Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 11 February 1929 P

Midland League.

Mansfield Town Creeping Up to the Leaders.

Shirebrook “Hat-Tricks.”

There is likely to be a great struggle between Lincoln City Reserves and Mansfield Town for the Midland League Championship. Mansfield, who are eight points behind the leaders, have four matches in hand.

Doncaster Rovers were decidedly unlucky not to gain full points in their meeting with Lincoln City Reserves at Belle Vue, for taken all round they were the bettor side. Price scored a clever goal after 20 minutes. Lincoln were seen to greater advantage the second half, when Gorringe, who with Maidment, took the honours of the attack, equalised. In the last five minutes Holmes was through with only Hill beat close range when no was badly brought down, but no penalty was given. It was the fastest and best Midland League game seen Doncaster this season.

After a drab half the game between Grimsby Town Reserves and ‘ Chesterfield Reserves brightened up considerably after the interval, four goals being scored. The home team eventually won 3—2. Grimsby had the lead in the first half with the only goal scored by Glover. Wright increased Grimsby’s lead six minutes after the interval and soon after Bilcliffe beaten by a terrific shot from Munnings. Chesterfield, however, made a brave fight for it, and Dutton and Shepard succeeded in reducing the Grimsby Iead.

Wath experienced bad luck in the match at Loughborough. Dennis, the left half-back, had to to hospital to have some stitches put his head and resumed outside-right after half an hour’s absence. Wheatley was injured early in the second half and took no further part in the game. In spite of _ those injuries Wath played a plucky game and it was Dennis, the injured man, who scored for them. Whittaker played splendidly in goal. Rowe (penalty) and Scott scored for Loughborough.

Mexborough Give Away Penalties.

Before 2,500 spectators at York, Denaby United did well to draw 2-2. York dominated the exchanges in the first half, Finney and Speight being prominent in defence for the visitors, while Jenkins was a dangerous winger. Green scored for Denaby and Charnley for York. The play was keen, and Cowie scared again for York and Smith equalised.

Grantham visiting Gainsborough on Saturday had Sam Taylor, the ex-Wednesday and Mansfield forward in the centre, and there was a welcome improvement in the attack. He made a bad mistake, however, when he missed a penalty in the second half and before the home team had scored. Gainsborough, however, were well worth the two points. The two goals they scored—through Shaw and Brown—were the result capital combined movements, Koll and Penn, Gainsborough’s backs, were always masters of the situation. Brown was the best of the Gainsborough forwards. Pearce and Dennis were outstanding for Grantham.

 Staveley Town did well to beat Mexborough Athletic 4-3 at Staveley. The latter took the lead after five minutes through Eggleshaw, but inside 15 minutes Mexborough were leading 3-1. Later Lack scored for Staveley from a penalty for hands; then Milner equalised. The second half was fought out at good pace. A foul Hawkins on Meads led to Mexborough’s downfall, Lack easily converting the spot kick. Beaumont and Vollans stood out prominently, and Bell was a splendid winger. Davis (2) and E. Higginbottom scored for the visitors. Lack was good for Staveley.

Scunthorpe’s Poor Finishing.

It was a rare good game between Scunthorpe United and Mansfield Town, and whilst the latter, were admittedly the more polished side, they were not three goals better than the home side. Their two clear goals lead at the interval did not any means represent the run of the, play in the first half, of which the greater part of which Mansfield were the defensive. Staniforth’s first-timer, however, gave them the ‘lead after 30 minutes, and the same player a second goal; one minutes before the interval. Prior to that Scunthorpe were awarded a penalty, but Wadsworth failed with the spot kick. Morris headed Mansfield’s third goal midway through the second half.

A strong Nottingham Forest team were too good for Worksop Town and won at Central Avenue 3 – 1. They were full value for the points and, fore and aft. played splendid footiball. Their forwards, well led by Jennings, was never understood by the home halves-, and, although Hunt and Fellows were a splendid pair of backs, they were seriously over-worked. Worksop held their own in the first half and deserved their lead, secured by their amateur recruit, Fred Conway, but Forest were the better side afterwards, Oates and Jennings  scoring.

Boston were full value for their 3—0 victory at home over Scarborough. Boston soon adapted themselves to the heavy going, and their forwards, particularly the wingers, played sparkling football. Jenkinson scored two good goals tho first half, and Earle increased the lead midway through the second. Scarborough’s defence were best served by Maskill.

Eight for Shirebrook.

Wombwell had the better of a keen game against Hull City Reserves, but were beaten 1—0. Three times the Wombwell forwards had the Hull goal at their mercy, and on each occasion the City left back, rushed in at the critical moment and saved the situation. Wombwell gave a very creditable display all round but the forwards lacked finish. Pardon and Crownshaw  missed some comparatively easy chances of scoring. The only goal of the match was scored midway through the second half by Duncan.

A rather scrappy game on the Oakwell ground ended in Frickley Athletic winning 1—0. Both sides lacked cohesion. In the early part of the game Barnsley Reserves attacked strongly, but Frickley’s defence prevailed. Williams gave Frickley the lead after sixty minutes, scoring with a shot which hit the upright before entering the net. Barnsley were best served by Richards, Smith, Jones, Storer. Haigh and Miller. Bromage, Price, Neal, Ward, and Turnbull were prominent for Frickley.

Shirebrook’s  8 – 2 victory over Newark Town on Saturday was well deserved. Binns’s inclusion strengthened up the front line and the ex-Doncaster player signalled his reappearance on the home ground by performing the hat trick.” Miller also accomplished similar feat. In the second half, Newark were completely outplayed, Mercer proving thorn in the side of Evans, the old Shirebrook centrehalf. Place, who deputised for Gillott in the home middle line, greatly impressed. Binns (3) Mliller (3), Mercer and Bulling scored for Shirebrook and Kennedy (own goal) and Hoddinott for Newark. Shirebrook had two goals disallowed for offside