Mexborough and Swinton Times February 3, 1928
Boston’s Defence.
Mexborough Baulked In Thrilling Game.
Mexborough 1, Boston 1
Mexboro’; Bromage; Beaumont, Sylvester; Hill, Saxton, Vollans; Hancock, Bramley, Briggs, Shaw, Dryden.
Boston; Wilson; Goodacre, Reid; Chambers. 0dlin. Richardson; W. Jenkinson, C. E. Richardson, Menlove, S. Jenkinson, Kears.
Referee: J. W. Gilling, Rotherham.
Ninety minutes of really hard going at Hampden Road on Saturday left the teams on equal terms. Both sides had a touch of luck to thank for it: but the balance of that element was certainly in Boston’s favour. Mexborough attacked muck more often in the first half than did Boston; and in the last few minutes of the second half they stormed the Boston goal in vain.
The holding mud discounted many of Mexborough’s efforts, bad finishing discounted a few others, and excellent defence checkmated a fair proportion.
On the whole chief honours of the day, went to the Boston defence; to two cool, reliable backs and a billion goalkeeper-tor Wilson played a game something like that one he played at Tickhill Square in the Cup tie last October. But even then Mexboro’ should have won.
As seems to be their fate this season Mexborough had to carry a passenger. Dryden the Conisbrough welfare outside-left, was given a trial but was completely over-weighted and outpaced. Had Mexborough and another wing as good as the right the Boston defence, good as it was, would have been worked to death. Brantley and Hancock (picture) worked neatly together and made quite the most effective wing in operation—at any rate in the second half, when Hill worked in useful co-operation.
Considering the handicap already mentioned, and the absence of Davis and Kennedy—it was just the day for Kennedy— Mexboro’ played a remarkably good game.
Boston, with Menlove back as leader of the attack, were a lively and clever team with one other individually shining light besides Wilson, Jack KEATS., the flying, hard-shooting ‘swinger. He gave Boston the lead after 10 minutes’ play that largely favoured Mexborough, with a dazzling run and glorious shot that left Hill, Beaumont and Bromage all helpless.
Mexboro’ pegged away in vain for three quarters of an hour after that before they got the meagre reward of an equalising goal. That was a pretty goal, too. Saxton suddenly pushed the ball out to Hancock, who was forced close to the line by the attention of Reid, but flashed across a delightful centre that the ever-ready BRIGGS headed into the net.