Cup Wins

In fact it was the second team who began the road to the final by playing the first round tie away to Etchingham United in December. A very clean and sporting game, with almost no free-kicks or fouls was somewhat spoilt by the bad weather conditions. The second team led 2-1 at half-time having played the first half with the wind behind them scoring through John Moon and Eric Hollingsworth, but it seemed the lead would not be enough.

Etchingham pressed for twenty minutes after the interval, but Jimmy Hayward was in splendid form at centre-half, with the remainder of the game being very even. Three times left-half Trevor Vince set up goal scoring opportunities, on one occasion the goal was disallowed for offside, but on the other two Cyril Rich converted the chances to increase the lead to 4-1. Etchingham reduced the arrears near the end when a poor back pass beat Ernie Capon in goal.

The first half was slow and dull, with the 1st team showing more skill but little punch. The rough pitch did not assist short passing and many moves broke down in the Tenterden penalty area. John Archer, Phil Barling and R Tyler all missed good opportunities from close range. It was against the run of play that Tenterden took the lead from a needlessly conceded corner.

Early in the second half Gordon Hickman beat the home goalkeeper in a race for the ball and hooked it into the goalmouth for R Tyler to score. An extraordinary lapse by Ron Barden, who dribbled the ball across his penalty box allowed Tenterden to restore their lead, but Frank Baker headed home a Gordon Hickman centre to level the score at 2-2.

With two Tenterden players off the field, John Archer ran through for the winning goal, but there was still time for the home team to miss a last-minute penalty awarded for hand ball. The offence appeared to be unintentional, due to an awkwardly bouncing ball and no advantage gained. Dick Crisford, on Army leave, made a confident re-appearance in goal. He was well covered by Tony Gibson, Peter Shearer and Jimmy Herbert in defence and had few direct shots to save. Phil Barling and Gordon Hickman were the liveliest of the Icklesham forwards.

A hard struggle was anticipated in the semi-final played at Westfield on 18th April against Robertsbridge United, the holders who were expected to be at full strength and who would start as favourites. Before the game, the first team decided to concentrate on through passes to centre-forward Frank Baker to take advantage of the wandering of the Robertsbridge centre-half, Kropp and these tactics paid off.

The match was full of action and while Robertsbridge did most of the attacking, it was their goalkeeper who had the most shots to save. Robertsbridge swamped Icklesham in the opening stages and swept goalwards but their forwards were completely tied down by the Icklesham defence and could not make their mark on the game and in fact it was centre-half, Kropp who had the first effort to go close.

The first team opened the scoring early in the match when Frank Baker scored following a defensive mix-up and before half-time another lapse in defence allowed Frank to get through again with Taylor in the Robertsbridge goal failing to save having been unsighted.

The fast pace did not slacken after the interval with Robertsbridge again having all the play, but despite playing eight men in defence, Icklesham were still dangerous on the break through their fast forwards. Robertsbridge reduced the arrears with a close range goal from Paine and were pressing hard for an equaliser when, from a break-away, Phil Barling restored the two-goal lead with a well-judged header past the advancing goalkeeper.

In the closing stages both goals had some close shaves with Robertsbridge having several corners which produced some hectic struggles. Lulham scored for Robertsbridge with a well-placed shot from distance but the Robertsbridge forwards were held in check for the remainder of the game while the first team came close to adding to their lead with Frank Baker hitting a post and shots from Frank, Phil Barling and Arthur Baker being well saved by Taylor in the Robertsbridge goal.

In the final, in front of a crowd of around two hundred people, the first team opened the scoring in less than ten minutes when Gordon Hickman pulled the ball back to John Archer who netted with a good shot from the edge of the penalty area. Not long after Ron Barden collected a loose ball and increased the lead with a strong finish. Icklesham were then awarded a penalty kick for hand ball but captain, Alf Holdstock shot straight at the Battle goalkeeper and at half-time the score remained at 2-0.

Battle fought back in the second half and scored their goal after thirty minutes, trying hard then to find the equaliser. After a season where the side had suffered from fielding weak teams, the 1st XI were more or less at full strength for the final with the defence giving the Battle forwards little opportunity. The forward line was strong particularly on the left where Gordon Hickman and Phil Barling started many promising moves.