Erith & Belvedere   3          Southcombe 19, 82, 84      

Leytonstone            1          Bunce 25 

FA Amateur Cup 3rd round 2nd replay, 9 March 1938 (at Dulwich)

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, the end of a three-game epic in our longest Amateur Cup run.

 

By February 1938, the Deres’ FA Amateur Cup run had already lasted five months.  The qualifying rounds began with a 5-3 win v Bexley on 25 September 1937 and took up alternate Saturdays thereafter, beating Beckenham, Callenders, Cray Wanderers and Tufnell Park.  After a two-month break the competition proper began with wins over Worthing and Maidenhead.

 

On 26 February a crowd of 3,365 packed Park View for the third-round tie against Leytonstone.  Jack Southcombe’s 5th-minute goal was equalised by Clay six minutes from time, and with George Young scoring for E&B in extra time it finished 2-2.  The replay on 5 March drew 5,893 (including a fleet of coaches from Erith) to Leytonstone, where right-back Clem York wrenched his knee after 20 minutes.  E&B’s ten men trailed to a goal by Bunce until the 90th minute, when Saunders equalised, and survived extra time. Four days later a crowd of over 6,000 saw the second replay at Champion Hill, Dulwich.

 

DERES WIN SECOND REPLAY – Ten Men’s Determined Play Forces Victory

 

Erith and Belvedere beat Leytonstone 3-1 in the replay of the third round tie in the FA Amateur Cup on the Dulwich Hamlet ground on Wednesday.

 

O’Hara returned to the Erith and Belvedere team, but midway through the first half his injury reasserted itself and he was a passenger for the remainder of the game. Smee played at right-back and Bennett at left-half, but after the interval Bennett moved back and Beal dropped to half, O’Hara walking on the left wing.  Despite his injury he got in one or two useful touches to Saunders.

 

Leytonstone made two changes, J Taylor coming in at centre forward and A E Davis at left-half.  Leytonstone took advantage of the wind and sun in the first half and generally were the better team, although there was not a great deal in it.  Early in the game Bunce headed neatly to Joseph, beating Smee.  Joseph swung the ball in to Clay, but Fuller blocked his passage to goal, whilst Gibbs saved just when things were looking black for Erith.  Southcombe made a good effort for Erith before the Stones forces three corners.  Gibbs did well to save Bunce’s header from the second of these.

 

The Deres were making the mistake of heading the ball up.  Had they headed it to the ground they would have done better, especially when Scott headed to Southcombe, who nodded on to Beal and the latter headed over the bar.

 

The Deres had warmed up and were now combining more effectively, their fast raids always being dangerous.  After 19 minutes’ play they took the lead, Bennett throwing in to Beal, who passed to Southcombe, who was unmarked in front of goal.

 

Thrills in plenty came after this, the Deres’ goal sharing in the excitement, and the Stones only waited six minutes before equalising.  Cater sent a free-kick into the goalmouth, Gibbs pushed the ball out, and from the scrum Bunce netted.  After this Taylor was left with the ball from a forward pass, but Gibbs brought off a great save, repeating the performance soon after when Bunce shot from close in.  Half-time,

Erith and Belvedere 1  Leytonstone 1.

 

Young was somewhat slow on the resumption and let two good openings go, but gradually the Deres settled down to the fact that they only had four forwards, Saunders being far more effective as a roamer than he had been on the wing, where Betts had overshadowed him.  Young, too, was back to his habit of dropping the ball under the bar and Leytonstone had a really gruelling time.

 

There was not the least doubt as to which was the better team now that the Deres had the advantage of the wind, for their attack was persistent, broken only by breaks away by the Stones.  In these Leytonstone raids, the Deres’ defence covered itself with glory.

 

Southcombe, Scott, Young and Beal went very close with splendid shots, Gregory being very lucky in many of his saves.  The Leytonstone team were so overplayed that every time they got the ball they kicked into touch.

 

Despite a stern defence, Leytonstone succumbed eight minutes from time.  O’Hara touched the ball in to Saunders, who swung it over to the right following a corner.  Young lobbed in to Southcombe who scored.  It was a clean-cut movement and looked a winner from the start.  Two minutes later came another gem, although this time somewhat unexpectedly.  Brilliant play by Scott and Saunders literally forced the ball to the middle for Southcombe to complete his hat-trick.

 

Erith continued to press until the end, Scott slamming in a lovely drive from a very acute angle and low down.  Gregory only just retrieved the ball after dropping it.  Result: Erith and Belvedere 3, Leytonstone 1.

 

Erith and Belvedere: Albert Gibbs; Cyril Smee and Pat O’Hara; Reg Leonard, Charlie Fuller and Bert Bennett; George Young, Len Scott, Jack Southcombe, Reg Beal and Charlie Saunders.

Leytonstone: E Gregory; J Betts and A W Nicholls; R Cater, J Harper and A E Davis; V Moss, A Clay, J Taylor, G Bunce and L Joseph.

 

We haven’t seen the last of this Amateur Cup run in the series, you won’t be surprised to learn…