South Yorkshire Times, March 9th, 1934
Bravo! Bolan
Mexborough’s Touch Of The Old Adam
Reminiscences Of 1925
Mexborough Town 6 Scunthorpe United 2
Some of the glories of 1926 came back to mind as we watched Mexboro’ score their biggest and best victory of the season at Hampden Road on Saturday. There was a reminiscent flavour about that 6-2 walloping of one of Mexboro’s “bogey” teams.
It took us back to an October day in 1925 when there were few optimists who dared believe in our beginning–of–the season prophecies; a day when Mexboro’ had only 6 points for 7 games played and did not look like the champions they were to become before April was out. But October 31st, 1925, offered a hint of what was to come, for Scunthorpe, then standing well in the table, were thrashed 4-1.
And one of the cleverest little forwards whoever delighted Hampden Road crowds was largely responsible. Cyril Bramley was at his best that day, and he and Beresford wove such intricate patterns for the confounding of the Scunthorpe defenders that Liversidge, left-back, was seen, after the scoring of one of the goals, squatting with his bewildered head in his hands.
And on Saturday last it was another gallant little box of tricks who led Mexboro’ to their best victory of the season. Bolan was as much the hero of this match as Bramley was of that game over eight years ago. Mexboro’ did hardly three more times attacking than did Scunthorpe, yet they scored three times as many goals, thanks to Bolan (picture).
The opening of this match will remain one of the most memorable in Mexboro’ football history. The first Scunthorpe player to touch the ball was the goalkeeper who picked it out of the net 15 seconds after Bolan started the game. This must be written as probably the most remarkable goal ever scored in local football. The records of the game are sprinkled with occasional instances of goals scored without getting a “swell,” but it will be found in all cases, the movement began with a pass out to the wing. The opening goal on Saturday was scored without either of the Mexboro’ wingers touching the ball; the movement was carried through entirely by the three inside forwards, Bolan, Grange and Smith and Bolan finished it off with a low shot that left Coldwell helpless.
And that was by no means all. Inside another thirty seconds the ball was again in the Scunthorpe net. Hardstaff, the Scunthorpe centre-forward set the ball rolling again. Bolan promptly intercepted his pass and swung the ball to Baynham on the right. Baynham centred, Hill, the Scunthorpe left-back, partly defected the centre and Smith threw himself full length to score with a great header. Thus Mexboro’ were two up before eight members of the Scunthorpe team had kicked, headed or handled the ball. All this against a blinding sun and blustery wind.
Scunthorpe never quite recovered. They looked as though they might in the rest of the first half when they fought back well, showed occasional glimpses of combination, and kept the Mexboro’ backs busy. But their finishing was poor at best, atrocious at worst. They contrived to equalise before the interval, thanks to a couple of real pile-drivers by Barry and Smalley, which were marked exceptions to the general rule of hesitancy that governed the Scunthorpe forwards’ behaviour in front of goal.
But Mexboro’ were promptly ahead again. They did not start the second half in quite such starling fashion as they began the first, but they were on the job inside a minute or so with another goal by Bolan. Scunthorpe fell away badly this half, and the half-backs were kept much too busy looking after Bolan and company to give their own moderate attack much support.
As that attack was further handicapped by an injury to the centre-forward, Hardstaff, which sent him out on the wing for part of the time, the Scunthorpe defenders had their hands full chiefly owing to the quickness and ubiquity of Bolan who gave his best display.
Bolan “looked like goals” whenever the ball was put to him, and his forward colleagues and the halves, fed him assiduously. In spite of the constant attentions of a couple of opponents, Bolan found his way through twice more to complete a quartet of clever goals. Smith completed the half-dozen, so that this youngster in whom the Wednesday are interested had a good afternoon too.
But Bolan was opportunist, a small but dangerous parcel of highly-concentrated energy, with a ready shot and clever ball control. This last was the more noticeable in a match in which very few players ever got the ball under command. The play, apart from the performances of Bolan, did not reach a high standard because of the weird tricks the wind played with the ball. For Mexboro’ it was a victory of persistence and opportunism, with Bolan the super-persister and super-opportunist. The halves were sound and Ralph Burkinshaw held the team well together. The defence again did well with Wilbourne outstanding. Smallman from Darfield Bridge introduced owing to the absence of Winstanley through the injury suffered at Hull, showed distinct promise. Wilkinson had another good match and one flying save across practically the whole width of the goal was one of the big thrills of the ninety minutes. The inside forwards formed the best part of the Mexboro’ attack. Baynham did some useful things but Miller had an off day. Shepherd played a very hard-working game.