Mexborough and Swinton Times January 13, 1928

All But Goals.

Wath’s Failing At York.

York 3, Wath 1

York : Crowther; Flynn, Page; Precious, Levick, Middlemiss ; Noble, Fenoughty, Hammerton, Clayton, Merritt.

Wath : Whittaker; Bratley, Wheatley ; Dawber, Bedford, Dennis; Moore, Hargreaves, Williams, E. Murden, L. Murden.

Referee: C. Hutchinson, Rotherham,

Wath must have left on Saturday with mixed feelings. So much did they over-run the York side in the first half that a substantial lead should have been established.

York introduced a number of local juniors in the hope of putting speed into the attack, and they were a long time in finding their feet.. Bedford was a skilful pivot for Wath and from him developed a series of attacks. York were a long time before they emulated the precise passing and rapid movements of the Wath forwards, and their subsequent rally was due chiefly to the sound, solid work of a greatly harassed defence. Crowther was the one barrier the Wath forwards could not overcome. He was perhaps fortunate when a hard return by Dennis hit the crossbar, but apart from that he handled the ball brilliantly during the first half pressure.

York did very well to survive with the concession of only one goal at the interval. That was scored after 10 minutes and was skilfully worked for by HARGREAVES, who was always a forceful factor in the Wath attack. Their first half efforts and good work of the York defence took a great deal of snap out of the, Wath attack, and the play underwent a marked change after the interval. The York forwards started to develop concerted action and within a minute of the restart HAMMERTON equalised. Wath suffered similar pressure to that they had given York, and conceded HAMMERTON a second goal after 69 minutes. Wath made a few spirited raids in retaliation, and during one of them Hargreaves got the ball in the net but was ruled to have fouled a defender.

York’s win became definite 12 minutes before the end. MERRITT sent the ball direct into the net with a corner kick.

Watit had sufficient chances in the first half to get a winning lead. Their attack was well balanced and methodical, and much more accurate and crisp in passing than York’s. Hargreaves stood out as a hard and skilful worker. Bedford was a tower of strength, and generally the backs tackled and kicked well. They were a little worried by the speed of Merritt, but for quite half the game they dominated the York forwards.

it was a game in which York there no better than Wath except in opportunism. They did not ask tor chances twice but made use of almost all they got.

It their approach work lacked the craft of Wath’s their finishing was certainly the better.