Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 28 November 1921

Midland League.

Wath Athletic improved their team against Grimsby Reserves, at, Wath, by the inclusion of Hargreaves and Harrison, and Grimsby found them a tough proposition. Talks scored for the visitors after half an hour’s play, Dixon equalising near the interval. After this the Athletic played a strong and determined game, but found a tower of strength in Jones, the opposing custodian, who saved repeatedly. No further goals were scored. Rotherham County Reserves went to Doncaster with a strong side, and a fast and exciting game took place. The Rovers missed .several easy chances, Black, in particular, two open goals, but, taken all through, the shooting on both sides was not up to the mark. On the general play Doncaster fully deserved the points. Williams converted a penalty in the first half, and Black added a second five minutes from the finish. The County reduced the lead in the last minute, Thorpe completely missing his kick and letting in Shaw, who made no mistake.

Lunn Scores All Three Goals for Wednesday Reserves

Wednesday Reserves proved too strong for Mexborough at Hampden Road. The fixture attracted a good “gate,” and the match proved exciting, although the football was, at times, of a rather poor standard. Mexborough opened at a great pace, but they eased off considerably after about twenty minutes, and before the interval The Wednesday, taking advantage of mistakes on the part of the Mexborough outer defences, got through twice. Lunn was the scorer on both occasions, and he completed his “hat trick” early on in the second half. He broke through with the ball at his toes, while nearly the whole of the home team stood appealing for “hands.” He scored with a terrific shot. Mexborough were awarded a penalty in the second half, but Birch saved finely from Armitage. The home side were three goals behind before they opened their scoring account, through Matt Taylor, who kicked in from a, corner. Armitage scored the second goal, converting a splendid centre by Gox. In the closing stages, Mexborough applied great pressure, but the Wednesday defence stood firm, the half-hacks, in particular, doing some very fine work.

Harrogate gained another victory at home, beating Denaby United by 4–1. Though the opening play was fairly even, Harrogate started a strong attack, and kept it up throughout the game. The first goal came to Harrogate fifteen minutes from the start, Gedney hitting the upright with a header, the ball bouncing into the net. Two minutes from the restart Ballance scored, Gale slipping with the ball. A minute later Smith added number two for Harrogate with a header, and Gedney scored a third after Lee in goal had fumbled the ball. The fourth was scored by Smith, who headed in from a centre by Fawcett. Harrogate played a fine game, Gale being again in splendid form.

Boston, against. Wombwell, could do anything but score. After equalising, 1-1, Boston had the visitors penned in their goal mouth for quite a long time, and the shots kept missing by inches. They ought to have won, and Wombwell were lucky to go away with a point.

Worksop Rather Fortunate.

Worksop Town consider themselves fortunate on collecting the maximum number of points from Lincoln City Reserves, whom they entertained and defeated 3-2. The junior “Imps” played surprisingly good football, and their position in the League table is an inaccurate reflex of their abilities. Fortune smiled upon the home team in the first half, and they scored three good goals, the marksmen being Banks, Bretnall, and Charlesworth. This lead flattered the Town, and in the second half Bonham and Stimpson reduced the deficit. A feature of the game was Oscar Bretnall’s goal. Surrounded by opponents, and from long range, he fired in a tremendous drive, which curled into. the far corner of the net.

The encounter between Barnsley Reserves and Castleford Town proved to be decidedly entertaining, and although the home team won by the odd goal in three, the issue was in doubt to the end. For the greater part of the game Barnsley were deprived of the services of Lowe, who broke a small bone in his left foot, and had to be carried off the field. Roe scored the home team’s two goals, whilst Spoors was credited with Barnsley’s goal, though the point was the result of an attempt to clear by Whelpton, the ball rebounding off Spoors’ legs into the net. Hoggard was the most improved player on Castleford’s side, whilst Cooper was as cool as a cucumber in Barnsley’s goal, and made some great saves. Robins played a great game.

Wath Win a Good Point.

Players Ordered Off the Field.

Scunthorpe United had to include three reserves in their team against Notts County Res but as it was their first home match this month, it was hoped that it would mark an end to their long run of defeats. This was not to be, however, Notts winning by 2-1. The United certainly merited a draw. Clark, their reserve centre-forward, opened the scoring, but Notts, who scored twice in two minutes through Death and Richards, were full value for their lead at the interval. Afterwards the game was more like a cup-tie than a league match. Notts were represented by a sturdy pair of backs in Cope and Gibson, and the former showed Scunthorpe’e light-weights no mercy. Many players were cautioned, and in the end Betts and Platts were ordered off the field by the referee.

Hull City Reserves registered their second victory of the season at the expense of Mansfield at Anlaby Road by 3-2. The visitors made this fixture the occasion of their supporters’ annual outing, and about 500 made the journey. Kitchen, the ex-Sheffield United centre-forward, opened the score for the home side, Taylor increasing the lead before the interval. In spirited attacks by the visitors, Smith and Foster put Mansfield on terms, but three minutes from the end Hudspeth snatched a victory for Hull with a rasping shot.

Honours Divided at Gainsborough.

There was the poorest “gate” of the season to witness the meeting of Gainsborough Trinity and Rotherham Town. A series of questionable decisions upset both teams and destroyed a lot of interest in the game. Both teams fought hard, and perhaps in face of what occurred, a draw was a satisfactory result. It was a wise move which put Talbot into the Trinity centre, as it gave Trinity a point. As things have turned out, it was a pity he was moved from that position. He was a long way Trinity’s best forward on Saturday, and Harris also played a fine game. Roberts, the Rotherham left-back, was the “star” performer of his side.