Mexborough & Swinton Times – Friday 29 December 1933

Mexboro’s Turn

Denaby Handicapped

Mexborough Athletic  3  Denaby United 0

The game at Mexboro’ on Boxing Day was robbed of a lot of interest by an injury to McLean, Denaby’s inside-left, who fell awkwardly after the first 10 minutes and took no further part in the game. The period before that mishap was the brightest of the game, and McLean’s tricky work was one of the brightest features. So quickly and cleverly did each side open that it was a great pity that promise of one of the best games of the series was spoiled.

Forced to play only four forwards, Denaby were for the remainder of the game always struggling against a stronger Mexboro’ combination, and in view of the continued pressure of the Mexboro’ men the wonder was that the margin was not a greater one. Taylor and Skelton defended to such purpose, however, that there was no scoring in the first half, and as the second half drew on with Mexboro’ still pecking away without being able to finish off their work properly, it seemed that a snap goal might settle the issue in favour of either. Then Ralph Burkinshaw, who at centre-half had been the outstanding figure of the game with his unruffled cleverness, swung across a high centre which Dotchin headed in in great style. From that point there was much more purpose about the approach work of the home side, and after Burkinshaw had added a second goal with a glorious long drive, Bolan put on a third.

Winstanley and Chapman always had the measure of the spasmodic Denaby attacks, and the game resolved itself into a battle between the Denaby rearguard and most of the Mexboro’ team, in Denaby territory, and the surprising feature was that Kirby in the Denaby goal had not much more work to do.

Only two real chances fell to Denaby. One was in the first half when a fine shot from Fitzgerald flew inches over, and the other was near the end when a penalty was awarded but Fitzgerald shot wide.