Erith & Belvedere   2          Paris 50, 51

Maidenhead             1          Mills 1              

Corinthian League Memorial Shield Final, 9 April 1949 (at Carshalton)

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, the day we came from behind to take a second consecutive Memorial Shield.

 

1948-49 was our first season under the management of Ernie Robinson, a former pro with Barnsley, Sheffield United and Lincoln City.  We finished a creditable fourth in the 13-team Corinthian League, and in the league cup competition (the Memorial Shield, presented to the league by parents of the crew of the aircraft “N for Nan”, lost over enemy territory in September 1944), we won 4-0 at Slough and 1-0 at Chesham to be in a position to retain the trophy we’d first won the previous season.

 

 

Erith and Belvedere, the holders, brought back to Erith the Corinthian League Memorial Shield after a hard game with Maidenhead United at Carshalton on Saturday.  Thus the Deres completed their hat-trick over Maidenhead, for they have beaten them three times this season.

 

Within 30 seconds the Deres were one goal down, but they reversed the procedure when they changed ends, notching two goals in one minute.

 

Choosing the fairly strong wind, the Maids were quick off the mark to force their way into the Deres’ penalty area.  After a quick succession of shots which Collins succeeded in keeping out, Mills received the ball close to the line, and in the 30th second slipped past Collins to score, after hitting the inside of the post, leaving him no chance.

 

Shocked into action the Deres settled down and their low-moving passes proved effective against the wind.  Concentrated movements down both wings gave the Maidenhead defence plenty of work, and in the third minute they conceded a corner.  Newstead’s high centre caught the wind, and was headed neatly by Boatwright into the goalkeeper’s arms.

 

Still attacking, the Deres were awarded another corner in the 15th minute on the other wing and Ansell’s careful cross was also neatly collected off Gurr’s head by the goalkeeper.

 

After the interval a Maidenhead attack was stopped by Warboys who slipped upfield to pass out to McCullough on the wing.  Beating three men “Mac” crossed the ball low to Gurr who, seeing Paris well positioned, tipped it over his head for Paris to collect and score.

 

Thirty seconds later Boatwright, receiving a neat pass from Bower, flicked the ball out to Ansell who, streaking down the wing, centred well.  Paris again collected the ball and his powerful shot towards the centre of the goal was deflected by the right-back into the other corner.

 

Quickly following were shots from Ansell, Gurr, Newstead and Paris, with a first-time connection by Boatwright that had it been low enough would have put the Deres even further in the lead.  Bower was quick to grasp an opportunity, and his gargantuan kick from near the half line gave the Maidenhead keeper an anxious moment as it dropped out of the sky right on the goal-line in the centre of the goalmouth.

 

Mr H C Pettett, vice-chairman of the Corinthian League, presenting the shield to the Deres captain Arthur Warboys, said he was pleased with the day’s display of typical cup-tie football, and congratulated them on their fine performance.

 

Erith & Belvedere: Lew Collins; Pat O’Brien, Eddie Payne; Bill Bowers, Arthur Warboys, Jock McCullough; Vic Ansell, Fred Boatwright, Jim Paris, Harold Gurr, Roy Newstead.

 

 

This game was a couple of months after the Amateur Cup tie with Crook Colliery Welfare which set the Deres’ home record attendance of 5,573.  Football League attendances topped 41 million that 1948-49 season, the height of the post-war boom.  On the last day of the season Deres travelled to Hounslow and would have been league runners-up if they’d won, but lost 3-1 and had to settle for 4th.