Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 11 March 1929

Midland League.

Lincoln’s Misfortune in Important Game.
Goalkeeper Collapses.

Mansfield Town gained a splendid 6-0 victory over Lincoln City Reserves, the leaders of the Midland League, Mansfield, with five matches in hand, are now only six points behind the junior “Imps.”

The “needle” match Mansfield attracted 8,350 people to the Field Mill ground, and Mansfield’s task was made easier by the absence of Hill, Lincoln’s goalkeeper, who collapsed the dressing-room at half-time, and was unable to take any further part in the game. A doctor was summoned and diagnosed the case as one of influenza. It appears that Hill was not well before the game started. Staniforth (3), Kerry, Morris, and Jackson scored for Mansfield.

Frickley Colliery played sparkling football beat Scarborough by 5—2 at South Elmsall. Despite the fact that the team was rearranged at the late minute owing to several players being down with influenza, the men worked with excellent understanding. The game was marked by the feat of Williams, Frickley’s centre-forward, in scoring four goals. He was a brilliant leader. Turnbull scored the fifth goal. Jones reduced the arrears, and Clayson added the second for Scarborough from a penalty. Coope, Frickley veteran secretary-manager, filled the inside-right position, and gave a bright display.

The first meeting of Chesterfield Reserves and Denaby United, at Saltergate, was won 3-0 by Chesterfield, Speight, the Denaby goalkeeper did a good deal of clever work. Howe opened Chesterfield’s score after two minutes from a centre by Sutton. Beedall adding second before the interval, while Sutton put on third a couple minutes from the close.

Shirebrook “Hat-Trick.”

Shirebrook’s 5—2 victory over Mexborough was well deserved. Binns, the local centre forward, was an absentee, but Kennedy, the former Mexborough back who deputised, was in rare form, and in the second half did tho “hat-trick” within 17 minutes. Miller shot Straight at the goalkeeper from a penalty and had a goal disallowed, scored in the last minute from Mercer. Ward in the visitors’ goal gave a capital display. His clearance of a deadly shot from Kennedy being particularly brilliant. Bowater, Heald. and Kennedy (three) scored for Shirehrook, and Briggs and Tilbrook for Mexborough.

Scunthorpe United gave a particularly bright display to defeat Notts County Reserves 3-1 at Scunthorpe. Scunthorpe were the better side. Norman Smith opened the scoring after three minutes, and just before the interval, Maw scored brilliant goal. In the second had, Smith, the former Scunthorpe half-back, headed through for Notts. Smith, of Scunthorpe, returned to the field after he had been injured to score Scunthorpe’s third goal.

Doncaster Rovers Reserves deserved their 3-1 victory over Gainsborough Trinity. An even first half saw the defences on top. Both sides missed chances before Swift scored after Patterson had presented him with gift, and this was followed a moment later by another goal from Barber. Croft reduced the lead ten minutes from the end with a penalty. Trinity forwards finished badly. Sewell was injured early in the second half, and Trinity though hard pressed fought back pluckily.

York Sharpshooter Held.

A hard fought match between Wath Athletic and Loughborough ended 3 —1 in Wath’s favour. The visitors settled down to the game before the home team, but there was little incisiveness in their attack. However, just before half-time Hewitson gave Wath the lead from a centre from Skeels. The second half was largely Wath’s, and persistent pressure was rewarded goals from Murdin and Hargreaves. Towards the end Loughborough tried rush tactics, which enabled Chilvers reduce the lead. For Wath, the most effective work was done by the left triangle, Skeels, Hargreaves, and Dennis.

The game at Oakwell between Barnsley Reserves and Hull City Reserves, which Barnsley won 5—3, ended rather roughly. In the first half Storer and Malkin kicked at the ball together, with the result that it passed over Gibson’s head into the net, and then Batty scored from penalty for a foul on Storer. Before the interval, however, Hull drew level through McDonald and Alexander. In second half Barnsley scored through Dowdall and Swift (two), McDonald replying for Hull. Barnsley were well served in defence by Batty, Breedon, and Hodgkinson, whilst the whole forward line did well, Swift being a very forceful leader. Hull were well represented Goldsmith, “Vickers, Alexander, and McDonald.

York City were beaten 4—0 at Wombwell. The Hough Lane side gave a greatly improved display, the City men never being in the picture. Combination among the Wombwell forwards was perfect, and Adey, who went to Wombwell as a half-back, gave a polished display at inside-left. Ranby and Merritt were effective in combination on the York left wing. Cowie, the City centre forward, lost a reputation by failing to score. He had scored ten goals in the two previous matches, and had not failed to score in any match for two months. Adey (2) Pardon, and Staniland (J. W.) scored for Wombwell.

Rotherham’s Poor Finishing.

Taylor (2) and Keeton were the scorers for Grantham who won their homo match with Rotherham United Reserves by 3—o. The superiority of Grantham was obvious in the first half especially, and only on about four occasions was their defence seriously extended. After the change of ends, however, the play was decidedly more even, and it was only the poor marksmanship of the Rotherham forwards which preserved Grantham’s score sheet. For once in a way Sullivan, Grantham’s record scorer, did not score.

Boston easily defeated Newark 2—0. In the first half play was practically in favour Boston, though owing to the light ball and tricky ground the shooting the inside forwards was poor. After 25 minutes, however, Jenkinson (S.) opened Boston’s account. In the second half Newark attacked, but after ten minutes Boston increased their lead through Craven, and in the closing stages Hoyland failed from a penalty.

A goal in each half enabled Grimsby Town Reserves to defeat Worksop Town Grimsby. Munnings scored just before half-time and Wright afterwards.