Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 06 January 1912

Denaby United  1  Mexborough Town  3

Mexborough paid a return visit to the Denaby ground on Monday, when they managed to repeat their Christmas Day victory over their luckless neighbours, and again by a two goals margin. Both these were fairly representative, and the match was fought out under the most pleasant conditions, a fair ground, a mild day, and a mellow sun.

Mexborough and in the same team that which beat Leicester Fosse eight, and Denaby turned out with Marshall in goal; Williams and Dawson, backs; Hill, Douglas and Westwood, halfback; Mercer, Clark, Walden, Bisby and Dodsley forwards.

So that two of the members of the original team at the season’s kick-off were reintroduced in Walden and Marshall, though the appearance of the erstwhile Southern league back, in goal was rather startling, almost starting as a scarlet jersey, which provides a lovely guide for the opposing forwards

Marshall as Goalkeeper.

I used to think had a chance of distinguishing himself in good company as a full-back, but failing that, I do not think he has the quickness and resource, of a goalkeeper, and I am afraid he showed that on Monday, when he allowed a couple to rushed through which would have been whipped clear of danger by Fred Thompson in no time. Mexborough were one up in the first five minutes, when Connolly, after coming pretty close to handling the ball, shot in, and Marshall pull the shutdown but failed to get away in time for the arrival of Tomlinson, who promptly push the ball into the net. After that the Mexborough goal had to stand a series of hot assault, and only sturdy and resolute work by the Mexborough defence managed to keep out the Denaby right wing, which was full of danger, and Waldon kept it well supplied with ammunition.

A Touch of Old Times

It was like a touch of old times to see Denaby’s chief strength lying in its halfback line, which played wonderfully well right through, and in its defence. If the team had been equally balanced fore and aft, Mexborough, although playing above their average form, would have had a hot time of it. The game was full of good football, and was the best Midland league match I have watched this season. Denaby had quite a long spell of attack, during which a hot valley by Jack Westwood failed to take Rounds by surprise, and was smartly cleared. When Mexborough returned they managed to get the Denaby defence in a tangle and twice young Rob Hill dropped back and played with the goal was in imminent danger.

Wathey Supplies Two Goals

However, Denaby, managed to reach the interval with no worst damage done, and had reason, on the whole, to be well satisfied with themselves. But when the game got well under way again, Mexborough were not long in settling the issue. The work of the whole of the forward line in this half was beyond reproach. They play quite clever football, such as is rarely seen in these local “Derbies” and Dawson and Williams had an extremely trying time. Mexborough soon advanced a couple of notches, and the goal was originated in each instance by the ex-Denabyite, Wathey, who was the best forward on the field. In the first instance he took a free-kick out of the touchline for a very doubtful foul by Dodds, and then he centre right into the goalmouth, where Marshall was too slow in clearing, and Tomlinson rushing up, whipped the ball through with a goalkeeper on the ground.

Denaby, Come at the Finish

That made Mexborough 3-0 and the result appear to be a foregone conclusion. Nevertheless, Denaby tried hard and pressed Mexborough sorely. Waldon once got Rounds, who ran out to meet him, in a tangle, but the Denaby centre was entirely unsupported by his colleagues, who were well down the field, and so he was outnumbered. However at length Denaby broke away and Mexborough’s defence being taken by surprise, Clarke scored in the confusion which prevailed in the goalmouth. That was a start at any rate, and Dodsley made a gallant effort shortly after, his best of the afternoon, to decrease the lead further. He raced three quarters of the length of the field with the defence in pursuit, and shot beautifully hard and low at close quarters, but Rounds chanced to be in the line of flight and fielded and saved smartly. The closing stages were hotly contested with Denaby having the best of matters, for Mexborough appeared to have their bolt. However, Denaby could not get through, and had to submit to the bitterness of sacrificing the full four points to their rivals, an event which had not transpired I believe since the return of Mexborough to the Midland league.