South Yorkshire Times, April 12, 1969

Yorkshire League

Denaby United Tilted the Odds

Denaby United 2, Mexborough Town 0

Hoping for six points over Easter to maintain their challenge for the league title, Mexborough came unstuck at Tickhill Square on Monday when Denaby United produced some typical “derby” football to upset the calculations.

Mexborough are a hard side. They ran hard, fought hard and wing-halves Roger Wood and John Colley, spurred them on to greater effort, but once Denaby had snatched the lead it was like banging their heads against a brick wall. Denaby refused to give in.

Denaby introduced three new faces—Pitman in goal, O’Neil at centre-forward and Pears on the left-wing. Mexborough came out and attacked from the start, but found Pitman a worthy deputy for the injured Gordon Smith.

It was against the run of play that Denaby took the lead with 10 minutes gone. Followers of the home club have had little to cheer this season, but young Colin Pears got a rousing reception when he seized the chance to crack a first-time effort from the edge of the box into the corner of the net.

The goal was worthy of the occasion, and Mexborough received a further setback minutes later when John Royston volleyed first-time past Brunt to give the home side a great start to the first of the Easter “derby” games.

Mexborough strove hard to get back into the game, but were limited to hopeful long shots as

Denaby threw a blanket defence across the 18 yard line. Pitman took everything that got through and made a fine save at the foot of the post when Cullen headed goalwards.

The second-half was played out in the Denaby penalty box. Roddis and Gilbert were left upfield as Denaby operated a nine-man cover at the rear. Still Mexborough came close to getting the one goal they needed to get back into the game when Terry Glossop headed against the post and Brian Parker chipped the rebound against the bar.

The minutes ticked away, and with them went Mexborough’s hopes of a 100% record over Easter. As the game progressed Peter Caunt marshalled his defence and the visitors had to be content with looking to Tuesday for some solace.

Teams

Denaby: Pitman, Wiggles, Whitehead, Pettit, Parker, Caunt, Gilbert, Royston, O’Neil, Whittaker, Pears, sub. Roddis.

Mexborough: Brunt, Toyne, Iggo, Colley, Bower, Wood, Glossop, Warrington, Parker, Cullen. Steele