Mexborough and Swinton Times January 6, 1928
A New Wombwell.
Dr. Gordon’s Return.
Wombwell 5, Grantham 1
(Wombwell: Smith Pennington, Brewin; Rushton. Brown, Sanderson; Fisher, Bradford, Gordon, Brunt, J Smith.
Grantham: Fox; Yaldren, Derrick; Cooke, Pegg, Walton; Watson, Spavin, Pearce, Keeton, Dennis.
Referee: S. Dewhurst, Rotherham.
With the coming of the New Year, Wombwell cast off the old man and put on the new. After the win over Frickley on Saturday they scored another success over Grantham at Wombwell on Monday. The form of Wombwell on Monday was not only remarkable but sensational. From the first they had complete command of the game and Grantham were completely nonplussed.
The match was by far the best played at Wombwell this season. It was conspicuous not only for the change in Wombwell’s fortunes but for the skill shown by both sides. Grantham played a first-rate game yet Wombwell excelled it.
They played like a team inspired. In the later stages Grantham were quite unable to hold them and Wombwell did pretty much as they chose. It was no one man business—except in so far as it might be said that the team played as one man. Yet one player was more in the limelight than others: Dr. J. Gordon, (picture) the amateur, who helped Wombwell two or three seasons ago. He has been with Sheffield Club this season. He seemed to bring a new spirit into the team and crowned a good afternoon’s work by doing the hat trick.
Wombwell made changes in the team that beat Frickley. Dr. Gordon was introduced at centre-forward in place of Bamforth (injured), and Rushton was back at right half. Mixed football was played for a time, then Rushton set Wombwell going, but J. Smith lost a good opening. Grantham persisted for ten minutes but soon lost pace, and Wombwell took up the running to remain on top more or less for the rest of the game.
Grantham were the first to score, but it was against the run of the play. DENNIS was allowed too much rope and he scored. After that Wombwell had the Grantham goal frequently under siege. BRADFORD got the equaliser. Immediately after Wombwell went ahead. It was impossible to see who scored as the ball was touched immediately before it entered the net, but SANDERSON, who made a good shot from midfield, got the credit. It was anybody’s game at the interval but Wombwell quickly got down to it again. When Grantham attacked Rushton was always there. There was some delightful pattern-weaving by the Wombwell forwards, who worked with fine -understanding with the halves. Dr. GORDON scored, and added a fourth, both with hard left foot shots. He completed his hat trick with a successful penalty shot.
The match left vivid impressions–Rushton’s long range vile-drivers, Dr. Gordon’s tricky footwork and hard shooting. Smith’s joyful careering towards goal. Sanderson’s dash and enterprise—above all, the grand team work.
For Grantham Pegg, Pearce, and Dennis were the more conspicuous.