Mexborough & Swinton Times – Saturday 1 November 1924

English Cup

Denaby Pull It Off

Wombwell Fail In Last Five Minutes

A Victory Deserved

(Denaby United 1, Wombwell 0).

At the fourth attempt Denaby United managed to beat Wombwell in the third round of the F.A. Cup, but they left it until the last five minutes. Throughout the whole of the second half they had been pressing heavily, and time and time again only a miracle saved the Wombwell goal. Except for a brief raid early in the half, and for the few minutes after the goal, play was entirely confined to the Wombwell quarters during the second half. Corner after corner was forced on the left wing, Cooper being conspicuous on many occasions, but nothing resulted. Time after time was the ball dropped into the goal-mouth, but somehow it was scrambled away, and the crowd expressed its satisfaction—or disappointment. Nothing but luck could have saved Wombwell. And eventually the citadel fell. Hill broke away on the right, and after a nice run centred for Hawkins to send in a fast drive from long range, which left Burkinshaw no chance whatever.

The game took place on the Mexborough ground before a very good “gate,” which included large numbers of Denaby supporters, and not a few of the Wombwell side. Each team had three changes after Monday’s match at Wath owing to injuries, and it was obvious from the first that they were still feeling the effects of the previous encounter.

On the run of the play during the first half, strangely enough, Wombwell deserved the lead. They did most of the attacking in the later stages, but Denaby put up a stubborn defence. Nevertheless, it was good luck rather than good management that saved them on several occasions.

Winning the toss, Wombwell set Denaby to face the wind and sun. After a brief raid by Denaby, Wombwell got away on the left and a free-kick saw the ball placed in the goal-mouth, but Lack cleared. Play was transferred to the other end where Bedford conceded a corner, but Hill placed behind. A corner for Wombwell was also abortive. Marsden failed to stop Burkinshaw, and the ball went out to Hill, and another corner was forced, but again nothing accrued. Just afterwards Wilkinson brought Bromage to his knees with a fast grounder which he only just held, owing to the slippery condition of the ball. That was the first occasion on which either goal had been in danger, and the exchanges had been fairly even up to that point in the game.

Following a centre from Cooper, Illingworth shot hard from well out. The Wombwell keeper dived for the ball, which, was, however, just the wrong side of the post. A well-placed centre from the Wombwell right saw Alcock head over when well placed. From a free-kick Sykes hit the bar, Bromage, blinded by the sun being unable to see the ball which eventually went out for a corner, which was cleared. Wombwell were now doing most of the pressing, and Denaby were only dangerous in very occasional breakaways. A corner forced by Wombwell resulted in an exciting struggle in the Denaby goal-mouth, but a free-kick against Wombwell cleared the air. Half-time arrived with no score.

Denaby got away immediately after the change of ends, and the ball was scrambled into the net by Hawkins, but was ruled off-side. At the other end Illingworth failed to improve upon good work by Seargill. Cooper made a fine run on the left and hit the crossbar with his centre, the inside forwards missing an easy chance of putting Denaby ahead. From that point there was only one team in the picture, and whenever Wombwell broke away—which was not very often—they were invariably pulled up for off-side several times unwarrantably. Time after time Denaby attacked, only to be thrown back by the defence. After the goal Wombwell made strenuous attempts to equalise, but without success.

Wombwell: Burkinshaw; Marsden and Bedford; Sykes, Wilkinson and Whitechurch; Seargill, Ingledew, Alcock, Shaw and Kaye.

Denaby: Bromage; Lack and Taylor; Ashmore, Illingworth and Windle; Hill, Burkinshaw, Hawkins, Brougham and Cooper.

The gross “gate” receipts were £93 10s., and the attendance, inclusive of ladies and boys, was 3,321.