Soham Grammarian Autumn 1948
MATCH ACCOUNTS
FIRST ELEVEN
Saturday, Oct 2nd: School 4 March GS 3
Taking advantage of the wind, March attacked strongly, but weak finishing produced no goals for them before half-time. After twenty minutes' play Bonham netted with a powerful left-foot shot, and ten minutes later the same player again scored. Ten minutes before half-time Bonham completed his hat-trick from a goal-mouth scramble.
Half-time: School 3, March GS 0March kicked off and straightaway Williams, the March centre-forward, scored from close range. March continued to attack strongly, and Williams added two more quick goals, one resulting from a mistake by Sargent. The game seemed to be a certain draw, but with two minutes to go Norman netted from a centre by Bonham. .4 feature of the game was the lack of incisiveness in the School two inside-forwards.
Result: School 4, March GS 3Wednesday, Oct 6th: School 8 Newmarket GS 0
For the first twenty minutes the sides were evenly matched, but after twentyfive minutes Bonham scored with a right-foot shot. Before half-time further goals were added by Bonham (1), Norman (2) and Dewey (1).
Half-time: School 5, Newmarket 0Bonham netted from close range, and after about half-an-hour the same player dived and headed a very neat goal. With ten minutes to go Bonham netted his fifth from a Smith centre. The feature of the game was the "pepping up" of the forward line by the inclusion of Reed.
Result: School 8, Newmarket GS 0Wednesday, Oct 20th: School 4 RA Taylor's XI 4
This game was played at a fast pace throughout. In the first minutes the visitors scored three goals through Garner, the local centre-forward. Play continued to be evenly balanced and before half-time Bonham netted with a shot from an acute angle.
Half-time: School l, RA Taylor's XI 3The School were undaunted and reduced the lead through Norman. But Parr increased the lead with a glorious oblique shot from the goal-line. The School fought back and scored twice more through Norman and Bonharn.
Result: School 4, RA Taylor's XI 4Saturday, Oct 23rd: School 3 Newport GS 3
This game was played in the morning and for the first twenty minutes it was a scrappy affair. In this period Newport scored a lucky goal. The School replied with a goal from Bonham.
Half-time: School l, Newport GS 1After half-time Newport came more into the picture, and built up a 3-1 lead with only about ten minutes to go. The School staged a rally and a shot from Bonham was deflected into the net by a defender. With only a few minutes to go Fuller equalised. Newport attacked until the final whistle, but Sargent was quite safe in the School goal.
Result: School 3, Newport GS 3Thursday, Oct 28th: School 3 Ely Kings' School 0
The School lost the toss and kicked down the slope. For the first ten minutes play was confined to the middle of the field. Then Bonham scored from a pass from Sallis, and within five minutes Bonham had completed his hat-trick. For the rest of the half the School forwards missed many chances provided to them by Sallis and Handley.
Half-time: School 3, Ely Kings' School 0The second half, although no goals were scored, was marked by some good football by both sides. Soham attacked for most of the half and only good work by the Ely goalkeeper prevented any further score. He saved good shots from Handley, Reed and Bonham. Towards the end Gardiner had hard luck with a long shot.
Result : School 3, Ely Kings' School 0Wednesday, Nov 17th: School 1 Newport GS 4
The School kicked-off and were soon on the attack. For the first quarter of an hour play swung from end to end, but both defences were sound. Then the School were awarded a free-kick. Reed headed a neat goal from the kick taken by Handley. About five minutes later the Newport centre-forward also headed in from a free-kick. The School attacked fiercely, but the Newport 'keeper was safe, making two fine saves off Bonham and Sallis. At the other end Bumpsteed headed off the goal-line with Sargent beaten.
Half-time: School l, Newport lNewport dominated the second half. In the space of twenty minutes they netted three times. The School attacked occasionally, but lack of thrust in the forward-line brought no success against a strong Newport defence.
Result : School 1, Newport GS 4Saturday, Nov 20th: School 5 Saffron Walden FS 3
The game opened rather scrappily. The School fielded a weakened team, and although Saffron Walden made several determined efforts there was no score.
Half-time: School 0, Saffron Walden 0The School forward-line was re-organised and Eden went straight through from the kick-off to put the School one up. Reed quickly added two more goals, and then Saffron Walden replied with two quick goals. Strawson put the School further ahead with his hard drive into the top of the net, and Eden settled the issue by scoring his second goal. Saffron Walden scored again from the penalty spot in the closing stages.
Result: School 5, Saffron Walden 3Wednesday, Nov 24th: School 5 Newmarket GS 1
The game opened with the School attacking strongly, and Norman netted an early goal. Newmarket came more into the picture, but Fuller increased the School lead after good work by Norman. Newmarket broke away on the left-wing and Handley had the misfortune to turn the ball into his own net. Just before half-time Bonham scored from an acute angle.
