Mexborough and Swinton Times January 13, 1928

Skids and Goals.

Wath Plough Through Their Native Soil

Wath 2, Grantham 0

Watt): Whittaker; Bratley, , Wheatley; .Dawber, Dennis, Hargreaves; F. Moore, W. Moore, Williams, E. Murden L. Murden.

Grantham: Fox; Yaldren, Derrick ;. Pearce, Waterall, Cook ; Watson, Keeton, Gibson, Spaven, Dennis.

Referee: W. Bull, Gainsboro’.

Owing to Bedford being indisposed Dennis took the centre-half position and Hargreaves played left half at Wath on Saturday. -W. Moore came in at right inside. Grantham, with, one exception, fielded the team that beat Denaby a Saturday earlier. Gibson replaced Smith at centre-forward.

There might have been 400 people at the match, but the number does not matter. Those who were there saw the best slipping, sliding, rough and tumble match they ever saw in their lives. Never has a football played such tricks! And never have the players themselves. Yet it was interesting, especially for the Wath followers because the home side won literally “on their own mud-heap.” The twenty-two men had a free gratis mud bath—a reputed aid to beauty—and an invigorating run round.

Grantham slipped down the field in the beginning but Keeton did not get enough side on the ball and missed the Wath pocket. Next time Whittaker was in the way. Just to even matters Wath chased the ball to Grantham goal and frightened poor old Fox. From then till half-time the 22 stalwart lads representing Wath and Grantham delighted the spectators with some spectacular antics. Once Williams cannoned the ball off Fox’s back. But would it go into the net! No, it just ran right along the crossbar and dropped out of play. That was only one of many incidents.

When the teams changed over Wath found the new half the better for mud skating. L. Murden slipped along the left touch-line, and lifting his foot from the mud kicked towards goal. But he got too much bottom on

E MURDEN skidded along just in time and on helped it on its way successfully. Then WILLIAMS thought he would do the same only on his own. Soon after the twenty-two men went for a much-needed bath. And that’s all there is to be said.