Mexborough & Swinton Times — September 10, 1904

The Coming of Football

Derby Match at Denaby

United Wear Down Mexboro’ Town

A Win for the Midland Leaguers

’Midst a blaze of sunshine and atmosphere conditions, more congenial to cricket, the sporting enthusiasts of the Mexboro’ district on Saturday “gave over” the old love and “took on” the new, the advent of football being eagerly embraced and awakening renewed interest, the livelier because of the nature of the opening contest—nothing less than a league game between those neighbouring rivals, Denaby United and Mexboro’ Town. Truly a dish to whet the appetite for the long campaign now commencing.

It goes without saying that each club was encouraged in this initial fight for local supremacy by their supporters, who rolled up hundreds upon hundreds strong. The United’s field, shortly before the whistle set the players going, presented an animated aspect, and for something like an hour previous to the start of the game the ’bus drivers plying between Mexboro’ and Denaby did a roaring trade, the unusual traffic being something of a resemblance to the strike demonstrations of some eighteen months ago.

Denaby United thus early in the season had tasted defeat, going down at Barnsley on the opening day, but this was Mexboro’s first competition proper trial, and much speculation was involved in as to the probable result. Denaby were evidently bent on reversing the unwelcome verdict of last season, when Mexboro’ came out top in the encounter between the clubs, and the Town players were equally determined to verify a frequently-expressed opinion that though they had not been admitted to the Midland League, they were as good as many a team in it. Hence the circumstances surrounding the match contained all the elements likely to produce a keen game.

And so it proved, keen as mustard, the high feeling “running round the ropes” infecting the players, who straightway proceeded on vigorous lines, bordering ever and anon on roughness. As a game it was both good and bad—streaky, perhaps, would be the better term—but it was exciting enough, in all conscience. It was a study in contrasts, Mexboro’ showing the best football in the first half, when they collared, though Hakin, the only goal scored, and dying away to ineptitude after change of ends, what time Denaby rammed on “full speed ahead” and ran them practically to a standstill, booking a trio of goals, and eventually sailing out comfortable winners.

By which it will be seen that Denaby’s better condition, rather than superior cleverness, was the secret of Denaby’s victory. George Cutts, their new trainer, knows, if any man does, the moral effect of a team “getting off the mark” well, and the fact that the longer his men played the more they improved, reflected credit on his training methods. Mexboro’ Town exhibited enough good football in the first half to demonstrate their skill and capability, but their weak display in the closing moiety sadly discounted their previous good work, and the game showed they are not yet properly “wound up” to last a full ninety minutes, especially such a high-pressure spell as on Saturday.

As before stated rough play robbed the game of much of the finer points of football, and during the second half Chatfield, of Denaby, was ordered off the field. It certainly seemed that McNeil of Mexboro’ was equally at fault, and had both received marching orders early on it is more than probable a better display all round would have resulted. In any case the game as played was weakly pointed to the fact that both Denaby and Mexboro’, particularly the former, have stronger teams than last year, though Simmonds and Rothery, the Town team’s extreme wingers, sadly disappointed expectation, and discounted the efficacy of the Mexboro’ attack.

Taylor, too, in goal, was off colour, and though Powell and Westwood, at back, strove valiantly, and the half-backs worked desperately, the team, as a whole, failed to last in the face of Denaby’s tremendous movement in the closing half. That Denaby deserved to win was easily apparent, but for all that their actual goals were not convincingly classy.

Their first came through the medium of a penalty, negotiated by Lawley, but the offence leading up to it seemed a bit of a mystery to players and spectators alike. Their second and third points, scored through Roper and Hosey, were good shots, but, on his last season’s form, the Mexboro’ goalie would have shaped better at them.

Still, all things considered, both sides gave distinct promise of having a successful season, and the return game should be worth going a long way to see.

Denaby, it should be mentioned, lost Lavery during a part of the game through temporary injuries, and it was a bit of a wonder more men were not hurt in some of the sultry passages.

Regarding the victorious side, the defence was especially solid, with Welsh the outstanding figure. The halves worked well, and the forwards possessed plenty of dash.

Teams:—

Denaby United: Mossey, goal; Welsh and Lawley, backs; Nimrod, Binney, and Chadfield, half-backs; Lindley, Arnold, Hosey, Lavery, and Roper, forwards.

Mexboro’ Town: Taylor, goal; Powell and Westwood, backs; McNeil, Biggs and Shaw, half-backs; Simmonds, Rogers, Hakin, Groves, and Rothery, forwards.