25-10-22: Halifax Town (h) 1-0 (HT 0-0) Crowd (6,000)

Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian: 23rd October 1922: Courtesy Steve Bell

Town's Cup Final Team

For the West Riding Senior Cup-Final at Elland Road on Wednesday, Town have provisionally chosen the same team as Saturday's. This will be Bown; Lees and Mackrill; F. Hall, Ellis Hall and Langford; Burkinshaw, Crawshaw, Dixon, Price and Whalley. Burkinshaw and Langford received injuries on Saturday, but they are expected to be quite fit for Wednesday. Excusion rates are being allowed for the match by the Railway Company

Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian: 24th October 1922: Courtesy Steve Bell

Tomorrow's, Final

Town optimistic of Victory

Test for Town's forwards

Can Halifax Town win the West Riding Cup? That is the question most supporters of the club concerned with at present. It is something in the nature of a knotty problem for there is nothing by which one is able to compare the strength of the two teams. That is, of course in cup-tie football. In the ordinary course of events, Leeds would be easy favourites, for they are of a higher status. and doing well in the Second League, whilst Town on the other hand are in the lower division, and to all intents and purposes, not in the same class.The sensational defeat of Huddersfield Town the semi-final last Thursday has caused a leap of about 50 per cent in the public's estimation of their chances and many, including myself, are of the opinion that Town have a sporting chance.

Leeds United, who found their way into the final by defeating Bradford City, are seventh in the Second League having won five, lost three and drawn three of 11 games. Their strength appears to be in defence and their weakness in the forwards. Their forwards have only scored nine goals this season, So that it would appear that the repetition of the recent good defensive work of Town and a few of the forwards best scoring endeavers. Town will have a reasonable chances of victory. Tomorrow will really be a test for Town's forwards, for I believe I am right in stating that the United have not yet lost at home this season and they have only conceded one goal in home games. Leeds have the ground advantage-important in a cup-tie- and Town will have to put forth plenty of vim and sparkle to overcome this. They are optimistic, however, and hope to put up a big fight. If they displayed any anything approaching Thursday's determination and skill, Town may carry home their first Cup. We should, at all events, see a grand struggle at Elland Road tomorrow.

Town's team will be exactly the same as Thursday and Saturday. Leeds in the hope of improvement in the forwards, have deferred the actual settlement of their forward rank; and a final will be made out of seven. Their usual backs and half backs have been chosen.

Leeds by the way, will play in blue and white stripes and Town in their blue white sleeved jerseys.

The teams are:- Halifax Town - Bown; Lees and Mackrill; F. Hall, E. Hall and Langford; Burkinshaw, Crawshaw, Dixon, Price and Whalley.. Leeds United- Whalley; Duffield and Potts; Sherwin, Hart and Baker; Mason, Dark, Poyntz, Robson, Howarth,Swan and Harris

"Pioneer"

Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian: 25th October 1922: Late Post Edition. Stop Press: Courtesy Steve Bell

Half-Time: Leeds United 0 Halifax Town 0 : Full-Time: Leeds United 1 Halifax Town 0

TOWN'S CUP FINAL

Clouds hung over Elland Road, this afternoon, and conditions were not ideal for the W.R. Cup Final. There was a crowd of 6,000 to see the start. Both teams were at full strength.

Town won the toss, but there was little advantage. They immediately attacked, but Burkinshaw's centre was unsupported. Mason went away and centred dangerously, but Bown fisted away. The United kept up a fierce attack. Price fed Burkinshaw beautifully and the winger centred for Carwshaw, but the shot was just off the mark. Potts skied the ball, near his own goal, but Dixon could not take advantage, and Town kept up the bombardment. Burkinshaw's heading of high passes was neat. Mackrill cleared in spectacular fashion and Swan had a shot charged down. Half-Time: Halifax Town 0 Leeds United 0

Match Report: The Halifax Daily Courier and Guard: 26th October 1922: Courtesy Steve Bell

Not Disgraced

Town Put Up Strong Resistance

But Leeds Bustle Home

Scorers - Leeds United: Poyntz. Halifax Town: Nil

Leeds won the Cup, but they had to go every inch of the way. This is the conclusion one can drew from the West Riding Senior Cup final at Elland Road yesterday. It was not a clever game from a football point of view, for, as in the majority of cup-ties, particularly finals,play was too keen to allow for very polished methods. In this respect the United erred the most. They played with great vim, and introduced the real cup-tie style. And at this game they had Town well beaten. Leeds United are a side of extraordinary physique, and their inches were invaluable in the bustle of yesterday's game. It is a fact that Town attempted a better style of football, and at times it appeared as though they would win through, but the vigorous Leeds defence was too strong.Town also made a big mistake in playing the ball too much in the air. At headwork, the taller Leeds men had a big advantage.

