South Yorkshire Times, March 28th, 1970

Yorkshire League Cup

Sumpner Cracks A Last Minute One And Adds To Drama

Mexborough Town 1, Denaby United 3 (after extra time)

The last kick of the ball at the end of ordinary time gave a large crowd another course after a heavy meal of muscle and bone. Dick Sumpner’s shot to the far corner of the Mexborough goal added a half hour to a drama packed game. Man of the march – Mal Brunt – was finally unable to beat off the waves of red-shirted Denaby attackers, and Denaby secured a semi-final berth against Rawmarsh with two extra time goals. Preparations to this cup-tie must have included a diet of raw meat. Both teams were totally committed to their tackling which was definitely not for the faint hearted.

A couple of missed penalties thrown into this rugged encounter brought the tension to fever pitch, but Brunt kept his cool as the mud-splattered players fought out their private feuds.

Sly One!

Denaby were the first to show with Willey bursting through the middle only to put his shot wide. Then Morley had the ball in the net, but referee Ron Kavanagh wasn’t kidded. The hand, not the head, was responsible for that “goal”.  In the first of many rough-house clashes John Colley caught Peter Pettit – a driving force in mid-field for Denaby – with a body like tackle.

Pettit was soon back in action, heading narrowly wide. Then Glossop was pulled back by Toyne in the penalty area.  Mal Whitehouse, who had shaken off the effects of ‘flu to play in this match stepped up to take the penalty and he must have wished he was back home in bed as his shot slipped the wrong side of the post!

Opportunist

But Brian Parker, another half-fit player, seized on a chance to give Mexborough the lead after 30 mins. He headed against the bar, then beat a crowd of players to the ball to slam it past Whitehead. Willey had the opportunity to restore the balance five minutes later when Wood handled – rather unnecessarily – a cross bound for safety.  But Brunt told everybody to keep calm then dived to his left to bring off a superb save.

The second half battle was escalated as Denaby plied their front runners with ammunition.  Morley again nudged the ball into the net – again with his hand.

Great Save

Mexborough’s inability to clear cleanly allowed Denaby to push the danger right on to Brunt’s doorstep. But he was a very proud and busy householder rushing out to snatch the ball away time and time again as Denaby huffed and puffed.  Toyne must have thought he had got the equaliser with a terrific drive from 20 yards, but Brunt would have nothing of it, and he brought off a great save.

Even if the Mexborough defenders were able to handle the recognised Denaby attackers – just – there was always another red-shirted player forcing their hand.

Cook played Richard England very well, and Denaby had to look for salvation from the other wing. Sumpner, who had been equally well contained by Iggo suddenly popped up to slam in that last gasp equaliser.

In between times Morley and David Colley had been booked by a referee who did well to keep this game under control. Cook was called on to act as policeman when a spectator ran onto the pitch after England had tumbled to the ground in one of the endless goal mouth scrambles. With Sapey and Pettit forcing Denaby on they at last got the fruits of all their labour.

Reasonable

A reasonable claim for a penalty when Whitehouse was tripped after five minutes of injury time was waved away, then Wood was judged guilty as he and Morley went for the ball in the area.

As both players had given and received so many knocks in their personal vendetta throughout the match it seemed a harsh decision.

This time Willey got his own back on Brunt, and Mexborough were unable to break the Denaby stranglehold.

Morley flicked the ball into the net in the second part of injury time. This time he had used his head, and Mexborough were finished.

Injury note: Mexborough’s inside forward, Pat Cullen, is having treatment for damaged knee ligaments in Halifax Town.  He hopes to be back in action in a fortnight’s time “If everything goes all right.”

Teams:

Mexborough: Brunt, Cook, Iggo, Colley J., Bower, Wood, Colley G., Glossop, (Roebuck), Parker, Whitehouse, Steele.

Denaby: Whitehouse K., Allen, Toyne, Sumpner, Pettit, Bennett, Willey, Harvey, Morley, Sapey, England. Sub: Whitehead P.

Referee: R. R. Kavanagh of Sheffield.