Cup Wins

Etchingham had more of the play during the first half, without having many direct shots at goal but it was Icklesham who took the lead through Peter Moon after the opposing goalkeeper could only half save a hard ground shot from George Roberts. Bad covering allowed Etchingham to equalise before the break. The Casuals were on top after the interval but couldn’t find a winning goal and with the scores level after 90 minutes, the game went into extra time and it was Peter Moon with his second goal of the game who scored the winner with a well judged header following a corner kick accurately taken by Gordon Hickman.

At left-half, Bob Burnett mastered the conditions better than anyone else and behind him, Alan Shearer showed improved form at left-back.

The semi-final was played at Westfield with Brede the opposition. It was a scrappy game, with Brede taking the lead in the first two minutes and holding this for an hour. They looked the more dangerous side during this period, but seemed to tire as the second half progressed as Icklesham started to find each other better with accurate ground passes. Frank Baker equalised and added a second goal later after John Archer’s shot had hit the bar. John Archer and Gordon Hickman scored further goals to give the Casuals a 4-1 success.

Phil Barling was sound at centre-half and Reg Carter worked tremendously hard at left-half.

The final was played at Robertsbridge in front of around 300 spectators on a fine, but breezy Saturday afternoon at the end of March against Sandhurst from the Weald of Kent League. The funds raised from the match went to the Royal East Sussex Hospital in Hastings with admission being 5d for adults and 3d for children.

Sandhurst kicked with the wind in the first half and had the better of the early play but led by only 1-0 at half-time. Five minutes after the break they scored a second goal but defensive mistakes allowed Frank Baker and Peter Moon to score to bring the sides level. The Casuals improved steadily and with the game going into extra time, were well on top. After a good shot had hit the bar and another was cleared off the line by a Sandhurst defender, Peter Moon netted the winning goal three minutes from time after a good pass from John Archer.

The defences took most of the honours, with the Sandhurst centre-half giving a great display and was unlucky to be on the losing side. Icklesham were much the younger team with an average age of around twenty three. The victory owed much to the coolness of Frank Crisford in goal and the positioning of Phil Barling at centre-half. Arthur Baker and Alan Shearer tackled well at the back with Arthur Baker’s speed being a great asset, while Bob Burnett and Reg Carter were untiring wing-halves with Bob Burnett giving a polished display.

After a poor start, the forwards improved and played well towards the end, but were given few chances by a hard-tackling Sandhurst defence.

Reg Carter became the first captain of the 1st team to lift a trophy.