Programme:
04-05-1959 Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian
(Courtesy: Stephen Andrew Bell)
LEEDS UNITED BRING STRONG SIDE TO SHAY
Town unchanged
Leeds United's full First team is to come to Shay tonight (7.p.m.) to meet Halifax Town in the replay of the semi-final tie of the West Riding
Senior Cup competition. The teams drew 0-0 at Elland Road Leeds, on April 6.
Town have an excellent chance on their own ground to enter the final and meet Bradford City (writes "Hotspur". If they can do so, the
Shaymen will round off a remarkable finale to their own campaign, as well as to make history, for the United have won the Senior Cup five times.
Can Town end that run?
Town will field the team which defeated Colchester United 4-1 last Thursday, namely:
Johnson; Roscoe, Stanley; Harrison, Lorenson,Large; Thomas, Smith, Tilley, McCall, Lonsdale.
United include such famous Soccer personalities as the great Don Revie, of Sunderland and Manchester City fame, key man of the City's
famous "Revie plan". Wilbur Cush, Irish international wing halfback. John Charlton, brother of the celebrated Bobby of Manchester United, and
George Meek, former partner of George Hutchinson, who came to the Shay.
Alan Shackleton, who has proved a successful "buy" for the Elland Roaders with his scoring feats this season, leads their attack.
Teams:
Leeds United: Burgin; Ashall, Hair; McConnell, Charlton, Cush; Crowe, Revie, Shackleton, O'Brien, Meek.
Halifax Town: Mills; Griffiths, Ferguson; Darbyshire, South, Lorenson; Hutchinson, Smith, Shore, McCall, Lonsdale.
The Referee: J. Tracey (Huddersfield), linesmen: J. Bellwood (Liversedge and F. Oxley (Wakefield)
Mr Willie Thornton, the manager of Dundee F.C., the Scottish League First club has been linked with the post of manager of Leeds United,
vacant since the departure of Mr Bill Lambton.
05-05-1959 Halifax Daily Courier & Guardian
(Courtesy: Stephen Andrew Bell)
Town showed Leeds United how to shoot
3-0 WIN IN COUNTY CUP THRILLER
Displaying the more accurate markship allied to their clever approach and sound defence, Halifax Town triumphed by three clear goals over
First Division Division Leeds United at the Shay last evening and thus qualified (writes "Hotspur", to enter the final of the West Riding Senior Cup
competition for the first since before the war.
Town's success in this replayed semi final was a clear-cut one; they actually taught Leeds a lesson in good markmanship. The United with a
very dangerous moving left flank in O'Brien and winger Meek, backed up by the indefatigable Cush, revealed some neat attacking moves and
skilfull passing, but their finishing was never as convincing as that of Town, who continued their recent excellent form as a team.
The United could not complain, and Town on the night's exhibition, which gave the spectators full value for money, with excellent fare, deserved
the right to visit Braford City at Valley Parade in the final on Friday evening."
McCALL'S SCHEMING
Skippered by that old Leeds United forward Andy McCall, who was in great form as schemer of the Town attack, Town, far from being over-awed
by First Division opposition, established a two goal interval lead, and a final Town and a final Town goal less than a minute from time, when Lonsdale
banged the ball homein the goalmouth from Tilley's pass, served to make a thrilling finish to a grand game. Leeds were no idlers, and the game took
on importance as they sought to retain the trophy they have won five times in succession.
Town opened towards the bus sheds and early on Shackleton manuoevered through the Town defence to deliver a left-foot shot at Johnson.
Only eight minutes had gone when Lonsdale and McCall pierced United's defence, the winger lobbing over the crossbar. The thrust and parry
continued. Cush lobbed the ball forward to O'Brien, whose header went over the woodwork, and Tilley was applauded for an effort for Town over the
bar. The unmarked Revie had a chance when O'Brien passed to him in the goalmouth, but the international scooped the ball over the crossbar.
Repeated Town attempts to get through United's defence were followed by a Meek-Revie thrust. Meek firing wide.
SMITH SCORES
From a corner kick, Tilley landed an accurate header which Burgin caught and as he spun round , there were appeals for a goal by spectators,
but the referee waved play on. Burgin also saved a from McCall, and a stingingTilley delivery hit Charlton in the body. Smith (Town) and Revie (Leeds)
both put over the crossbar, the latter's misss in the goalmouth following a fast dribble by Shackleton and a pass by O'Brien.
Town's tenacity brought them reward after 37 minutes. A free kick was well placed by Roscoe, and McCall shrewdly nodded the ball to Smith, who
from 25 yards range,hit the ball hard into the net past Burgin. When Leeds hit back, McConnell saw his drive strike the left arm of Johnson and richochet
for a corner
Cush, who was the driving force of most United's attacks, sent over the bar, but Smith notched his second goal for Town a minute before the interval,
when he beat Burgin with a good shot. The Town inside right rounded Charlton, who had tried to cover up Full-back Ashall, who was in difficulty, and the
Town player promptly took his chance.
FORCEFUL
In the second half a McCall shot was parried by Burgin as he sprawled on the ground, and the ball spun away, but luckily for Leeds, Ashall ran up to
kick for a corner, as Lonsdale lunged forward. Then Tilley was near to scoring for Town following a free-kick, but with a sharp thrust forward, O'Brien
almost took the Town defence by surprise, heading wide.
But it was a clever, active and forceful Town attack, backed up well in the rear. The half-backs were a bunch of real grafters, and the wizardry of
McCall was evident, while Smith also did many clever things, though Tilley did not get the run of the ball as against Colchester.
Meek was resourceful and energetic on the visitor's left, and once sent Cush away for the latter to finish with a shot over the crossbar. In fact, several
promising Leeds raids ended with rank bad finishing in the goal area. At other times, the Town tackling and marking was sound.
Lorenson blocked up the middle effectively against Shackleton. United's thrusts were mainly sharp breakaways, largely by their left flank sponsored
by Cush Meek and O'Brien-a far superior flank to their right one. Their defence on the right was suspect, and became harassed.
FINAL THRUST
Revie, from short range rounded of one attack by hitting the side net, but Leeds found Town their masters. Burgin brought offa smart save from
Thomas, who delivered a hard drive. United had a chance to reduce the arrears through McConnell, but from a favorable position he steered his oblique
shot past the far post. Revie finished, Crowe having made little impression against Stanley.
Meek ballooned over the bar for United and then followed good saves by Burgin from McCall and Smith. Town finished in their most scintillating
mood, piling on the pressure and fully deserved their third goal on time, which Lonsdale drove home from Tilley's opening. As the whistle sounded,
hundreds of young supporters raced a cross the pitch and mobbed the Town team on their way to the dressing room. Town had certainly given a great
performance in a thrill-packed game.
Scorers-Halifax Town (3): Smith (2) Lonsdale. Leeds United. Nil. Attendance: 5,873.
Teams:
Halifax Town: Johnson; Roscoe, Stanley; Harrison, Lorenson, Large; Thomas, Smith, Tilley, McCall, Lonsdale
Leeds United: Burgin; Ashall, Hair; McConnell, Charlton, Cush; Crowe, Revie, Shackleton, O'Brien, Meek
Referee J. Tracey (Huddersfield).
