Erith & Belvedere   1          Cooper 69

Redhill                       0                     

Athenian League Cup Final, 23 May 1974 (at Park View)

 

Continuing the series counting down the 100 most memorable games in our history.  Today, a major win to round off our amateur days.

 

At the end of the war the Deres joined the Corinthian League and remained there until 1963 when it became a lower division of the Athenian League.  We were promoted in 1971 so spent a few seasons at the top level of the Athenian until it in turn shrank to a single division by the late 70s as clubs left for the Isthmian.  Part of the downfall of the Athenian was the abolition of amateur status at the end of 1973-74.  So this season was our last in the FA Amateur Cup (we were dumped out by Leyton from the division below) and the Kent Amateur Cup (we lost limply to Faversham in the final) before both competitions entered into history.

 

However the Athenian League Cup was still a big deal.  Our run began in November with a 1-0 second round win away to Wembley, but the third round wasn’t played until 2 April.  We lost 2-1 at home to Rainham but the result was declared void because Rainham had fielded an ineligible player.  The tie was replayed on 2 May and finished goalless after extra time (incredibly, in a fairly successful season – 7th in the league and two cup finals – it was our 8th consecutive game without scoring!). 

 

The replay was on 9 May, at which point the competition still had 4 rounds to complete.  We won 2-1 after extra time at Rainham; in the quarter-final on 14 May we beat Hornchurch 2-1 at home; and in the semi-final v Leyton on 21 May Brian Adams scored the only goal from the spot in the last minute of extra time.  The final took place just two days later.

 

MAGNIFICENT DERES LIFT TWO TROPHIES – Season ends in style

 

Two major cup triumphs in 24 hours – that was the dramatic climax to Erith and Belvedere’s season at Park View last weekend.  The first trophy was won by the reserves on Friday evening when they beat Leytonstone 1-0 to lift the Essex and Herts Border League Cup on a 3-2  aggregate [a bit generous with the geography there!].

 

Then on Saturday the first team beat Redhill 1-0 to lift the Athenian League Cup for the first time in the club’s history.

 

Erith’s hero of the hour was keeper John Bourne.  He pulled off two of the finest saves ever seen at Park View – both within a minute – to deny Redhill just when they looked like dominating the game.

 

After Bourne’s first-half brilliance Redhill never again took the upper hand and when the teams came out after the break it was only a matter of time before Erith clinched victory.

Erith had made an impressive start with Gummer and Dent both worrying the keeper with dangerous shots.  But then Redhill roared back and with their midfield man Poole dominating they kept the Erith defence at full stretch.

 

The danger man was Dave Roberts, who popped up all over the pitch to worry Erith with his skill and pinpoint crosses.  But Redhill could not beat Bourne.  First Roberts sent in a dipping shot towards the top corner of the net and seemingly from nowhere Bourne soared to turn the ball for a corner.

 

From the resulting kick the ball was only cleared to Morgan who sent in an identical shot – but once again Bourne showed almost superhuman agility to reach the ball.

 

Those saves were the turning point of the game and for the remaining 10 minutes of the half Erith took control as disheartened Redhill dropped their heads.  And the Redhill keeper Vincent had to show his skills to deny Cooper, whose shot just tipped over the bar.

 

In the second half Redhill were kept penned in their own half as Erith refused to lose the initiative.  The writing was on the wall as Cooper, Adams and Hart all went close in the first 20 minutes.

 

Then came the goal Erith deserved.  Redhill’s Stacey, booked earlier for a foul, gave away another free kick just inside his own half.  Palmer floated the kick perfectly and Cooper, dashing in, ran the ball into the net to seal the match in the 69th minute.

 

There was never any doubt that Erith would hold on and in the dying minutes Watts made a brilliant run from inside his own half, beat two defenders and the goalkeeper but saw his shot cleared off the line.

 

The only disappointment for Deres on their glory day was the harsh booking of Alan Hart for a tackle.

 

The Athenian League Cup Trophy was presented to Erith by League chairman Mr D W Jenkins.

 

Erith: John Bourne; Peter Gummer, Bill Palmer, Keith Gurr, Roger Dent, Micky Watts, Alan Hart, Pat Turner, Brian Adams, Gary Cooper, Charlie Carroll.