South Yorkshire Times — April 19, 1952
The Montagu Cup
Monday’s Montagu Cup final was a game which had every thing—except good football, and was spoiled by a succession of infringements—and injuries.
It was a thrilling match in the second half, when three of the four goals were scored but it was the thrill of rough and tumble.
If anything, Silverwood should have won—not because they played good football but because Denaby played the poorer. However Silverwood’s goals really were good ones, and did reflect to a certain extent the steadier and more constructive approach to football. The first came after 15 minutes from TRICKETT. Right-winger Rattigan fired in a beautiful shot which Denaby ’keeper Whitehead did well to fist out. Trickett cut in smartly from the left-wing and rocketed the rebound past Whitehead.
The second goal, too, was a beauty. Again it was Rattigan who prompted it, with a deadly accurate centre. Centre-forward EDWARDS scored with a delightful header. This came after 50 minutes and after 51 minutes Denaby had scored.
Left-winger WHITEHEAD got his head to the ball in one of the many goalmouth scrambles and goalkeeper Edwards muffed the shot. Ten minutes later SAPEY Denaby’s best forward who had had a first-half goal disallowed for offside, lobbed the ball into the net for the equaliser. There was some doubt about “hands” but the referee allowed the goal after consultation with the linesman.
Denaby should have clinched the matter in the last five minutes. Instead the whole team tried to “have a go” in the Silverwood goalmouth. The ball bounced from the back of the goalkeeper, from the woodwork, from Silverwood players, from Rovers players, and, in fact, from every possible obstruction.