Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 10 December 1928

Midland League.

Staveley Forward Keeps a Fine Goal.

Staveley defeated Grimsby Town Reserves 5—3 as the result of taking their chances in the first half, during which they scored their goals, without reply from Grimsby. The scorers were Stevenson (2), Smith, and Pearce. Grimsby recovered strongly in the second half and attacked continuously, to score three times through Swabey, Wilson, and Twell. Staveley’s defence played well in the second half, and Eggleshaw, the inside-left, who kept goal owing to the regular goalkeeper being taken suddenly ill in the dressing-room just before the match, was outstanding.

A draw of 1 – 1 was a fitting result to the Hull City Reserves—Scunthorpe match at Hull. The home team were the superior in the first half, but the goal they led by at the interval was of the gift variety, for Watson completely mistimed high ball, and Murray had no difficulty in scoring. The equalising goal was also of the simple sort, Gibson, the home goalkeeper, allowing a dropping shot from Wadsworth to pass through his arms. Webb was tricky winger for the visitors, whose defenders also did well.

Mexborough Athletic, in a game of changes, defeated Doncaster Rovers Reserves 4—2, and so avenged their defeat at Doncaster the previous Saturday. Mexborough opened the scoring through Davis with penalty goal. Doncaster improved, Price equalised, and Patterson gave the visitors the lead prior to the interval. The second half brought a Mexborough revival, in which Tilbrook, Higginbottom (H.), and Shaw penetrated the Rovers’ defence. Doncaster were patchy, and their defence cracked at the crucial stage.

Denaby at Home.

Denaby United, after five weeks’ absence from home, easily defeated Worksop Town at Tickhill Square. Worksop had four reserves and were rarely in the picture. From start to finish Denaby controlled the game and through Jenkins, Smith (J.), and Smith (C.). A promising debut was made by Brown, of Dinnington, outside-loft for the home team, and Jenkins was conspicuous at outside-right. Rogers, as usual, showed up well in the Denaby defence.

Wombwell and Shirebrook drew 3—3 at Wombwell in game of changes. Wombwell had the run of the play in the first half, but Mercer scored for Shirebrook. Thirty seconds later, and just as the whistle was sounded for the interval, Staniland (J. W.) equalised. After getting a couple of goals in rapid succession after half-time through Pardon, Wombwell seemed to have the issue in their hands. Later Miller went centre-forward, and the change worked wonders, for this player saved the game by scoring a couple good goals. Miller and Mercer played Borne delightful football for Shirebrook, Womb well’s defenders were inclined to take things too easy.

Boston proved too much the better side at Loughborough. Their defence were easily masters of the Loughborough attack. Levick, at centre-half, was outstanding. Hoyland of Boston, scored the only goal of the match.

Player Carried Off.

Wath Athletic had slightly the better of uninteresting game with Chesterfield Res which resulted in a 1 – 1 draw. Wath took the lead early on, when Moore converted a perfect pass from Smith, but within few minutes Cowan caught the Wath defence napping and easily equalised. The ground was treacherous, and there were several injuries. Skeels, the Wath outside-left, was a passenger throughout the second half, and Sutton, the visitors’ outsideleft, was carried off the field.

Notts County Reserves scored the only goal in their match with Frickley Colliery, at Meadow Lane, but it was not until nearly an hour had elapsed that Bannister, from a scrimmage following a corner, got the ball into the net. Notts were rather the more impressive side all through, but Frickley revealed a sound defence and were generally dangerous when they broke away. Bannister, at centre-half, was rare spoiler for Notts.

Newark put up one of their best performances of the season beating the Notts Forest Reserves 2 – 0 Hoddinott scored. The second half was full of thrills, but Hoddinott made the issue safe by scoring Newark’s second goal. Lowe, a local player, did well at left half for Newark.