Mexborough and Swinton Times, April 22nd, 1932
Beaten on the Post by Bradford City
Mexborough 2 Bradford City Reserves 3
Two goals scored within the last five minutes sufficed to give Bradford City Reserves a 3-2 victory over Mexboro’ at Hampden Road yesterday, which they must have considered rather a fortunate result. They were certainly not the better team, and the Mexboro’ players did well to a man, deserving at least to share the points.
Mexboro’ missed a couple of early chances, Fleetwood shooting straight at Barron with the goal at his mercy and Coleman hitting the side net from a good position, but apart from these errors the team gave a great-hearted display under most appalling conditions. Even in the second half with the rain in their faces they continued to have a fair share of the play, and only the pluck and resources of Barron saved the visitors on several occasions.
The Mexborough backs have rarely played better and exploited offside tactics with notable success in the second half. Wheatley’s dash and determination were matched by the cool skill and nice kicking of Greig. The left back never mis-kicked throughout the match under conditions which could hardly have made kicking more difficult. Haigh was Mexboro’s best half-back and showed remarkable stamina, while Oxley used his head well, and Wallis did well against Stott, ab exceptionally tricky winger. Renton and Fleetwood formed the better Mexboro’ wing, and Fleetwood might once or twice have scored when unfairly checked by the Bradford defence. Though he did not score, Julian was a great source of anxiety to Bradford at centre-forward, and was very quick off the mark. Coleman was better in the first half than in the second and Fitzgerald tired towards the end though he showed some clever touches. Best was very safe in spite of the treacherous conditions.
For Bradford none did better than Barron, though Woolhouse did well and scored the best goal of the match to put Bradford ahead four minutes from the end. Stott got Bradford’s second goal a minute before through a wide-flung movement after Mexboro’ had narrowly missed scoring at the other end. Medley had previously opened Bradford’s account immediately on the resumption while the Mexboro’ defenders were appealing for offside, though the goal appeared legitimate from the stand. Renton after 18 minutes, and Coleman, from a penalty after half an hour, were Mexboro’s scorers.