Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 01 May 1922
Midland League.
Brilliant Performance by Mexborough.
Champion’s Biggest Defeat.
Worksop Town’s new glory as champions of the Midland League, was in a state of total eclipse on Saturday at Mexborough, where they sustained the heaviest reverse of the season, and the first defeat since February 25th.
Since that occasion, when they were beaten by the only goal at Castleford, they had won eleven and drawn two of their thirteen engagements, in which they had had only six goals scored against them. There was no doubting the superiority of Mexborough on Saturday. They scored twice in each half, the first goal, coming after five minutes, apparently inspiring them. Ingham performed the “hat-trick” for the second time within a fortnight. The other goal came from a penalty, Matt Taylor converting. Under ideal weather conditions, on a ground in excellent condition, Worksop were thoroughly beaten on their merits.
Hull City Reserves had a keen and exciting tussle before they beat Denaby United (2-0) in their final match of the season at Hull. The City were not long before they experienced Denaby’s assertive characteristics, and it was only sheer hard luck which prevented Burkinshaw from scoring for the visitors. Five minutes before the interval Sergeant scored for Hull, and near the end Davies got a second. Ekens was very safe in the Denaby goal.
A pleasant and by no means a stale game was played between Lincoln City Res. and Castleford Town on the Sincil Bank, and the result—a draw –was a fitting conclusion to the contest. Whelpton gave a fine display in the Castleford goal in the first half, and was only once beaten by Waites. In the second half Castleford were the more dangerous, and Reilly equalised. Kendall, who acquitted himself well in the home goal, stopped a penalty kick taken by Roe.
The Fight For Second Place.
There is a keen fight between Grimsby Town Res., Scunthorpe United and The Wednesday Res. for second place, and the last-named improved their prospects by beating Doncaster Rovers at Hillsborough. Had the Reserves shot at all well, they would have won by a very big margin. They gave a trial to Randall, a rightback from Norton Woodseats, and he and O’Neill were the outstanding players in the game, the recruit being very cool and playing quite a good game. O’Neill scored the first goal from a penalty for hands by Wigglesworth, and the second goal came from a breakaway following a corner to Doncaster. Wolfe raced away and centred and Armitage had no difficulty in putting the ball into the net. There was an attendance of about 3,000.
Wombwell fought an uphill battle against Grimsby Town at Hough Lane, Wombwell. Tactics were far too rough on both sides, and MacEachran, the visitors’ left back, was given marching orders just before time. Talks and Casson gave Grimsby a two-goal lead before halftime, after which Wombwell rallied strongly, and Willis got through twice. Wombwell’s forwards lacked finish in the early stages, but the fault was remedied in the second half, Both goalkeepers made clever saves.
Harrogate played a splendid game on their own ground on Saturday, beating Scunthorpe by one coal to nil. The whole team was in excellent form and kept Scunthorpe on the defensive practically the whole of the time. Immediately after the start of the second half Strickland put, in a perfect: centre, which J.H. Smith headed into the net. Scunthorpe had a little more of the play afterwards, but only once did they look really dangerous.
Rotherham Teams’ Winning Wind-up.
Both the Rotherham clubs wound up their season on Saturday, both winning 1-0, at home. In playing ability there was not much to choose between the County Reserves and Wath Athletic, at Millmoor, before 4,000 spectators. The visitors had drastically revised their team, and County were without the services of Lounds. Barnes (Tinsley) was given a trial, and, although he had not too much to do, he showed good understanding. In the first half Wath had slightly the best of the exchanges, but there was no scoring. County gave a much better display after the interval, and obtained the only goal of the match through Darbey, with a header. Wath should have equalised a little later, but Wath’s strength was in defence, and not in attack.
Rotherham Town defeated, 1-0, Mansfield. Although the home team were, weakly represented, they played exceedingly well, Godfrey (goal) and Cutts (left back) played capitally. The halves were good spoilers, and Charlesworth led the forwards well, and scored the all-important goal. Mansfield, too, played good football at times, and had their finishing been reasonably good, would have won. Staniforth missed two or three good openings.
The match between Gainsborough Trinity and Wakefield City was the last match of the season at Gainsborough, and from a purely football point of view, provided the best game. Trinity were without Scott, Masson, Denton, McCormick, Keen, Buttery, and Talbot, but the display given by the reserves was a very fine one. Wakefield were a well-balanced side, and played a clever methodical game, but lacked the dash and decisiveness which characterised Trinity’s work in front of goal. An outstanding feature was the excellent combination of both sides. Trinity’s five goals were scored by Webster, Tehlum, Askie (two), and Shearman. Morton and Smith were the scorers for