Midland League Results – January 18, 1932

18 January 1932

Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 18 January 1932

Keen Fight for Midland League Leadership.

Three Clubs with 41 Points: Mexborough Player Breaks a Leg.

The position at the head of the Midland League table grows more interesting week by week, and as the result of Saturday’s games three clubs, Bradford Res., Grimsby Town Res., and Nottingham Forest Res., lead the way, each with 41 points. The former, however, have much the better goal average and matches in hand.

Bad Luck for Wassail.

Mexborough Athletic met with their third home defeat of the season to a faster and better side in Bradford, who won 5 —1. Scott registeed the “hat trick” for Bradford in the first half, Fleetwood replying. Mexborough, with the wind behind them, fought well in the second half, but after Suter had saved a penalty taken Greig, Leedham and Pacey made the issue safe. Five minutes from the end Mexborough lost Wassail, who has been playing consistently good football, with a broken leg. Bradford set a high standard all through, there were 2,000 spectators.

It would appear that the tide has turned at  Denaby at last, for after being two goals down against Lincoln, the home team finished level. It was Denaby’s best exhibition for a long time. Lincoln scored through Murray and March, while Wraith and Adams worked Denaby’s goals, the last named netting both. Denaby tried new centre-half in Notley, from Derby and he played well.

Wombwell narrowly escaped having double figures piled up against them at Grimsby, losing 9 — 1. Yet the visitors showed plenty of fight and were always trying. Jones, who scored Wombwell’s only goal, worked hard throughout. Holmes and Dodds both registered “hat tricks” for Grimsby, the other goals being scored Craven, Moralee, and Fielding.

Boston compiled their highest score of the season at the expense of Barnsley Reserves, winning 7—2. Davis (three). Mitcham (two), Blackham. and Earle scored for Boston, hiteley and Jackson replying. The heavy score, however, was hardly a fair reflex of the play, for until half-way through the second half the visitors were only slightly inferior. The score at this stage was 5—2, but then Barnsley fell away badly.

A stirring struggle for supremacy took place between Chesterfield Reserves and Gainsborough Trinity, Chesterfield eventually winning 4—3. Two penalties conceded the Trinitarians late in the game proved their undoing. Cochrane, who played brilliantly, scored Chesterfield’s opening goal in the first minute, and Green equalised. Robinson and Adamson put Trinity ahead, only for Orr (two), one a penalty, and Walker to decide the issue. Cochrane, Orr, Seabrook, and Jacques (in troal) played well for Chesterfield, while Fell, Harris, Miller, Adamson, and Wright were prominent for Gainsborough.

The Millmoor “Derby.”

Rotherham United Reserves were beaten 4—1 by Doncaster Rovers Reserves in a very poor game at Millmoor. Doncaster scored in the first minute, but Rotherham quickly took the offensive, and were attacking persistently but ineffectively up to the interval. Doncaster were much the better side in the second half. Swindin, a former Rotherham schoolboy player, made a number of smart saves in the Rotherham goal. Rorrison (three) and Atherton scored for Doncaster, and Sellars for Rotherham.

Scarborough gained a 2—1win at Loughborough, in match of missed opportunities, for the visitors, although brilliant in midfield, were weak near goal. Wallbanks led the attack in good style and Williams, at centrehalf, played a great game. Sullivan scored for Loughborough and Wallbanks and Hodson for Scarborough in the second half.

Scunthorpe Take Their Chances

Scunthorpe United defeated Grantham 4—1 largely a result of taking- their opportunties in the first half, when they had the advantage of a strong wind. After Cross, the back, had scored with a big kick almost from the half-wav line, Hubbard (two) enabled Scunthorpe to lead at the interval. In the second half, Hubbard completed his hat trick and Dudley replied. The visitors played well in midfield, but finished badly.

Though playing for most of the second half without Hayhurst, right back, who was injured. and with two other crippled players, Frickley Colliery gained a brilhant 3—1 win over Newark at South Elmsall. The Colliery, with a strong wind behind them, missed many chances in the first half although Barber gave them the lead. Frickley made good use of their second half opportunities, however Mundy and Barber scoring. Kaye reduced the arrears. Harvey gave a fine display in the Frickley goal.

Nottm. Forest Reserves produced of their best to beat Hull City Reserves, at Nottingham, by 6—0, a score which did not exaggerate their superiority. Forest, were quicker on the ball and showed full appreciation of any chances that came their way. Clark, McKaye, Chambers (two), Wrack (own goal), and Heslop scored.

A rousing game was seen at Valley Parade, where Bradford City Reserves beat Notts County Reserves by 4—2. Scriven, Medley, Stanners, and Bainbridge (penalty) scored for the City, and Andrews and Wright for the County, for whom Maidment gave a fine exhibition of goalkeeping.