Denaby Utd – Denaby 2 Gainsborough 1 – Keen Tussle at Denaby.

November 1939

Mexborough and Swinton Times, November 11.

Three goals and Two were Penalty Shots.
Keen tussle at Denaby

Denaby United 2 Gainsborough 1.

A goal after 24 min in the second of made all the difference to this wartime league fixture at Tickhill Square.

The general verdict was “a good game” and it was a fair and just one, though until the 69th minute penalty it seemed as though the old trouble of lack of punch in the forward line was going to make it self evident.

Both sides had their chances in the first half and Gainsborough owed a great deal to good positioning and opportunism by their backs. Had the Denaby inside forwards possessed the same opportunism It would, indeed, have been a battle royal. But so dominant where the backs that the first direct shot Robinson had to deal with was not delivered until after 35 min in this half.

Gainsborough had one excellent opportunity just before half-time when Hall had the advancing goalkeeper to beat. He lifted the ball over Gibson’s head – and over the crossbar. A few minutes later, on the half-time whistle, Padgett blasted over the Gainsborough bar.

To Good Purpose.

Kirk, Hall and Mills slung the ball about to good purpose after the interval, and Denaby, with similar method, made headway, which were broken up only by the staunch Carte and Morris, with Twells here and there to lend a useful hand. And so the game swung until it seemed that one goal alone might decide the issue.

Then the first of a trio came unexpectedly. Padgett was making one of his many sorties down the Denaby flank (after 24 minutes in this half) when he was brought down, and despite protests by the Gainsborough men. The referee awarded a penalty. This ARDRON converted. 2 minutes later, ARDRON scored again, pushing the ball past advancing goalkeeper. Two up in two minutes! I

t was 5 min later that Gainsborough got their only goal. Kirk their right winger received the ball halfway between the halfway line and the goal. He beat Williams and was making tracks for goal when the Denaby back try to beat him again, and brought him down. The referee awarded a penalty and Hall converted it.

The only other danger shot before time was when Kirk blazed in and Gibson had to dive full length to push it out.