Denaby Had That Glint in Their Eye on Saturday

On a pitch heavy and treacherous with the morning’s rain (groundsman Albert Taylor told me that to an hour before the kick-off he had doubts about the ground being fit at all.) Denaby United beat Hull City reserves with such power and speed on Saturday that they can have left Tickhill Square funds in no mood to dispute president Sam Peck’s optimism about the side. The “lads” are indeed “playing excellently just now.”

The score on Saturday was 3-2. United must have surprised more than Hall City Reserves with a virtual monopoly of the ball in the first 20 minutes of mud and water and it was a sorry upset when Ken Hague, attempted to divert Fraser, on the left-wing, instead diverted the ball into his own net. That was after 23 minutes. Four minutes later all were two goals to the good when in a tackle in which he was grounded, Fraser somehow managed to spring the ball skywards and we saw it lob into the Denaby net with Williamson virtually unsighted.

Speed Intensified

With Hull coming more and more into the game and shooting at every opportunity, two goals seemed an insuperable handicap in these ground conditions, particularly as United shooting hard and often had both bad luck with their shots – and one goal, by Duggan nullified for offside.

But the speed and power of the first half was intensifed when the second half got underway and the Craggs reverberated when Poulson got Denaby’s first goal with a brilliant header from a perfect centre after 57 minutes.

The reverberation became a roar when Holmes slid home the equaliser in the 76^th minute and pandemonium broke loose when a centre from Flynn curved into the Hull City goalmouth and registered the winner – with Holmes there to make assurance doubly sure by following the ball into the net.

These were two excellent points. One each would have seen a very fair verdict, but few will go to Denaby both for that edge they held on Hull in a brilliant second-half.

Denaby have been beaten only by Boston and Kings Lynn since November 19. 11 matches (league and senior cup) seven victories, one drawer! Nothing much wrong with that!

The Scouts were out again at Denaby on Saturday; one familiar face in the main stand was that of Derek Dooley. Another “visitor” United were happy to see was Bill Parry. Bill is still very happily settled at Cheltenham, still coaching and embracing schools and youth groups in his activities. Football at Denaby brings back some pleasant memories.