SATURDAY 17TH APRIL, 1954
LEAGUE DIVISION TWO AT ELLAND ROAD, LEEDS Attendance 17,000
LEEDS UNITED 3 (Charles 2, Forrest) BURY 4 (Kelly 2, Daniel, Pearson)
Scott; Dunn, Hair; Kerfoot, Marsden, Burden (capt);
McCall, Nightingale, Charles, Forrest, Iggleden;
Goram; Fairclough, Massey; Daniel, Hart (capt), Bardsley;
Imlach, Clarke, Kelly, Pearson, Simm;
Referee:- Mr. J.W. Hunt, Matlock
I was briefly back in Yorkshire for the Easter weekend to visit my grandparents and could not miss the opportunity of visiting my old haunts at Leeds United and Huddersfield Town during the usual busy Easter football programme. I was particularly pleased to see John Charles in action again after seeing his very first game for Leeds back in 1949.
Bury had played Brentford away yesterday and lost two of their players in the process, Gleadall had broken his leg and Greenhalgh pulled a muscle, so Simm and Bardsley came into their side. Forrest deputised for Harold Williams, the Welsh winger, in the Leeds side, but their line up looked a little unbalanced with two regular inside forwards on the wings.
Bury were the first to attack but Stan Pearson, formerly a big name player with Manchester United, shot over the bar. John Charles, one of the personalities of the season, was soon in evidence as he tricked Hart on the half way line and dashed upfield, only a last minute tackle by Massey stopping his shot. Bury's forwards were combining well and deserved the lead they took after only six minutes play, despite the fact that they were practically given the goal by Kerfoot. The Leeds wing half allowed the ball to trickle towards goalkeeper Scott but Kelly, a lively centre forward, ran in and slammed the ball home.
Charles distributed the ball well and one typical header put Nightingale through in an open position. His shot hit the post, but he was give off side anyway. Kelly was put through again for Bury, but Scott did well to come out of goal to smother the shot. Forrest broke through for Leeds on his own, but shot over the bar.
Then United got their first corner on the left.
Iggleden sent in a perfect inswinger and Charles, although hampered by Hart, sent a typical header low into the net. This was after fourteen minutes. Four minutes later Nightingale forced a corner on the right. Bury had three men marking Charles, so McCall sent over a perfect ball to Forrest who brilliantly headed into the roof of the net over Fairclough's head. Scott then made a splendid, diving save from Pearson following a left wing corner. Bury were now keeping the Leeds defence under continuous pressure and as the ball came out of the crowded goalmouth, right half Daniel cracked the ball into the far top corner of the net. Scott got his hand to it but had been late in his dive, as he had been unsighted.
This made the score 2-2 after only thirty minutes. There was a marked contrast between Bury's accurate passing and Leeds' ragged efforts. Daniel came through and put a waist high ball into the Leeds area, as it was going wide of the post, Kelly hooked it past Marsden and over the head of Scott who had unwisely advanced. United went straight down the field and were awarded a penalty for 'hands'. Charles crashed the ball into the corner of the net to Goram's right. Half-time score 3-3.
During the second half played became more ragged after the excitement of the first period, but there was still plenty of interesting moves. Simm dashed in but could only send Kelly's centre over from close range. Goram dived forward to save at Nightingale's fee. The the Leeds inside right got in a brilliant dribble, but McCall's centre was cleared. The Leeds defence was often troubled by the clever and speed Bury forwards. The Leeds wingers, both really inside forwards, switched positions several times, but were both obviously out of place.
Leeds looked as though they might score the winner in the last fifteen minutes and Charles sent in a terrific shot, which just skimmed the bar. In the very last minute Stan Pearson got Bury's dramatic winner, following another mistake by Kerfoot. Bury played much better than their league position suggests and thoroughly deserved their win. As for Leeds, they could do with Charles at centre half as well as centre forward.
EASTER TUESDAY 20TH APRIL, 1954
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT LEEDS ROAD, HUDDERSFIELD Attendance 35,841
HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 2 (Glazzard, McGarry) WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1 (Slater)
Mills; Staniforth, Kelly; McGarry (capt), McEvoy, Battye;
Burrell, Cavanagh, Glazzard, Davie, Frear;
Williams; Stuart, Wright (capt); Slater, Shorthouse, Flowers;
Hancocks, Broadbent, Swinbourne, Wilshaw, Mullen;
Referee:- W.J. Gaiger, Wilmslow
Following Wolves 4-0 victory over Town at Molineux yesterday, when Wheeler was injured, the home side had Mills back in goal, McEvoy was playing his second game after injury and Willie Davie returned to the team after a long injured spell. In that Wolves win yesterday Ivan Sharpe, a veteran football journalist, wrote that in forty years of watching football he had not seen a better goal than Johnny Hancocks explosive free kick from thirty yards.
Play was even for the first few minutes, the Town's reserve left half, Battye, put a long ball down the middle, Shorthouse mis-judged it and it passed over his head for Jimmy Glazzard to run on and beat Williams for the ball and put it into the net. Wolves looked the better combination and Huddersfield's defence only remained unbeaten because of the off side trap which they constantly employed. Hancocks had a good chance when he beat Mills to the ball but Kelly, playing against his former team, deflected the ball round the post.
Swinbourne gave a brilliant, dashing display, causing the usually competent McEvoy much trouble. Town had two amazing escapes, Mills first saving dramatically from Hancocks, leaving Wilshaw with an open goal, he lobbed it over Mills' prostrate body, but suddenly Kelly went into a dive and headed the ball out. What an ovation he got! It was unlucky for Wolves that Swinbourne was off the mark with his shooting or they would have won easily. Just before half time Slater came right through the middle on his own and pushed the ball past Mills. Wilshaw dashed in to make sure, but the ball was already over the line. Half time 1-1.
The Wolves captain, Billy Wright playing in the unaccustomed position of left back, came back onto the field after the interval shouting to the Wolves followers in the crowd that the 'Baggies' (West Bromwich Albion) were five down at half time against Aston Villa! They eventually lost 6-1 assuring near neighbours Wolves of the First Division title whatever the result at Leeds Road.
They were not there yet however as the second half began and manager Stan Cullis, sitting on the trainer's bench, was getting really exasperated with his team's efforts. Wolves did continue to dominate the play. Hancocks started to roam and he was just off the mark with three powerful drives, one of which hit the side net. Wolves half backs were outstanding and the backs gave little scope to the speedy Burrell and young Frear. Wilshaw had the ball in the net again, but was give off side by the linesman. Glazzard got in a good header but Bert Williams saved well.
The decisive moment of the match came when Shorthouse had to go off for five minutes with a head injury following Burrell's centre. Flowers moved to centre half with Wilshaw at left half. Bill McGarry, the Town's splendid captain, took advantage of the confusion in the Wolves defence and fired in a twenty five yard shot, which Williams never saw, to win the match. Wolves appealed for a penalty in the final seconds when Staniforth tripped and seemed to clutch the ball to him. The referee was not impressed and Town had achieved a notable victory over the League Champions.
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