25-09-33: Halifax Town (a) 1-3 (HT 1-2) Crowd (?)

Match Report

Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian 25-09-1933: (Courtesy Steve Bell)

TONIGHT'S SHAY CUP-TIE

LEEDS'S FULL-STRENGTH ON VIEW

FIRST TEAM DEBUT OF PESCOD

One change has been made in the Halifax Town team to meet Leeds United's first eleven, in the first round of the West Riding Senior Cup Competition at The Shay this evening. Wellock is unbable to play owing to a thigh injury, and Pescod will take his place. Flack is also doubtful and Rawlinson may be called upon at right full-back. Leeds United will be a full strength. They have chosen the identical team which defeated West Bromwich Albion by three clear goals at Elland Road, on Saturday. The kick-off has been altered to 5.50. Teams: Halifax Town: Shirlaw; Flack or Rawlinson and Johnman; Ferguson, Craig, and Cooke; Davies, Brown, Chambers, Pescod, and Tunstall. Leeds United: Moore: Milburn (G.), Milburn (J.); Stacey, Hart, and Copping; Duggan, Roper, Hydes, Furness, and Cochrane.

Match Report

Yorkshire Post 26-09-1933

UNITED'S CUP DEFEAT

Halifax Town Adopt the Right Tactics

SKILL OF HART

The glorious uncertainty of cup-tie football was demonstrated once again at the Shay last night, when the Halifax Town Third Division team surprisingly overcame a full-strength Leeds United side by 3 goals to 1 in the first round of the West Riding Senior Cup. This statement, however, must not be taken as belittling the home side's victory. On a ground which offered insecure foothold after heavy rain, Town adopted the more enterprising policy of swinging the ball about, which paid to the extent that their goals were obtained by mistakes excusable in the circumstances by the United defence. The home forwards and their wing halves booted the ball to some purpose, and the luck was with them more often than not in the run of the ball. In attack, Cooke and Ferguson sent through some judicious transfers, and their efforts were aided by the craftiness of Brown and Wellock, who saw to it that the fast-moving Davies and Bettridge had plenty of the ball, with centre-forward Chambers always ready to trouble the opposing defence. Yet, it was Shirlaw, the backs and Craig that Halifax had to thank mainly for their success. The unorthodox methods of the goalkeeper, who at times came out well in front of Johnman and Rawlinson, paid on this occasion, whilst he also showed his ability, particularly in the early stages of the second half, when the Elland Road men were pressing hard for the equaliser, by saving all manner of shots. As for United, they served up pretty football, but it led to nothing against a defence which packed its goal. Furness was the one visiting forward who saw the possibilities of first-time shooting, but he was out of luck. Hart revelled in the conditions, and brought the ball through time after time, but it was all of no avail. The Halifax opening goal came after 13 minutes. Davies sent across a ball which Jack Milburn misjudged, and Brown took advantage of the opening; the second goal was another error of judgment by Moore, who failed to hold a Bettridge cross-kick and allowed Chambers to increase the home score nine minutes later; Roper reduced the margin at the end of 24 minutes; and another miskick let in Bettridge to score the third goal for Halifax, midway in the second half. Halifax Town: Shirlaw; Rawlinson, Johnman; Ferguson, Craig, Cooke; Davies, Brown, Chambers, Wellock, Bettridge. Leeds United: Moore: Milburn (G.), Milburn (J.); Stacey, Hart, Copping; Duggan, Roper, Hydes, Furness, Cochrane.

