Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 06 January 1912

Mexborough’s Revenge

Mexborough Town  2  Leicester Fosse Res  1

The reaction from the Christmas holiday matches, combined, perhaps with Mexboro’s heavy defeat at Leicester and Gainsborough, accounted largely for the small attendance at Mexboro’s home match with Leicester Fosse Reserve on Saturday.

The Fosse came with a strongly represented team, and as they had beaten Mexboro’h  8-0 at Filbert Street on Boxing Day, the odds were distinctly in their favour. Mexboro’, however as the result of a good hard game, continue to show that there was a kink somewhere in that defeat, and reversed the decision by the odd goal in three.

Leicester were represented by Starbuck; Palmer and Thompson; Thorpe, Lightbody and Burton; Clark, Osborne, Warburton, King and Harrison.

With the return on Monday, Mexboro’ got back into their usual shape, and turn out as follows:

Rounds, Crump and Murray; Tomkins, Davidson and Hargreaves; Wathey, Gladwin, Connelly, Beaumont and Tomlinson.

Missed Opportunities

It was a raw, heavy day. The play in the opening quarter was of a rough and ready scrambling character, with Mexboro’ having rather the better of matters. Joe Beaumont missed one good opening, but apart from that there were few incidents until the game got warm. Connolly was given a lively opening by Gladwin, finding a great centre, and at any time last year, Connolly would have blinded the goalkeeper with the shop. As it was he just shot tamely at Starbuck, not the least difficulty in clearing. Then the Fosse goal had another narrow escape, when Wathey raced straight through only to shoot over the crossbar.

A Steady Attack                .

A very steady Mexboro’ attack was crowned after 25 minutes by Tomlinson, who gave Mexboro’ the lead with a cross shot which hit the inside of the post, but which never found the net. Mexboro’ increased their efforts, and the two wing men were now very conspicuous. Tomlinson banged one extremely hot shot just wide and then Wathey added to Mexboro’s lead by taking a clever pass from Beaumont and sending in a dropping shot which beat Starbuck all the way. Mexboro’ were progressing comfortably now, but they had a check just before the interval, when King reduced the lead.

Another Missed Penalty

However, Mexboro’ had already done the damage and a somewhat tame second half saw them run out winners by the interval score of 2—1. This should have been increased to 3-1, for Crump returning to the field from an injury, failed to convert a penalty which Leicester gave away.

Mexboro’ for a time did the bulk of the pressing, but Leicester in the closing stages retaliated strongly, though without effort.

Wathey on Saturday was the best forward on the and since the return of his quondam partner, Gladwin, has done very well. Connelly cut but a poor figure and has fallen short of his Christmastide form. Beaumont played fairly well, and Tomlinson was his usual uncertain self- brilliant at one moment and puerile the next.

For the rest the half backs were good, the defence was resolute and the victory well deserved.