Mexborough and Swinton Times September 21, 1928
F.A. Cup. (Preliminary Round).
Denaby Hat Trick.
One Goal And Many Failures.
Wath 0, Denaby 1
Denaby were rather fortunate on Saturday when for the third, time they heat Wath by a single goal margin.
During a iarge part of the game Denaby defended and Wath bombarded. Wath did not score because they tried to walk the ball into the net instead of shooting.
Wath attacked from the start and within three minutes a goal seemed on the way, when Ernest Murden sent in a hard drive and Birch (picture) just got his fingers to the ball to push it away.
Piaying delightiul football Wath kept up the pressure and Denaby were a disjointed side. Clegg was Denaby’s mainstay. Rodgers and Taylor miskicked badly.
After 15 minutes Dena by got away in their first combined movement. JENKINS took a pass from Turner and immediately shot, giving Whittaker no chance. In the three matches Denaby have won through accepting chances. Wath quickly retaliated and Birch saved his goal through sheer daring and pluck. Wath had some bad luck. Once Frank Moore sent in a hard drive. Birch was unplaced but Rogers managed to get his foot to the ball. Hargreaves and W Moore got away and Windle nearly scored for Wath while heading Hargreaves shot away. Denaby were for a time outplayed. Their goal had another narrow escape near half-time and Lesley Murden sent in the first time that had Birch beaten; but the ball struck the crossbar was scrambled away
Denaby attacked for a short spell after the interval and Clegg shot over. Wath forced the attack back and it became practically the first half over again.
The Denabay halves and backs defended strenuously. Whittaker was not seriously troubled. Feeling’ got into the game and in the last 15 minutes the ball was out of play much too often.
Clegg was the outstanding man of his side. Birch was another notable player, who made some daring saves. He did wonderfully well to get through the 90 minutes unbeaten. Rodgers and Taylor were not sound; the found the Wath forwards too nippy for them. Jenkins was easily the best of the Denaby forwards.
Wath played some of their best football of the season. The forwards combined well. There was only ono trouble: they could not finish effectively. Denaby won by shooting whenever possible. The two Murdens were outstanding and Frank Moore played well. It is a pity he is not a little taller; it is a big handicap. On the right wing W. Moore rave Windle a heap of trouble. Bedford was not up to standard but was a big stumbling block. Dennis was the best of the halves and the defence was rarely at fault. Wheatley was weak at times, but Bratley always covered well. Whittaker had several difficult shots to save: he did so with the exception of one which would have beaten any keeper.