Match Report

Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian 26-09-1933: (Courtesy Steve Bell)

TOWN'S GREAT AND GALLANT VICTORY

SHOCK FOR LEEDS UNITED

THEIR FIRST LEAGUE SIDE WELL BEATEN

DETERMINATION DEFEATS SPEED AND POLISH

Scorers: Halifax Town - Brown, Chambers and Betteridge. Leeds United- Roper. In defeating the full strength of Leeds United. Halifax accomplished a very gallant performance. Leeds had their strongest First Division out - the identical team which, two days previously had beaten West Bromwich Albion - and they tried all they knew. Yet, they had to admit defeat by the Shay team which, with Tunstalll and Flack injured, was below League strength. BROWN'S BRILLIANT GOAL It came about this way. Leeds, from the very start, were up against a fearless and determined defence which, however it might be tricked in midfield, closed like a net around the goal and covered with tenacious thoroughness But Halifax were not all defenders their half-backs and inside forwards often played football of real class, and there was more danger in thefree long-passing bursts of Chambers and his wing men, than in the polished yet closer work of te Leeds front rank. Halifax, moreover, had the encouragement of an early goal, for after thirteen minutes, Brown took an inside pass from Davies, to beat Moore with a perfect ground shot from twenty yards. . This was the first of a series of thrills which continued to the last minute. Moore had to scramble away at full length, a fine header from Shirlaw's charge had a lucky escape when Hydes back-heel a pass to Furness, whose point-blank shot was blocked. ROUSING FOOTBALL Halifax played football worthy of the occasion and nothing was seen of Leeds to beat the round of first-time passing almost from one goal to the other, which led up to Town's second goal.Wellock, Brown, Chambers and Betteridge all took part in this raid, which left the Leeds defenders non-plussed. Moore finally dropping Betteridge's centre, for Chambers to score an easy goal, after twenty-two minutes' play. Leeds quickly reduced the arrears when Roper gave Shirlaw no chance with a thrilling drive into the top corner of the net, and to the interval it was ding-dong football. The United were desparately keen on escaping the humiliation of defeat by a Third Divisionside and rose to a frenzy of endeavour in the second half. They tried every artiface in their efforts to break down the Halifax defence, evenresorting to massed shock tactics. BETTERIDGE'S WINNER But it was no use. The Halifax halfbacks tackled with power and the fullbacks generally anticipated the moves of the Leeds forwards. When Hart and his wing halfbacks came up to try to force the issue they contributed to their team's downfall, for on every breakaway the Halifax forwards were dangerous. It was from one of these swift bursts that Betteridge raced through from halfway, to increase Town's lead, midway through the second half. with a great shot which aroused scenes of great jubilation. To the end, Town held their First Division opponents in a vice-like grip, for even when the defence faltered, in the fading light, Shirlaw was there with magnificent saves. INSIDE FORWARDS MORE EFFECTIVE Town deserved the ovation they received at the close. Again, by means of team-spirit and sheer grit they had triumphed over formidable opposition. The half-back line was in great form especilally in defence. Ferguson has never played a more sterling game and Cooke's tackling, too, had that lusty quality which can upset an attack which is guilty, as Leeds's was, of over-elaboration. Town's biggest improvement, however, was in the manner in which Wellock and Brown collaborated with their halfbacks. They worked hard as defensive units yet opened out briskly to Chamers and the wing men. Brown, in fact, played his best game of the season. Chambers had lots of scope for intelligent centre forward play and distributed the ball with commendable discretion. Betteridge was the moredangerous and it was good to see him in such excellent trim. SHIRLAW SHINES Town's youngest recruit, Rawlinson, had to face up to a big occasion in the Furness-Cochrane wingbut he responded well to Ferguson's lead and in Craig, had an excellent cover. Rawlinson promises well. On the other flank Johnman was quite the equal of Duggan, and Shirlaw, in addition to many brilliant saves, achieved quite a good evening's work as a third fullback. Leeds played clever football and were quicker on the ball but not withstanding their speed and polish, were baffled. I thought that in the second halfthey threw away their chances by allowing themselves to become "rattled" Moore was not impressive in goal and the Milburns were left with too much space to cover. Copping was easily Leeds's best halfback, while Hydes, Furness and Cochrane were often brilliant There were about 3,000 spectators. Halifax Town: Shirlaw; Rawlinson, Johnman; Ferguson, Craig, Cooke; Davies, Brown, Chambers, Wellock, Bettridge. Leeds United: Moore: Milburn (G.), Milburn (J.); Stacey, Hart, Copping; Duggan, Roper, Hydes, Furness, Cochrane.