30-04-24: Halifax Town (h) 3-1 (HT 3-0) Crowd (3,350)

Match Report: Halifax Courier and Guardian: 30th April 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell

WEST RIDING SENIOR CUP

Semi-final at Leeds

Halifax Town, this evening meet Leeds United at Elland Road in the semi-final tie of the West Riding Senior Cup. In previous seasons Town have performed well in this competition and have twice been runners-up. They will have to play extremely hard if they wish to win at Leeds, for United, who, as it is well known, are the champions of the Second Division, are fielding their full League team, and are very hopeful of meeting Huddersfield Town in the final.The Huddersfield-Bradford semi-final should taken place this evening, but has been postponed to May 7.

HalifaxTown will be at full-strength. Featherstone will return to left-back and Howson will be moved to left-half, The Teams will be:-

Teams:- Leeds United: Down; Duffield and Menzies; Baker (J.W.), Hart and Smith (L.); Coates, Whipp, Richmond, Swan and Harris. Halifax Town: Bown; Lees, Featherstone; Wilde, Hall and Howson; Foster, Lees (Joe), Housley, Moore and Whalley.

Match Report: Yorkshire Post: 1st May 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell

WEST RIDING COUNTY CUP

LEEDS UNITED FOR THE FINAL

In the semi-final tie of the West Riding Senior Cup at Elland Road, last night, Leeds United defeated Halifax Town by three goals to one. Leeds United's advantage in the first half was so marked that Halifax were completely overwhelmed. So one-sided was the play before the interval that Down was only called upon to handle the ball three or four times, though once he had to make a good save from Foster. The work of the three Leeds inside forwards in the opening stages was good and it was not long before a goal came. Coates and Whipp on the right, made the opening, and the wing man's centre dropped the ball on Richmond's head. He sent the ball against the cross-bar, but Bown could not clear and the centre forward simply pushed it into the net.

Moore, the Halifax inside left, and Baker, the Leeds Captain, crashed together in going for the ball with their heads, and both men had to be taken from the field. Moore returned after a short absence with his head bandaged, but Baker had to receive medical attention and it was stated that a nasty cut, just over the eye, had had to be stitched. He will not be fit for Saturday's game with Nelson. Harris and Richmond scored further goals for Leeds before the interval.

Leeds took matters easy in the second half, and so slack did their defence become that Halifax were dangerous on many occasions, and might have scored had they had better luck. Housley took advantage of one of the slips of the Leeds backs to break clean away and score, and a moment or two later, he had another similar chance but shot wide. Down had to make good saves from Moore and Housley, whilst Bown at the other end was troubled once or twice, but not so often as he would have been had the Leeds attack given of its best. The attendance was 3,350. Result:- Leeds United 3 goals, Halifax Town 1 goal.

Teams:- Leeds United: Down, goal; Duffield and Menzies, full backs; Baker (J.W.), Hart and Sherwin, half backs; Coates, Whipp, Richmond, Swan and Harris, forwards. Halifax Town: Bown, goal; Featherstone and Lees, full backs; Howson, Hall and Wilde, half backs; Whalley, Moore, Housley, Lees (J.) and Foster, forwards.

Match Report: Halifax Courier and Guardian: 1st May 1924: Courtesy Steve Bell

Town Succumb to Leeds

Missed Chances

Scorers - Leeds United : Richmond (2) Harris. Halifax Town : Housley

Halifax Town lost in the semi-final of the West Riding Senior Cup, at Elland Road In the semi-final tie of the West Riding Senior Cup at Elland Road, yesterday. It was a curious game, for Leeds secured a three goal lead and appeared to ease up in the second half when Town had all the play and ought to have drawn.

The opening exchanges were even. Indeed, Town somewhat more aggressive until after five minutes' play Coates ran through and centred squarely. Richmond's header struck the bar and rebounded to the same player who shot in the corner of the net. Town continued to peg away and a bout of quick passing ended in Housley putting in a fast ground shot from the edge of the penalty area. Baker and Moore, came into collision and both went off, the latter bleeding from a wound to the head. Leeds took the game in hand, however, and Richmond and Swan twice came close to scoring. Moore returned with a huge piece of plaster on his head. A free-kick for hands against Wilde brought the second goal. Harris beating Bown with the free-kick, his shot passing between the angle of the post. At times the Halifax forwards moved in clever manner notably when Housley, Moore and Whalley worked a good position for the last-named by the post.

Richmond broke through on receiving a pass from Whipp made the score three. Town again retaliated vigorously, and from a pass by Moore, Foster had a good scoring chance. His low shot, howeverwas well saved by Down. The Leeds goalie was in difficulties from a centre by Foster and a few minutes later Lees handled in the area. Duffield took the kick and Bown saved. For some reason the referee ordered the kick to be retaken and this time Duffield shot outside. The score was 3-0 when the teams changed round. Leeds were still without Baker, who had to have some stitches put in his forehead

The second half was even but it was clear that Leeds were taking things easy. Moore struck the upright with a fast drive and later put the ball in the net but was off-side. Play favoured Town, but it appeared a forlorn sort of a hope, With a quarter of an hour to go, however, Housley charged a kick and broke through to score with only Down to beat. A moment later he had a similar opening. He had the ball at his toes and with Down out of goal, and advancing to meet him he snot well wide of the posts. Leeds were quite overplayed and in the closing stages Moore had another good shot saved whilst a second passed just by the post.

SOUND HALF BACKS

Without doubt, Town had the scoring chances in the second half to have won the game, but the front rank lacked the dash and spirit to rise to the occasion. Whalley was the pick of the line, though Moore got in some fine shots. Housley ought to have scored at least another goal, Joe Lees was disappointing and Foster had not many chances to shine. All three half backs were prominent. Howson, in his proper position, gave a whole-hearted and sound display, whilst Ellis Hall and Wilde were hard workers and clever in both attack and defence. Featherstone did his best and in the circumstances his kicking was good. But he was far from fit and his knee injury handicapped in turning and recovering, however much he tried. Lees was a sound back and kept Harris fairly subdued.

Leedswho were without Baker for almost the whole of the game opened in rare style and and when in the second half they started toying with their opponents, they might easily have thrown the game away. Down, Menzies, Hart, Smith, Whipp, Richmond, and Swan were all prominent.

Teams:- Leeds United: Down; Duffield, Menzies; Baker (J.W.), Hart and Smith; Coates, Whipp, Richmond, Swan and Harris. Halifax Town: Bown; Lees and Featherstone; Wilde, Hall and Howson; Foster, Lees (J.), Housley, Moore, Whalley.