Eccles                       2          Sandford 40, 90

Erith & Belvedere   4          Jones 23, 42, 48, Cooper 46

 

Erith & Belvedere   5          Radmore 2, 80, Cooper 35, McAlpine 57, Butterfill 90

Eccles                       1          Moorekite 50

Kent Amateur Cup Final, 2 and 14 May 1970

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, the first trophy clincher in the series, and a trophy we were getting used to!

 

1969-70 was a fine season for the Deres: beginning with our best ever opening-day result, a 7-1 win at Ware Town, and ending with third place in Athenian League division 1 and a 16-match unbeaten league run from Christmas to the end of the season.  As a bonus there was the Kent Amateur Cup.  Deres had reached the final beating Crockenhill 5-0 and Herne Bay 1-0 in the semi-final.  Eccles were a village side from just north of Aylesford, not a well-known name to locals but they had beaten Slade Green and Cray Wanderers to reach the final.  Even so the Deres looked well placed to win the trophy for the fourth time in five seasons.  And they did so in style.

 

DERES POISED TO LIFT KENT AMATEUR CUP

 

Two goals within three minutes of the start of the second half virtually clinched this first leg Kent Amateur Cup Final, played at Eccles last Saturday, and Deres now enter the second leg, to be played at Park View on May 14, with one hand already clutching the trophy.

 

Eccles, who defeated Cray Wanderers 3-1 at Cray in the semi-final, were all out to prove this result no fluke.  But they were let down by goalkeeping errors that accounted for at least two of the Erith goals.

 

After ten minutes Deres set up a series of attacks and Ray Radmore was prominent with two fierce shots, one which Simmonds tipped for a corner, and the other hit the bar.

 

Keeping up the pressure Deres went ahead in the 23rd minute.  Nobby McAlpine centred to Jones who headed a good goal.  Gary Cooper was unlucky with a fine header, and then got the ball into the net.  But the referee ruled that the goalkeeper had been obstructed.

 

After 40 minutes Eccles equalised when Deres’ defence was slow to clear a Moorekite corner, and Sandford headed past Howes.  Eccles’ joy was short-lived, for two minutes later a long through ball from Gurr had Simmonds in difficulties when he advanced too far from his line and misjudged the bounce; Jones, following up, headed an easy goal.

 

Within a minute of the restart Eccles were in further trouble.  A weak clearance from Baker was picked up by Danks, who sent Cooper away.  His shot from a very acute angle squeezed under Simmonds, who dived too late.  Two minutes later Jones headed his third goal when he converted a Brendan Greatorex free-kick.

 

Eccles substituted Head for Sturgeon after 30 minutes, and Deres brought on Whitehead for Watson.  With only injury time left Eccles scored a second goal when Sandford headed Stevens’ cross past Howes.

 

Erith: Chris Howes; Glyn Danks, Brendan Greatorex, Willie Watson, David Davenport, Gary Cooper, Roger Dent, Nobby McAlpine, Ray Radmore, Graham Jones, Keith Gurr.  Sub: Alan Whitehead.

 

 

BRILLIANT DERES LAND CUP WITH A FIVE-GOAL ATTACKING DISPLAY

 

Brilliant Deres made no mistake in capitalising on their two-goal lead from the first leg of the Kent Amateur Cup final, when they ran riot against plucky Eccles at Park View last Thursday, carrying off the cup in fine style with an aggregate of 9-3.

 

Eccles tried hard and are to be congratulated for the sporting way that they played, but after the start of the second half when they pulled back a goal, they never gave the competent Erith side any cause for worry.

 

Ray Radmore opened the score after only two minutes with a beautifully placed header, and 10 minutes later he had the ball in the net again with another header, but the referee disallowed his second effort for an infringement.

 

Eccles settled down and Howes was called into action, but the Deres’ defence was never troubled.  Gary Cooper placed a good pass for Graham Jones to run on to, and was in position to head Jones’ centre into the net, to put Deres two up after 35 minutes.

 

The second half started with Erith on the attack, and they paid the penalty for the defence coming too far forward when a clearance found Moorekite unmarked just inside his own half, and although hotly pursued by three Erith defenders, he kept control and ran half the length of the field to place the ball in the net.

 

This goal gave Eccles some heart, but McAlpine restored Erith’s fortunes with a well-taken goal, following a good through ball from Keith Gurr after 57 minutes.  With 10 minutes left, Radmore headed number four and Don Butterfill completed the scoring with a low drive from close in, right on time.

 

The cup was presented to Brendan Greatorex by Mr A W Bawcutt, vice-president, KCFA.

 

Erith: Howes; Danks, Greatorex, Watson, Don Butterfill, Cooper, Dent, McAlpine, Radmore, Jones, Gurr.  Sub: Davenport.

Eccles: H Simmonds; F Baker, A Dossett, D Brown, A Bell, D Peeke, D Moorekite, D Sturgeon, C Sandford, M Dray, C Stevens.

 

17 days later the Mexico World Cup began.