South Yorkshire Times, May 3rd, 1969

Swinton Athletic 2, Kilnhurst Colliery 1.

Swinton athletic took the Mexborough and Rawmarsh League Top Four Trophy by defeating Kilnhurst Colliery with a little to spare. Although the Scoreline reads 21, the difference between these two teams on the day was nearer three goals, and Kilnhurst who netted in the final minute, were never in the hunt.

Until the first goal was scored after 20 minutes, Kilnhurst held their own, and centre-forward Staniforth caused more than a little confusion in the Swinton defence. The ground was hard and
in the cross-wind both goalkeepers looked unsure . . . although both came out of this match with merit. For Taylor, the Kilnhurst goalkeeper, the match was a real test of his skills. Too many times his defence left him unguarded, and after several near things the inevitable happened. Mower, fast and direct, outstripped the defence and Taylor could only parry his shot up into the air. The ball hung for a few tense moments before dropping into the net. With this goal Swinton took command. The attack had space in which to work, and they achieved a fluency in midfield which Kilnhurst never matched.

Mower was guilty of one astonishing miss with the goal at his mercy, and Kilnhurst’s reliance on Taylor became even more pronounced.
Swinton looked the fitter, the faster, and the classier side, and by half time they were well in control.
Lost
If Taylor was alone at the rear, then Staniforth was alone up front. A powerful attacker, he gave Kilnhurst some hope, but his delicate headers and neat passes too often were lost on team-mates who did not match his speed of thought.
Swinton sealed the game after 50 minutes when Taylor found himself facing winger Foster, with no cover. Again he did well to parry the shot, but Cooke was following up and prodded the ball over the line for the second. After this setback Kilnhurst found themselves fighting a constant rearguard action. Swinton wing-halfs Braddock and Jackson fed the fires to build up the pressure, and even full-back Davies joined the attack. The consolation goal came for Kilnhurst in the final minute, Staniforth chasing a long ball and pushing the ball wide of Burke,
Teams:—
Swinton Atheltic: Burke, Davies, Elliott, Braddock. Dawson, Jackson, Foster, Cutler, Mower, Cooke, Winstanley. Sub Whitehouse.
Kilnhurst: Taylor, Liley, Gillespie, Shaw (B), Brown, Howitt, Tim-
mins, Proctor, Staniforth,
Mathews, Adey. Sub: Shaw (A). Referee: Mr. J. Lunnes (Mexborough.