Cup Wins

The first team won the Robertsbridge Charity Junior Cup in season 1969-70 with victory over Pevensey II in the final at Robertsbridge Recreation Ground at the end of May. This was the third time they had won the competition in the club’s history and the first time in seventeen seasons, having been losing finalists on two occasions since then.

The first round in mid-December saw a comfortable 5-0 home victory over Bohemia United from Division Six of the East Sussex League after leading 2-0 at half-time. The forwards produced some good moves leading to goals from Brian Barden (2), Chris Ades, Colin Shearer and Dave Minett.

An away tie against Robertsbridge United followed in the second round which was played on Good Friday at the end of March and this produced an extraordinary game. The first team were uncertain in the first half when delayed clearances landed them in trouble against a direct and energetic Robertsbridge side, but one which lacked subtlety. With just seventeen minutes left, Robertsbridge led 3-1 only for the 1st team to score five times for a 6-3 victory. Dave Minett netted a hat-trick, Roger Dollimore scored two goals with the other coming from Fred Dallaway.

The semi-final was played at Robertsbridge on Monday, 18th May with a 6.45 p m kick-off where the first team made hard work of beating a Northiam side made up mainly of second XI players. Northiam scored with only the fourth kick off the game. The first team then got on top in midfield and Jimmy Britt levelled the score after 22 minutes.

Early in the second half Dave Minett gave them the lead from Micky Pfundstein’s accurate cross. Icklesham then created and wasted half a dozen good chances before Brian Barden made the game safe at 3-1. With the last kick of the match, Brian again had the ball in the net but the final whistle went before it had crossed the line. The semi-final was watched by about sixty spectators.

The final was against Pevensey II and was again played at Robertsbridge on Saturday, 30th May, kicking off at 6.30 p m in front of a crowd of around 85 spectators. Will Dunlop had been up in Scotland and travelled back down by train, via Southend, on the day of the game, getting off at Robertsbridge station and arriving at the ground around forty minutes before the start. He walked in carrying his suitcase and the first thing he did was put down the case, open it up and take out his mac!

Pevensey were on top for the opening five minutes, but the first team had the better of the remainder of the play in a good game with few fouls. The Icklesham defence was sound with skipper George Potter setting a fine example.

Brian Barden, whose quick breaks were often dangerous, scored the first goal at the second attempt. Dave Minett increased the lead, taking advantage of an awkwardly bouncing ball. With five minutes left, Pevensey reduced the deficit, but Brian Barden was then brought down in the penalty area when clean through. George Potter took the spot-kick, his shot was saved but Don Sanderson followed up to smash the ball into the net to make the final score 3-1.