Cup Wins
2ND TEAM
HASTINGS LEAGUE LOWER DIVISIONS CUP WINNERS 1957-58
The second team won the first trophy in their history in the 1957-58 season by defeating Brede 3-2 in the final of the Hastings League Lower Divisions Cup at the Salts in Rye with John Dunk netting all three Icklesham goals.
The road to the final…..
2ND ROUND
After receiving a bye in the first round, the cup run began at the beginning of February with a second round tie at home to Mountfield. This game resulted in a 10-0 win and as the score suggests, there was only one team in the game, although Mountfield were not helped by being two players short at the start. Peter Mathews scored a hat-trick, Denis Swaine notched two goals, Denis Care and Bryan Butler both scored from the edge of the area with the other goals coming from Bernard Rankin, David Perkins and a John Dunk penalty.
3RD ROUND
The third round saw an away tie on 1st March against Bodiam, who were unbeaten at the time of the game and went on to win Division Three of the Hastings League, dropping only one point all season. Although the second team were perhaps a shade lucky to win the match and qualify for the semi-final, Denis Swaine was off the field for twenty minutes so the side earned their good fortune in surviving heavy Bodiam pressure. John Dunk and Michael Hills scored well taken goals to give the 2nd team a 2-0 half-time lead. Bodiam pulled a goal back and were frustrated by great goalkeeping by Kenny Morton and a hard tackling half-back line of Bryan Butler, Alf Holdstock and Denis Care. Michael Hills and Bernard Rankin worked very hard in attack.
SEMI-FINAL
The semi-final was against Observer Athletic II from Division Four at the end of March with the match being played at the neutral venue of Battle Recreation Ground and despite missing both Denis Care and Peter Mathews, the second team should have won the game, but missed numerous easy chances and had to settle for a replay. Observer Athletic were quicker to the ball in the first half and deserved their 2-0 lead at the interval. The first goal was a solo effort ending with the ball being lobbed high over goalkeeper Kenny Morton and the second came from an unstoppable shot.
The second half was a different story with the second team storming onto the attack and their persistent efforts were rewarded with two goals in as many minutes. Sensing victory, Icklesham continued to press and kept the Observer Athletic keeper very busy. Observer, however, were still playing good solid football and re-took the lead when seizing on a long clearance to fire the ball into the net. A less experienced team may have wilted, but urged on by centre-half Alf Holdstock, the second XI came back onto the attack but it was with less than three minutes to go that they drew level at 3-3. In extra time, both sides tired quickly and play was fairly even. The scorers for the Casuals were Brian Thomas, John Dunk and Michael Hills.
SEMI-FINAL REPLAY
The replay at Brede a fortnight later saw the 2nd XI make no mistake with a 6-1 victory although the margin flattered them. A high cross-wind spoilt what should have been a keen game and while the game in the first half was very even with both teams having a fair share of midfield play, the tricky wind and defence lapses allowed Icklesham to score four goals with Observer Athletic replying from a free-kick.
After the interval, Observer did most of the attacking but the goal they needed did not materialise with Alf Holdstock holding together a shaky defence from his centre-half position and Denis Care covering a lot of ground on the left. When Observer Athletic flagged in the last fifteen minutes, the seconds put the game beyond doubt with two more well-taken goals. Both John Dunk and Michael Hills netted three goals each but the outstanding forward was Bernard Rankin who put over many telling centres from outside left.
FINAL
The final was played at Rye Salts on Tuesday, 22nd April against Brede, who finished the season as runners-up to Bodiam in Division Three. The game proved to be an evening to remember for John Dunk who completed a hat-trick in the 3-2 victory, including one from the penalty spot.
A memorable celebration followed which began with the drinking of home-made wine – recollections are a bit vague as to whether this was supplied by Bob or Cyril Rich! The team then all travelled back from Rye to the Robin Hood to continue the celebrations in Peter Mathew’s truck with Peter driving, still dressed in full kit including football boots. The night ended, for those who could remember, with one player trying to climb up the wall of the Robin Hood!
2ND TEAM HASTINGS LEAGUE LOWER DIVISIONS CUP WINNERS 1957-58 Back row (left to right):- Harold Stonham, Peter Mathews, Denis Care, Eric Hollingsworth (captain), Andrew Dunlop (manager), Mick Hills, Denis Swaine, Laurie Butler. Front row (left to right):- Bernard Rankin, John Dunk, Alf Holdstock, Kenny Morton, Bryan Butler, Bill Terrell. |