Erith & Belvedere   0         

Reading                    2          Ferguson 37, 46                  

FA Cup 4th qualifying round, 15 November 1924

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, our only ever FA Cup tie against a League team.

 

When I first became interested in the Deres’ history, the short history in the programme referred to our winning through the qualifying rounds before facing Third Division Reading in the first round proper.Not true in either case: as FA Amateur Cup finalists in 1923-24 (more of that later in the series) we’d automatically qualified for this stage of the competition, and entered at the fourth qualifying round stage alongside 14 League clubs.Until this season there were 5th and 6th qualifying rounds and four “proper” rounds before the semi-finals: from 1925-26 the 5th and 6th were renamed 1st and 2nd round proper, and all Third Division (North and South) clubs joined at the first-round stage.

 

Deres came into this game on a bit of a lull after the excitement of Reg McKee’s three double hat-tricks in five games: since his third “sixer” against Royal Naval Depot on 4 October, we’d drawn three and lost two.On Cup day the sequence was not to improve.

 

ERITH AND BELVEDERE LOSE TO READING – Professionals’ Poor Display

 

In the fourth qualifying round of the Football Association Cup, Erith and Belvedere were at home on Saturday to Reading, the Third League club, this being the first occasion on which an English League side has been met by the local club.The result of an indifferent game was a win for Reading by 2-0, and the visitors had little to congratulate themselves upon at the finish.Persistent offside tactics coupled with rough play gave the Erith forwards little chance. The two goals, although resulting from clever movements, were on the soft side.

 

Reading were at full strength, while Erith had to include the reserve outside-left, as C Harris was ineligible.The amateurs put up a splendid resistance, and for long periods of the match were slightly better than Reading, but the impression was there all the time that the visitors would win.

 

The crowd did not come up to expectations, but the increased charge for admission probably kept many away.Ten minutes before the start not more than 2,000 were present, but the attendance increased to nearer 4,000.

 

The ground was heavy and slippery, with water shewing in places.Reading won the toss and defended the Manorway end.It was soon apparent that the Reading defenders were out to stop attacks by any methods, and in the first minute Messer tripped Bush as the latter had beaten him.Reading set up an attack, and Ferguson got the ball near goal, but he was covered, and ran the ball behind.Both teams were swinging the ball about and cutting out the fancy stuff, and as a result both sets of backs were busy.In an Erith attack Cockerill fouled Gooch to stop him getting in a centre, but McConnell cleared the free kick.On the Reading left, Springell put in a fast run, getting well down, but he was tackled just in time.From a free kick for hands against Brown, Smith sent well in and Higginbotham shot over.Things looked bad for Erith when Bush fouled Braithwaite 20 yards out, but Messer shot into the next field.

 

Reading continued to press, and Ferguson was bowled over by Marks as he was about to shot from 15 yards.Marks also checked a move by the Reading left and sent well up, and with the Reading defence at sea McConnell could do nothing better than pass back to the goalkeeper from quite 40 yards out.Erith pressed on the left, but Messer ran across and cleared, and then Smith took the ball right to the goalpost and forced C Evans to give a corner.

 

At this period many hard knocks were being given and taken, and there were few scoring attempts.McKee and Gooch were being closely watched, and any time they appeared dangerous were promptly fouled.After Marks had handled, and then intercepted the free-kick, Ferguson netted, but the whistle had gone for offside, and there was a general laugh.

 

Reading had much the better of the game now, and C Evans did well to save drives from Smith and Higginbotham.Erith eventually relieved, and a fast move by the forwards ended with Lander shooting and Wilson deflecting the ball for a corner.The kick was nicely placed, and McKee had bad luck when he headed the wrong side of the post.

 

Reading returned on the right, and following a corner, R Evans kicked out two shots when standing on the goal-line near the post.Messer made a good attempt, dribbling through to within 12 yards, but his shot went wide.Ros-Gower next put in a good run and centre, and only the positioning of Cockerill prevented McKee getting through from the pass.The ground was getting sticky, and there were many slips.

 

Reading’s first goal came after 37 minutes.An attack in the middle saw Higginbotham give Ferguson a forward pass, and that player ran in and managed to get the ball past C Evans as he slipped in the mud.It was a surprise goal, for C Evans might have easily saved had he not slipped.

 

After Evans had punched away a high shot, Erith got away with some good passing, McKee eluded McConnell and a terrific shot struck the side net.Just before the interval Ferguson again netted, but offside had been called, and half-time arrived with Reading leading 1-0.

 

From the restart all the home forwards got offside.In the first minute Ferguson scored Reading’s second and last goal.Smith had tricked Wilson and centred; Marks headed out, but Smith again centred, and with C Evans, R Evans and Ferguson going for the ball together, Ferguson got his head to it, and it just reached the net.Ferguson was laid out through meeting the goalkeeper’s fist, but he soon recovered.Had C Evans remained in his goal he might have saved.

 

The subsequent play became uninteresting, both sides relying on one back tactics.Erith stuck to their task well, and had quite as much of the play, but Reading’s strong defence kept the forwards out.The Reading forwards became five individualists, and C Evans had little to do.Duckworth saved from McKee and Lander.Near the finish Ross-Gower appeared to be well on the way to goal when McConnell fouled him two yards outside the penalty area.McKee took the kick and shot for the corner, but Cockerill headed out and Bush shot over.The end came with Reading winners by 2-0.

 

Little credit for the victory can be claimed by Reading, who were sadly disappointing.They, perhaps, were surprised by the home team, who certainly put up a fine game against the more weighty professionals.For Erith, chief honours went to the defence, Wilson, Evans and Marks being quite as good as the visitors in their positions.Brown also played well, especially towards the finish.Pocock was too busy defending to be much use to his forwards, and he soon tired.Gooch and Bush rarely did much of note, Ross-Gower and Lander being the better wing.McKee swung the ball about but was well covered by Messer.

 

It is probable that Reading never settled down to their ordinary game, for they never played up to their reputation.

 

Erith and Belvedere: Cyril “Taffy” Evans; Bob Evans and Fred “Tug” Wilson; Albert Marks, A Pocock and Charlie Brown; Ernie Gooch, C Bush, Reg McKee, Walter Ross-Gower and C Lander.

Reading: Duckworth; Eggo and McConnell; Wilson, Messer and Cockerill; Smith, Higginbotham, Ferguson, Braithwaite and Springell.

 

Reading, who lost at home to Millwall and Gillingham either side of this match, didn’t reach the competition “proper”.They went on to finish 14th out of 22 in the Third Division South.Deres finished 13th out of 18 in the Kent League.