Sheffield Daily Telegraph – Monday 14 November 1921
Midland League.
Doncaster’s Slight Solatium.
In the game at Doncaster, on Saturday, Rovers took their revenge on Wath, for knocking them out of the F.A. Cup competition, and won easily by three goals to none. The home teams showed a wonderful improvement, both in speed and combination, and obtained their three goals in the first half. They ought to have repeated the performance in the second half, but finished weakly. Jefferson was a good custodian for the visitors, whose forwards shot badly.
The feature of the game between Lincoln City Reserves and Mexborough Town on the Sincil Bank was the sterling display of Cope, the visiting custodian and his two backs, M. Taylor and Glover. The first half was goalless, and twelve minutes of the second had expired when Stimpson scored the City’s only goal, Wood equalising for Mexborough five minutes from the end. The attendance was about 1,800, which is an improvement on the City’s recent Midland League “gates.”
Boston made a splendid match for Wombwell on the Hough Lane ground on Saturday, but they were very weak in front of goal. The fixture provided some sparkling, football, both sides playing a fine sweeping game, but Wombwell showed superior marksmanship. Play was transferred from end to end in the most exciting fashion, and altogether, it was a most enjoyable contest from the spectator’s point of view. T. Smelt and Parton scored for Wombwell in the first half. Parton, Kaye and Drew, for Wombwell, and Manning and Robson, for Boston, rendered capital service.
The game at Denaby, between Denaby United and Hull City Res. proved sensational in that the home side, being one goal behind for the greater part of the game, made a splendid rally in the last twenty minutes, and put on three goals. The home side ought not to have been a goal down so long, for they played better football than their opponents, and were much more aggressive. They were very unlucky in front of goal. Taylor gave Hull the lead, and his side were awarded a penalty a few minutes later, but Lee saved his goal with a wonderful effort. Denaby kept up a high pressure all through the second half, and about twenty minutes from the end Parker, a youth who was on trial at centre half-back and who made a very successful debut, equalised: Five minutes from the end Burkinshaw finished a splendid solo effort by giving his side the lead and Ballance added a third goal just on time.
Worksop’s First Defeat In Fourteen Successive Matches.
The engagement between Rotherham County Reserves and Worksop Town—two clubs striving hard for the Midland League championship produced keen and Sensational matches on successive Saturdays, and each went in favour of the home side by three goals to two. That on Saturday, at Millmoor, provided Worksop with their first defeat since they went under at Mansfield by 2-0, on the opening day of the season, since when they had played thirteen more matches. The Reserves’ winning goal was scored with absolutely the last kick of the match.
The teams were evenly matched, although County scored through Dobson and Cawley in the first half. The first goals was apparently due to a misapprehension by Brown, the visiting custodian, and the second came from a rebound. In the second half Worksop exerted considerable pressure, and Papo and Sutcliffe had hard work. Charlesworth and Amos succeeded in bringing the score level, and there seemed every probability of a draw when a foul was given against Worksop. Although the shot did not find, its mark, before a clearance was possible Williams headed into the net.
Harrogate were beaten by the only goal of the match, by Notts Forest Reserves, at Harrogate. Notts turned a strong team, but though they pressed time and again they could not pierce the Harrogate defence, until ten minutes from the end. Bancroft got possession and shot smartly into the net. Barnes nearly equalised for Harrogate, who attacked hotly, but fruitlessly to save a point.
Wakefield City gained a meritorious victory at Mansfield on Saturday after being overplayed in the first half. After the interval their forwards played brilliantly, Smith, Heaton and Robinson were very prominent. The last-named and Heaton scored for the winners, and Clarke for Mansfield. Much was expected of Foster, from Coventry City, in the home centre, but, he was disappointing, and the other inside forwards were weak.
A very fast and drawn game resulted from the meeting of Castleford Town and Grimsby Town Reserves, at Castleford. The home team ought to have won, but Tillotson failed to convert the penalty. The Grimsby forwards, of whom Robinson and Collier were the best, had a perfect understanding, whilst Lewis paid a good deal of attention to Roe, especially in the first half. Collier and Talks scored Grimsby’s goals when the Castleford defence was in a tangle each time, whilst Roe was Castleford’s scorer, heading two centres from Robins past Harrison.
Three Lincolnshire Clubs Beaten.
Gainsborough Trinity were defeated 2-0 by The Wednesday Reserves at Hillsborough on Saturday. During the first half Wednesday had matters pretty much their own way, but their finishing was very weak. However, from a pass by Shelton, Hall managed to give them the lead after twenty minutes. The game had been in progress only a minute in the second half when Armstrong added number two. Afterwards feeling crept into the play, which deteriorated, and following two bad fouls, Wield, the right half-back of Gainsborough, was sent off the field. For the visitors, Scott was good in goal, while Harris was a sound back. Tellum was the best of the half-backs, and Buttery of the forwards, not much being seen of Talbot. The defenders of Wednesday were never extended, and the half-backs were always masters of the visitors’ forwards. Matthewson and Shelton were dashing wingers, and Lunn played a fairly good game and held the line together.
Rotherham Town were rather fortunate to beat Scunthorpe by such a score as five goals to one, as on the actual run of the game the visitors had nearly as much of the play as their opponents. Rotherham undoubtedly owed the success to the forwards taking their chances. Cutts (2), Elliott (2, one from a penalty), and Godfrey scored for Rotherham, and Gibson for Scunthorpe. There was an attendance of about 2,500.