min the home goal was in great peril, and Lund, at Chantrey, Garner and Peters played like demons to stem the surging tide. Luck was with Denaby during this brief, that period, the ball being kept out of goal and it seemed 100 to one on it going in. A deep sigh of relief was heard when the force of the Grimsby attack spent itself, and the ball was booted to the hungering Denaby forwards.
Thenceforward the issue was never in doubt. Goals came in marvellous fashion, and the crowd began to count – four – five – six (scored by GREY, MACHIN and SMITH). The home forwards shot with greater deadliness and precision than ever, and the victory was developing into an utter rout when the final whistle went. It was a splendid and decisive victory, and we feel confident that it will prove the first of many. Sheer bad luck, and nothing else, and stood between Denaby and points in many previous matches. It appeared on Saturday as if the club´s luck had definitely changed. In the last half-hour, the forwards could do nothing wrong and they played like men inspired. The hopes they raised last week seemed to be well founded. The “star” of the side was Hamilton, who returned after a long absence. His performance was almost flawless