It was an interesting struggle from the start, and right up to the finish the result was in doubt. Leeds deserved their victory, they being a little stronger than Town. They also had more of the play. At the same time, Town did put up a big fight, and, though defeated, they need not be ashamed. To hold a Second League team on their own ground, to an odd goal, is not a bad performance.

FORWARDS WEAK

Town's weakness yesterday was, strange to say, in the department where they have revealed great strength - the forwards. It is true that they were up against one of the strongest defences in the country, and one, which, at home has defiedthe same way the forward lines of - Leicester City, Clapton Orient, and Stockport County. The great strength of the Leeds defence is an important factor when one is criticising Town's forwards, for it will need a very clever quintet to succeed against them.

Dixon was not his usual enterprising self. Supporters will have noticed that Dixon has difficulty sometimes in keeping his feet, and this tendancy to slip was very marked yesterday, the field being very clayey and consequently slippery. Dixon, too, was well watched by Hart. His passes were not so well judged as usual and he had not a direct shot at goal. Price did some useful work in defence, but he and Whalley were not so good a wing pair as Crawshaw and Burkinshaw.

The half-backs played tenaciously, particularly in defence, and for the most part had the Leeds forwards well in hand. Ellis Hall was in good form. He played whole-heartedly and put in a tremendous amount of work, his being distinctly good. Langford was also a keen defender, and Fretwell Hall was very sound.

SOUND DEFENCE

Again the backs were a strong and clever pair. There was little to choose between them, both Lees and Mackrill tackling with vigour and kicking strongly. Town's defence has certainly made rapid strides of late. Bown, in goal had more to do than Whalley between the other sticks, but he saved often and well and had no chance with Poyntz's flick into the net

I have already referred to the superb Leeds defence. Their forwards, though supported by a trio of good half-backs, were disappointed as a line, particularly when it is remembered that the Elland Roaders are one of the premier Second League clubs. Mason and Harris did good work on the wings, but the inside forwards finished badly.

Town have now been defeated twice in the final in two years. Perhaps at the third time of asking they maybe succeesful -"Pioneer"

Match Report: Yorkshire Post: 26th October 1922: Courtesy Steve Bell

WEST RIDING SENIOR CUP

LEEDS UNITED BEAT HALIFAX TOWN IN FINAL

With a victory of a goal over Halifax Town, Leeds United won the West Riding Senior Cup at Elland Road, yesterday afternoon. They deserved their honour, for they were the superior side from the start, and had the margins in their favour been larger - as it should have been if they had taken full advantage of their chances - it would not have been more than they deserved on the run of play. Halifax Town, who were paying their first visit to Leeds as a Football League organisation, created something of a surprise when they defeated Huddersfield Town at the Shay last week, in the Semi-Final. They had a fair following, and the game was witnessed by a crowd of close upon 6,000 spectators.

The home side soon got to work, and a good run on the right by Mason ended in a centre. Poyntz got his head to the ball, but Bown saved and cleared. After a corner had been forced, and Poyntz had tried a long shot from a pass from Hart, Halifax took up the offensive, and a movement started by Birkenshaw gave an opening to Crawshaw, who fired across the goalmouth. Leeds then began to assert their superiority, and the Halifax defence was severely tried, but Mackrill and Lees, the backs, played a sound steady game, and they effectively held the Leeds forwards. Still, the Leeds men had chances which should not have gone a begging as they did. Once Dark, with only Bown to beat, shot over the crossbar. Some of the Leeds work in midfield was quite good, and in a large measure this was due to the strong game of the half backs, Baker, Hart and Sherwin. Halifax pressed hard on several occasions, and once Price had hard luck with a shot which was just wide of the posts. At half -time there was no score.

Leeds took the lead six minutes after the interval. Potts and Baker started the movement, and the ball was swung out to the wing, where Harris got in a centre. Swan shot for goal and Poyntz rushed forward and directed the ball into the net. Leeds had several other chances of scoring, and once Swan missed an open goal. Halifax tried desparately hard to score in the closing stages, but the Leeds defence held out. Result:- Leeds United 1 goal, Halifax Town nil.

Teams:- Leeds United: Whalley, goal; Duffield and Potts, backs; Sherwin, Hart and Baker, half backs; Mason, Dark, Poyntz, Swan and Harris, forwards. Halifax Town: Bown, goal; Lees and Mackrill, backs; Hall (F.), Hall (E.) and Langford, half backs; Burkinshaw, Crawshaw, Dixon, Price and Whalley, forwards.