20-10-37: Halifax Town (h) 1-1 (HT 1-0) Crowd (1,000)

Match Report & Preview

Yorkshire Post: 20-10-1937

ELLAND ROAD CUP-TIE:

The Leeds United team to meet Halifax Town In the first round of the West Riding Senior Cup at Elland Road, to-day (kick-off three o'clock), will be: Savage; Mills, Gadsby; Makinson, Kane, Hampson; Turner, Hatton, Trainer, Francis, Hargreaves. Halifax Town will be represented by: Owen; Allsop, Jackson; Rose, Craig, Brookes; Widdowfield, Griffiths, Thomas, Barkas, Hoyland.

Yorkshire Post: 21-10-1937

WEST RIDING CUP

Leeds United Reserves Held to a Draw

In a match which never reached a high standard, Leeds United Reserves drew with Halifax Town in the First Round of the West Riding Senior Cup, at Elland Road yesterday, each side scoring one goal. At the start, the United revealed clever footwork, the Halifax defenders having a busy time repelling the advances of the United forwards. After play had been in progress half an hour, Turner nipped in to beat Owen for possession and safely placed the ball into the empty goal to give the United the lead.

Halifax Town Equalise

The second half produced a strenuous struggle, Halifax fighting hard for the equalising goal. A combined effort between Griffiths and Widdowfield took play to the United end and when the ball was put across the goalmouth, Barkas found himself unmarked and had little difficulty in scoring. The United made a resolute bid for victory and though continually attacking for the last quarter of an hour they failed to overcome the stubborn defence of Allsop, Jackson and particularly Owen in goal. The attendance was about 1,000. The replay has been arranged to take place at Halifax, on Monday, November 1.

Match Report & Preview

The Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian 20-10-1937 (Courtesy of Steve Bell)

Town's Cup-tie at Leeds:

Thomas Leads the Forwards:

Halifax Town made an interesting experiment in their West Riding Senior Cup-tie aganst Leeds United at Elland Road this afternoon.Thomas, who is usually regarded as a wing half-back, led the attack, while Green was at left halfback.

Leeds had only two of their regular first team on duty - Savage and Makinson. Teams: Savage; Mills, Gadsby; Makinson, Kane, Hampson; Turner, Hatton, Trainer, Francis, Hargreaves. Halifax Town: Owen; Allsop, Jackson; Rose, Craig, Green; Widdowfield, Griffiths, Thomas, Barkas, Hoyland.

There was a crowd of less than a thousand.

Halifax had as much of the game as Leeds in the early stages. Once Hoyland got away on the Halifax right, but Thomas was wide with his shot at goal In midfield play, Craig kept a tight hold on the Leeds forwards, but during one Leeds attack he had to concede a corner. Owen cleared the danger with cool anticipation when Turner put across a tricky flag kick.

Halifax went into attack again and a fine movement by the left wing pair ended when Barkas shot over the bar. The sides continued to be well-matched with the Halifax defence rallying in fine style when Hatton and Hargreaves, the Leeds wingers threatened danger. Allsop took the ball off the former's toes at a vtal moment and Jackson came out best in his duels with Hargreaves. Jackson also did well to stop Trainer when the Leeds centre forward was in full flight for goal. The Town back brought off a splendid tackle and cleared cleverly.

After 25 minutes Hoyland nearly scored for Halifax, when he rounded off a move by the forwards with a hard drive. It was only just wide. It was only a moderate game with little of the real Cup-tie atmosphere. If anything Halifax were the cleverer side, with their half-backs and forwards indulging in pretty passing in midfield. But, as with Leeds, there was no finish in front of goal.

After half an hour Leeds took the lead. The Town defence was guilty of of a bad lapse when Turner slipped through and shot past Owen, who had come out of goal in an attempt to smother the ball.

Half-time: Leeds United 1 Halifax Town 0

Yorkshire Post: 21-10-1937

WEST RIDING CUP

Leeds United Reserves Held to a Draw

In a match which never reached a high standard, Leeds United Reserves drew with Halifax Town in the First Round of the West Riding Senior Cup, at Elland Road yesterday, each side scoring one goal. At the start, the United revealed clever footwork, the Halifax defenders having a busy time repelling the advances of the United forwards. After play had been in progress half an hour, Turner nipped in to beat Owen for possession and safely placed the ball into the empty goal to give the United the lead.

Match Report & Preview

The Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian 21-10-1937 (Courtesy of Steve Bell)

L:eeds United Held

Halifax Town Force Cup Replay

But still Lack Punch

BY OUR LEEDS CORRESPONDENT

Scorers: Leeds United: Turner Halifax Town: Barkas

Halifax Town fully deserved the right of a replay in the first round of the West Riding Senior Cup at Elland Road, Leeds yesterday

Taking the game as a whole Leeds probably did most attacking, but Halifax showed the better methods, particular in midfield, short passing in which halfbacks and forwards found their men better than did Leeds.

The Halifax failing was just a lack of final punch in front of goal. Thomas, usually at right-half, was not a success at centre-forward. He failed to distribute the ball well, and could not get the better of Kane, the Leeds centre-half, who was his superior with head and foot.

The outstanding Halifax forward was Barkas, at inside-left, who was very clever in carving out openings and helped himself to the equalising following perfect centre from Griffiths, a clever inside right. Griffiths and Barkas were amongst the forwards who kept the ball on the ground and it would have paid Halifax if they ballooned the ball so much. Hoyland, at outside left, often ran brilliantly but finished weakly.

CRAIG SHINES

In defence Halifax compared well with Leeds and Craig was the supeior ti his vis-avis Kane, especially in the clearing work. Halifax indeed owed a great deal to Craig. He was a steadying influence when Leeds looked like running away with the game in the second half.

Owen, the goalkeeper, is also entailed to a word of praise for his cool anticipation. At one period he was bombarded from all angles but he was equal to every occasion except when Leeds opened the scoring in the first half. On this occasion Owen was not really to blame. The Halifaxlet Turner through and Own came out of goal in a gallant attempt to smother the ball.

On this showing Halifax should improve and win points, especially if they can get over"shyness" near goal.

The replay will take place at the Shay on November 1 - kick-off 3.0 p.m.