Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian 17-10-1955: Courtesy Steve Bell
Harris at centre-half
John Harris, 21 year-old centre-half, signed from Leeds United, last week, will make his debut for Halifax Town when they visit
Leeeds United in the replay of the semi-final of the West Riding Senior Cup under floodlights at Elland Road Ground, Leeds, this
evening, (kick-off 7.30pm).
He will take the place of Horsman, who probably will move to right full-back, as there is doubt about Town's captain, Griffith,
who sustained a heel injury at Grimsby. Town will select their attack from six, including Eric Newton, inside forward, formerly with
Norton Woodseat, who played a number of games last season, but has not been in the first team this season.
Team from: Johnson; Griffiths, Horsman, Lonsdale; Darbyshire, Harris, Bell; Dubois, Baker, Watkinson, Clarke, Newton, Rodger.
Match Report: Yorkshire Post 18-10-1955: Courtesy Steve Bell
CHARLES PILE-DRIVER PUTS UNITED IN FINAL
By W. IAN GUILD: LEEDS UNITED 1 HALIFAX TOWN 0
Leeds United made hard work of accomplishing what they failed to do a fortnight ago in their replayed West Riding Senior Cup
semi-final at Elland Road last night. Leeds owed their victory to a goal in the thirty-second minute by Charles which was made by
intelligent football on the part of Meek, the outside right. Breaking away on the wing and finding no one in support, Meek tripped
quietly along the dead ball-line and whipped a fast ground pass to the onrushing Charles. It was a wonder that Charles' cannon-ball
drive from ten yards did not carry away the net; had it hit Johnson, the Halifax goalkeeper, it would almost certainly have carried him
to hospital. Earlier Horsman, the Halifax right-back had headed out a piledriver from Meek, but, in general, the Leeds forwards were
weak in front of goal. In the first half Halifax had an even share of the play and had hard luck when a high dropping shot landed on the
crossbar and Baker headed the rebound inches wide. In the second half Clarke and Watkinson switched positions in an attempt to
add power to the Halifax attack, but he fared no better against Charlton, the Leeds centre half, than had Watkinson. Halifax's strong
man was Harris, their twenty-one-year-old centre half, who broke equal with Charles in their heading duels and was never overshadowed
by his famous rival.
No panic
But the longer the game proceeded the more obvious became Leeds' physical superiority, and there was one frantic spell in which
half a dozen shots were charged down on the Halifax goal line. Overfield had a good game and showed glimpses of greatness on the
left wing, and he and Kerfoot were Leeds' most dangerous wing. If Halifax were lucky to escape a heavier defeat, it must be said that
their defence took a gruelling without panicking and never gave up trying to launch a counterattack. Attendance 4,000.
Leeds United: Wood; Hair, Ashall; Barker, Charlton, Kerfoot; Meek, Nightingale, Charles, Forrest, Overfield.
Halifax Town: Johnson; Horsman, Lonsdale; Darbyshire, Harris, Bell; Dubois, Baker, Watkinson, Clarke, Rodger.
Match Report: Halifax Daily Courier and Guardian 18-10-1955: Courtesy Steve Bell
CHARLES SCORES DECIDER IN ELLAND ROAD REPLAY
Town and Leeds United remiss in front of goal.
A 33rd minute goal scored by international Charles sufficed to give Leeds United victory in their West Riding Senior Cup replayed
semi-final tie against Halifax Town, at Elland Road ground, Leeds, last evening. It was it was largely due to their inability to round off
approach play that Town forfeited the right to a second replay, writes "Hotspur"
Nevertheless, they gave the Second Division side a hard fight and though Leeds, the more dangerous team in front of goal, were
remiss at shooting accurately, Town were by no means disgraced, and acquitted themseles well under the floodlights.
They still persist in making that extra unnecessary pass instead of delivering a shot at the right moment. thus wasting excellent
midfield work.
What emerged from the duel to cause the Town club most satisfaction was the pleasing debut of new centre-half Harris, signed last
week from United. Harris closely marked his illustrious opponent John Charles, and played a good game, with remarkable coolness and
agility
One of Town's nearests efforts to an equaliser came when winger Dubois, with one effort, was unlucky to see the ball hit the post and
crossbar, after which goalkeeper Wood luckily gathered it safely.
Near the finish, when Leeds were exerting pressure, Charles headed against an upright and the ball passed and recrossed along a
crowd of players in the Town goalmouth.
How game progressed
Johnson charged down a Nightingale shot almost at the start. The United used their wingmen, Meek and Overfield, who were very
lively, to good advantage. Forrest and Charles put wide for the home side, and then an early thrill came when Horsman, deputising at
right-back for Griffiths, injured and acting as skipper, headed off the line a vicious left-foot cross from the right-wing by Meek, that looked
likely to find it's mark. Meek next took a pass from Charles to test Johnson.
Before Leeds went ahead, despite the home side's series of threats. Town moved nicely into attack once they had settled down, and
almost drew first blood when Rodger confidently lofted an awkward ball in from the left wing, which goalkeeper Wood in falling backwards,
managed to keep out. Ashall luckily heading the ball against the wrong side of an upright for a corner.
Leeds's advances brought the decisive goal when wingman Meek got the ball from Charles and went down the wing and pulled it back
square from the bye-line, for Charles to hit a hard, low shot swiftly into the net.
Another Chance
As the interval approached, Town, whose efforts won appreciation from the crowd, who longed for telling shots that never came, had
another chance of an equaliser. Rodger worked his way past the opposition to centre, and Dunn muffed a clearance, but Clarke could not
do better than send the ball right across goal towards the far corner. On the interval, Johnson dealt with a header by Forrest from an
opening by Charles.
While there was always the possibility of a Town equaliser, the punching power was lacking. The backing up was not strong enough
and the overdoing of the passing was always in evidence.
Winger Dubois had an improved game but did not strike the blows he promised to do in approach. Clarke often started up a
movement, and Watkinson ran hither and thither, but few shots were given. Baker made one or two shrewd passes. Wood gathered an
effort by Darbyshire and shortly afterwards Watkinson roved to the right wing, but Dunn intercepted his cross.
Johnson kept busy
For Leeds, Charlton sent Nightingale through, but goalkeeper Johnson saved the situation by promptly advancing. The Town
goalkeeper also cleared from Forrest by going out of his charge in time. Charles hit the Town bar during one United attack, while a
brilliant save by Johnson at the expense of a corner from Meek, who unleashed a right angle shot, caused excitement. Clarke gave
Rodger an oppurtunity near the end, but the young winger could not connect as he ran forward and a defender luckily got the ball away.
One satisfying aspect was that Town showed some fighting power and were not disgraced.
Leeds United will now meet Huddersfield Town in the final of the Cup.
Leeds United 1 (Charles) Halifax Town 0
Attendance 4,000.
Teams:
Leeds United: Wood; Hair, Ashall; Barker, Charlton, Kerfoot; Meek, Nightingale, Charles, Forrest, Overfield.
Halifax Town: Johnson; Horsman, Lonsdale; Darbyshire, Harris, Bell; Dubois, Baker, Watkinson, Clarke, Rodger.
Referee: Mr. T. Seymour, of Wakefield
