Match Report:
The Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian: 01-11-1937. (Courtesy Steve Bell)
Halifax Town's Bright Football
Two Goals Up at Interval Against Leeds United
Halifax Town made two changes in their team to meet Leeds United at the Shay to-day in the replayed first round West Riding Senior Cup-tie.
Jackson found it inconvenient to absent himself from work and Willis from the Reserves took his place, while Birks deputised for Green, who
sustained a slight injury to the thigh at Oldham.
Leeds fielded their Central League eleven. The teams were:
Halifax Town: Owen; Allsop and Willis; Birks, Craig and Brookes; Rose, Griffiths, Thomas, Barkas and Hoyland.
Leeds United: Thompson; Goldberg and Gadsby; Hampson, Kane and Mills; Henry, Thomson, Trainer, Francis and Hargreaves.
Hoyland had an oppurtunity for a quick shot in the first minute, but hesitated and was tackled. A much better chance fell to Hargreaves a moment
later, the Leeds left-winger going through with a clear field from a pass from Trainor, only to shoot wide.
Leeds maintained the attack for a time, Trainer heading over the top from a corner, whilst Francis was too high with a shot from 15 yards range.
Hoyland made a praseworthy effort when he cut through from a pass by Barkas, but he overkicked the ball, which passed out of play.
Halifax took the lead after 15 minutes play when Hoyland made ground smartly and sent inside to Barkas who was following up at top speed.
Barkas with a right foot gave Thompson no chance, the ball just inside the far post.
Two minutes later during a hot attack on the Leeds goal. Thomas got his foot to a centre from Hoyland and Thompson had difficulty in reaching the
awkward bouncing shot, whilst Kane, a moment later did well to prevent Griffiths from getting in a shot at close range with the goalkeeper well away
from his charge.
After 18 minutes play, Town were two up when Thomas got across a centre which the Leeds defence failed to clear. Barkas from close range, got
in a header which Kane actually caught in his hands. The ball, however, by this time well over the line and instead of awarding a penalty the referee
rightly gave Halifax a goal.
LUCKY ESCAPE
Hargreaves had another chance, but after taking the ball through pulled his shot across the front of the Halifax goal.
Town had a lucky escape when Owen missed the ball in his attempt to punch away a corner from Henry. Fortunately for Halifax, Allsop was able to
make a timely clearance near the post.
Town looked likely to increase their lead when Hoyland once again broke through and centred to Thomas who drove in a fine oblique. The Leeds
goalkeeper, however, brought off a brilliant full-length save, and when Rose returned a drive, the ball hit the side net.
Hargreaves missed a third chance when he shot wide from a possible scoring position, whilst Henry blundered badly by mis-directing his shot
close to goal with only Owen to beat. There were no more than a thousand spectators.
Half-time : Halifax Town 2 Leeds United 0.
Match Report:
Yorkshire Post: 02-11-1937
W.R. SENIOR CUP:
Leeds United Beaten at The Shay
Leeds United were beaten 3-0 in the West Riding Senior Cup first round replay at The Shay yesterday. Weak shooting by the Leeds forwards
proved their downfall, but Halifax Town were the smarter set. Within the space of 17 minutes Barkas had twice found the net and with Thomas
heading in a fine goal in the early stages of the second half Halifax had an easy passage. It was not until well into the second half that the United
players made any headway. Then Henry, on the right wing, missed an easy chance when he had received from Trainer, the leading forward, and
had only Owen to beat. His final shot was very wide of the mark. Halifax Town owed a great deal to Barkas, the smartest player on the day.
Thomson, at inside right, was the best of the Leeds players. The attendance was about 300. Teams: HALIFAX TOWN: Owen; Allsop, Willis; Birks,
Craig, Brookes; Rose, Griffith, Thomas, Barkas, Hoyland. LEEDS UNITED Thompson; Goldberg, Gadsby; Hampson, Kane, Mills; Henry, Thomson,
Trainer, Francis, Hargreaves. Referee: H. Healas.
Match Report:
The Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian: 02-11-1937. (Courtesy Steve Bell)
Too Good for Leeds United
Halifax Town's Well-Merited Cup Victory
Clever Forward Play
Scorers: Halifax Town: Barkas (2) Thomas. Leeds United 0.
In defeating a Leeds United team which included several players of considerable First Division Division experience, Halifax Town not only made
progress in the West Riding Senior Cup competition, but they added to the lustre which recent outstanding displays against such powerful opposition
as Gateshead and Oldham have gained for them.
There was no doubt as to which was the better team on the day's play-the Leeds officials freely admitted the merit of Town's success- and it would
seem that, given and a little smartening up of the finishing of the forwards, Town must quickly climb the League table.
BARKAS AGAIN
So confidently did the Halifax team tackle its task that Jackson, who could not play owing to business reasons and Green, who was hardly fit
following a knock at Oldham, were scarcely missed. Both Willis and Birks, who deputised, gave good accounts of themselves.
Town had a strong and resourceful rearguard, in which each man shouldered his share of responsibility with Craig ever a sound centre half-back
and Allsop and Owen dependable in the rear. Willis made quite a satisfactory first team debut and was outstanding for the speed of his recovery.
The Halifax halfback line was not only reliable in defensive play but generally gave intelligent support to the forwards who, in turn, played attractive
football.
Barkas was again a shining light by his craftly ball-work and the manner in which he repeatedly sent Hoyland away with perfect perfect through
passes. The winger responded well to these promptings and his penetrative raids were one of the features of the game. No doubt, Hoyland can
improve his play still further by making his finishing less hasty, and more certain but, meanwhile he is Town's most incisive forward.
GRIFFITHS IN FORM
Another player who has recently found his form is Griffiths at inside right. Griffiths was alike artisticand effective, though Rose, his partner, lacked
the speed on occasions to make the most of his openings. Thomas set his line an example in endeavour and dash. He needed close watching and
distributed the ball quite well.
Leeds lacked the marksman or they would have made the issue much closer.While Trainer was a vigorous leader and Thomson and Francis
contributed neat touches the line had no finish, and Hargreaves and Henry were particularly remiss in front of goal. Kane and Goldberg were the pick of
the defence, though Thompson, in goal, made a particularly fine save from Thomas in the first half.
Town took the lead after 15 minutes play when Barkas rounded off a capital move by taking the inside pass from Hoyland to give Thompson no
chance with a well-placed shot. Three minutes later, Barkas headed in a second from a centre by Thomas who, after 55 minutes' play contributed the
third goal with a back headerfrom Hoyland's corner kick.
There were about a 1,000 spectators: receipts approximately £40.
- T.T. Dickinson.
