Match Report: Yorkshire Evening Post: 10th May 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell
RINGING DOWN CURTAIN ON FOOTBALL
BRADFORD'S CLEVER ATTACK AT ELLAND ROAD
WEST RIDING SENIOR CUP FINAL
Football dies hard nowadays. This afternoon the curtain was rung down on the season's programme in the West Riding, by a match between Leeds United and Bradford for the possession of the senior trophy, put up for competition by the West Riding Association. The match took place at the Elland Road ground, and the weather being more fit for the winter passtime than cricket, 6,000 spectators patronised the Cup-tie.
Teams:- Leeds United: Down; Duffield and Menzies; Baker (L.H.), Hart and Baker (J.); Coates, Whipp, Richmond, Swan and Harris. Bradford Park Avenue: Scattergood; Brandon and McCluggage; Taylor, Fell and Howie; Turnbull, Myerscough, Bradley, McLean and Peel.
Bradford forced the first corner of the match on the right wing, but from the flag-kick Leeds got possession and attacked. Bradford, however, were very tenacious and the United forwards could make little headway against the close and successful tackling of the Park Avenue half-backs. On the other hand the Bradford forwards were consistently thrusting at the Leeds backs, who had a difficulty in maintaining a foothold on the greasy surface. The United eventually ended the trend of play and forced the Bradford defence to concede a corner but the effort was only half-hearted, and the Bradford forwards again advanced in a perfect line, the home goal being seriously threatened. Two shots by Turnbull all but took effect, and raised the enthuisiasm of the large contingent of Bradford supporters present. The play of the home forwards compared very unfavourably with that of the Park Avenue frontliners. More correct football than that of the visitors has not been seen on the ground this season. With the approach of the interval, the home side came more prominently into the picture, but the finishing of the forwards was faulty.
Half-Time Score:- Leeds United 0 goals, Bradford Park Avenue 0 goals.
Result:- Bradford Park Avenue 2 goals Leeds United 1 goal.
Match Report: Yorkshire Post: 12th May 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell
WEST RIDING SENIOR CUP FINAL
BRADFORD WIN THE TROPHY
After disposing of Huddersfield Town, the First Division champions, Bradford on Saturday, beat Leeds United, the champions of the Second Division, and thereby became possessors of the trophy put up for competition by the West Riding Football Association among the senior clubs under their jurisdiction. Bradford's success was well merited. They won at Elland Road, because they played the better football. Their general play was a revelation to many of the ten thousand spectators present, and with such a team doing duty for for the Park Avenue club next season, promotion ought to be their reward. It was forward that the Third Division club had the greatest pull over their opponents. Better teamwork has not been seen on the ground this season. By comparison the United forwards were a disjointed and uncertain force.
A deluge swept over the ground as the game was about to begin, driving the players and officials to shelter. The first half was goalless, but it was during this period that Bradford displayed the greater superiority. The slippery ground bothered the United players very much and had Duffield not been in form goals would probably rewarded the well-balanced display of the Bradford forwards.
The United fought hard for the lead in the early minutes of the second half. Bradford were a hard pressed team and Swan missed the easiest of chances for the home side. At the end of ten minutes Peel and McLean took part in a wing movement and the latter player put Bradford in front. Then following another great effort by United Richmond equalised from a pass by Coates. For a long time a draw seemed probable, but eight minutes from time a well directed pass from right to left by Turnbull enabled McLean to head the winning goal for Bradford. Result:- Bradford Park Avenue 2 goals Leeds United 1 goal.
Teams:- Bradford Park Avenue: Scattergood, goal; Brandon and McCluggage, backs; Taylor, Fell and Howie, half backs; Turnbull, Myerscough, Bradley, McLean and Peel, forwards. Leeds United: Down, goal; Duffield and Menzies, backs; Baker (L.H.), Hart and Baker (J.W.) half backs; Coates, Whipp, Richmond, Swan and Harris, forwards. Referee: J.T. Howcroft, Bolton.
