Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 09 December 1929

Midland League.

Two Players Get Four Goals Each: Another Three.

57 Goals in 10 Games.

Big scoring ruled in Midland League matches on Saturday, no fewer than 45 goals being scored by the ten home teams and 12 by the away sides, giving an average of nearly six per match.

Chesterfield Reserves and Mansfield Town took heavy toll of opponents by netting nine goals each. Hunt, of Chesterfield, and McLachlan, Mansfield, each scored four goals, whilst Taylor, of Chesterfield, was another player who performed the “hat trick.”

Chesterfield Reserves met Frickley Colliery, whom they defeated 9—0, this being the Derbyshire team’s biggest victory of the season. The South Yorkshiremen seemed completely nonplussed by the shocking ground and weather conditions, whereas the home team were quite happy and enterprising. Their wing forwards, Andrews and Jobe, got across many useful centres and Hunt, with his usual enterprise as leader, scored four goals, Taylor (S. J.) three, Parkin, and Machent accounting for the others.

It was a peculiar match at Millmoor, where all the three goals by which Rotherham United Reserves beat Staveley Town were scored during the first ten minutes. Staveley had clever wingers in Nutter and Smith and, following the shocks at the start of the game, the defence played well. Lievesley (2) and Waring scored, and the former was Rotherham’s best forward, though Moseley made the most of the few opportunities he had. Considering the wretched conditions, the football was surprisingly good.

Changed Luck for Doncaster.

With the season almost half over Doncaster Rovers Reserves gained their first home victory —4-0 against Wath Athletic. Wretched conditions prevailed, and good football was impossible. The Rovers were always in the picture, and Wath finished weakly. Gregory, R. Smith (2). and Holmes scored, Stirman, of Pilkington’s, on trial in the home goal, gave a sound display. Gregory was the best of a steady half-back line, with Smith (R.) and Holmes predominant in the front line. Skeels was easily the best of the visitors, with Wilshaw clever. The defence, in which Bratley played well, were often hard pressed.

Considering the conditions, Mexborough Athletic, who won 4—3, and Loughborough Corinthians put an attractive game on the ground of the former. Mexborough’s recent acquisitions, Miller (inside-right) and Stevenson (inside-left) each scored two goals. Wroe, as against Frickley two days earlier, missed with a penalty kick, but the team as a whole played manfully, despite defensive blemishes. These contributed to two of Loughborough’s three goals, scored by Hoyland. Fellows put through his own goal.

The brilliance of Ashton in the visitors’ goal deprived Shirebrook of victory in their home match with Nottingham Forest Res., which resulted in a 1 – 1 draw. Time after time his charge was hotly assailed, but he cleared cleverly. He disposed a penalty kick by Bedford, and was equally successful when the kick was ordered to re-taken. After recovering from the shock of a first-minute goal by Howie for the Forest, Shirebrook improved, and had many openings, but Ashton was unbeatable. The equalising goal did not come until minutes after the resumption, when Bulling beat the ’keeper with a great shot at long range.

Half-back’s Goals for Lincoln.

High wind spoilt good football at Lincoln, and the game between the City and Barnsley second string was the less interesting in consequence, though it was keenly fought. Lincoln won 2 – 1, but there was not a great deal of difference between the teams. The home forwards played too closely, and did not adapt themselves to the conditions: indeed on both sides the defence shone better than the attack. It was Young, half-back, who scored the Lincoln goals. Barnsley got their goal through John Wall banks in 19 minutes, and they maintained the load for minutes.

Grimsby Town took a strong reserve side to the Northolme on Saturday, but were beaten 4 – 1 by Gainsborough Trinity. Trinity showed no signs of their heavy work at Hanley, and played superb on very greasy surface, swinging the ball about to good purpose. Harris scored a somewhat lucky goal in the first minute, and afterwards Trinity were generally the better side. Shaw increased the load, and in the second half Myers added two more goals. This roused the Grimsby attackers, and before the close Bestall, the ex-Rotherham forward, cleverly ran through and reduced the arrears. Conway and Fell were outstanding for the winners. Grimsby shot weakly.

Worksop Town claim that their 5—3 defeat by Scunthorpe United at Central Avenue was easily explained—they argue that two of the goals credited to Scunthorpe were scored from offside positions—the first and fourth. In any case Scunthorpe finished better and were the stronger team but not the better team. After missing a score of chances, Worksop registered the first three goals, a strange experience for their followers. Nevertheless Dean, from Wearing’s pass and then from Goddard’s centre, got a couple and Wearing a third. Then the visitors helped themselves to the next five, all their forwards scoring—Simmonds, Benyon, Cross, and Cailadine.

Hull City Reserves, at home, and Bradford Reserves played a goalless draw. The extreme wingers of Bradford, Parris and Geldard, were the outstanding performers but despite the many raids they set up the home defence Maddison, Rodgers, and Grundy, could not be mastered. Elwood at centre half for the visitors kept, a tight hand on McDonald, who on two occasions, however, missed open goals.

Back Helps Forwards in Gale.

Scarborough and Boston had the advantage of a gale of wind at Scarborough and whereas Boston could make no use of it in the first half Scarborough pressed almost continuously in the second and scored three goals. Boston showed clever footwork, but their finishing was weak. Gedney, a young outside-left, was their best forward; but they have to thank Streets their goalkeeper that their defeat was not heavier. The Scarborough defence never wavered, and in the second half Betton, the left back, who played a sterling game throughout, frequently assisted the attack. Clayson, Jenkinson, and Keating scored.

Mansfield Town, home on heavy ground, completely overplayed Newark in the presence of very small crowd the rain falling the outset. They won 9—0 after leading at halftime. McLachlan (4), Wannicott (2), Gray (2) and Murphy scored. Adey was the best man on the Newark side.

Denaby were sadly off-colour at Grantham, and 3 – 1,  three of the four goals scored—bv Evans and Keeton for Grantham and Hancock for Denaby—were the outcome of mistakes by the respective defences.

J. T. Dixon, the Grantham cricket club’s wicketkeeper, was included in the winning side, and he scored a very fine goal.