Cup Wins
MINOR TEAM
HASTINGS MINOR CHALLENGE CUP WINNERS 1941-42
The Minor Team, composed of players who were under 19 on 1st May 1942, winning the Hastings Minor Challenge Cup in season 1941-42 was the first trophy the club had won in its five-year history. The side triumphed after three closely fought games in the competition.
The road to the final…..
1ST ROUND
A first round match against Ore United Minors, played at Pine Avenue, resulted in a well-deserved 3-1 win in a game that was keenly contested but with the minors being much quicker on the ball and never really looking like losing. Bill Funnell opened the scoring with a fine header from a corner by Peter Martin, Arthur Baker added to the lead with Bill Funnell getting the third goal. Derek Coombes also netted but the goal was disallowed for offside. The Ore United goalkeeper also made several good saves. The home team played better in the second half and reduced the lead but never seriously threatened to get back into the match with Bill Funnell and Peter Shearer a solid as the half-backs.
SEMI-FINAL
The semi-final at the Pilot Field saw a 2-1 victory after extra time against Hastings Physical Training Club in an exciting and sporting game that was played with a very strong wind blowing down the pitch which meant the action was almost entirely at one end. The Physical Training Club kicked with the wind in the first half and took the lead after 35 minutes with a shot which went in off a post.
The Casuals attacked strongly after the interval and equalised through Joe Southerden. The defence held out against the wind in the first period of extra time and then Bill Funnell scored the winning goal with a great shot in the second period. There was little between the teams with both sides giving everything and both were very weary at the end of the game.
FINAL
The final was also played at the Pilot Field against Silverhill Young Men’s Club and was a fast and entertaining game. The team attacked strongly in the first half and had it not been for a solid Silverhill defence, may well have opened their account before the interval. However, it was Silverhill who took the lead a few minutes before half-time when, following one near miss, they again took up the attack and F Graham, the Silverhill centre-forward scored after good work from Pepper.
In the second half Icklesham were once more the side pressing and due largely to good teamwork, they soon scored two goals through centre-half and captain, Bill Funnell and right-winger, Arthur Baker to secure a 2-1 victory.
The trophy was presented by the Deputy Mayor, Councillor F T Hussey, who praised both teams for the friendly spirit in which the game had been played.