Half-time: School 3, Newmarket lAfter half-time the School relaxed their efforts, and for the first quarter of an hour play was confined to the middle of the field. Then a breakaway resulted in a goal from Norman with a right-foot shot. Five minutes later Dewey scored with a good shot from twenty yards out. Towards the end Newmarket attacked with determination, but they made no headway against a strengthened School defence.
Result: School 5, Newmarket GS 1Saturday, Nov 27th: School 5 March GS 0
The first half opened with a few March attacks, but the School soon took the play to the other end. The March goalkeeper was kept busy, and then Bonham gave him no chance with a right-foot shot. Before half-time further goals were added by Bonham and Norman.
Half-time: School 3, March GS 0The School quickly applied pressure, but the March defence stood firm until about the fifteenth minute. Then Bonham scored again with a fine shot from an acute angle. Ten minutes later Sallis scored the fifth goal from a penalty. Play seldom reached the School half and we finished worthy winners.
Result: School 5, March GS 0Saturday, Dec 4th: School 10 Old Boys 0
In the first half the School attacked strongly and they were soon rewarded with a goal, headed by Reed. The Old Boys had a few attacks, but Bonham gave us a 2-0 lead at half-time.SECOND XI
Thursday, Dec 9th: School 2nd XI 9 Ely Kings' School 2nd XI 2
We won the toss and kicked against the wind. Kings' scored first, but Fletcher equalised. We then attacked, and goals by Peacock (2), Notley and Curry brought the half-time score to 5-l. Kings' reduced the lead after half-time, but Soham pressed hard and penned Kings' into their own half. Fletcher again scored with a good shot, and Notley got two more.
The final result was a 9-2 win for the School.Saturday, Dec 11 th: School 2nd XI 5 Huntingdon GS 2nd XI 5
In a very scrappy first half Huntingdon scored first, but Notley equalised and then put Soham ahead. Huntingdon fought back and equalised to make the halftime score 2-2.Huntingdon attacked strongly after half-time, but Wells scored from a breakaway. Huntingdon scored two more before Black scored again for us. Then we missed a penalty, and Huntingdon again went ahead. Peacock scored for us to make the result a draw 5-5, which was a very fair index of the play.
UNDER 15 ELEVEN
Saturday, Nov 20th: School Under 15 XI 1 Saffron Walden Under 15 XI 1
After overcoming the initial disadvantage of a sloping pitch, the School did most of the attacking without any luck and half-time brought no score.
Upon the resumption the School had the greater part of the play, but met little success until ten minutes from the end, when Currie broke through and scored. This lead, however, was short-lived, for the Saffron Walden centre-forward seized upon a defensive lapse to score.
Full-time 1-lUNDER 14 ELEVEN
Saturday, Oct 23rd: School Under 14 XI 3 Newport Under 14 XI 1
The School forwards soon became accustomed to the slope of the Newport ground, and although they failed to score in the first half they combined well. A minute after half-time Newport scored through their inside-right, who burst through after faulty covering by the defence. We, however, continued to attack and were rewarded when Draper beat the Newport goalie after a break-through. School took the lead through the same player, who was playing an excellent game on the left wing. Draper went on to complete his hat-trick and the scoring for the game.
Result : School 3, Newport lWednesday, Nov 17th: School Under 14 XI 5 Newport Under 14 XI 1
The School was soon a goal down when the Newport centre-forward beat Johnson with a goad shot. The School forwards, who were attacking strongly, equalised when Peacock scored after a melee in the Newport goal. This match was a personal triumph for the School left-winger, Draper (centre-forward during the second half), who, after half-time added four goals for the School, when Newport were outplayed.
Result: School 5, Newport 1
Soham Grammarian Spring 1949
MATCH ACCOUNTS
FIRST ELEVEN
Saturday, Jan 22nd (Home): School 4, Huntingdon GS 1
The game opened with Huntingdon attacking strongly, but they found the School defence too strong for them. Play swung to the other end and Bonham and Norman shot over the bar when well placed. After about half-an-hours' play Huntingdon took the lead from a corner. Just before half-time Norman equalised for the School from close range.
Half-time: School l, Huntingdon GS lAfter twenty minutes' play in the second half the School took the lead through a header by Reed. Within a few minutes the same player had added his second goal. Huntingdon came more into the picture, but they could not add to their scoring. Reed completed his hat-trick, and the scoring, in the closing stages of the game.
Saturday, Jan 29th (Home): School 9, Saffron Walden FS 3
The School team was not its usual strength, and consequently took time to settle down. The visitors proved to be fast and swung the ball from wing to wing. It was not long before the School suffered their first shock when the opposing centreforward finished a fine solo run by placing the ball neatly out of reach of the School goal-keeper. Norman directly equalised for the School, but Saffron Walden fought back and their right-winger scored a good goal. Handley put the School on level terms with a well-placed long shot. Just before half-time Fuller put the School ahead.
Half-time score: School 3, Saffron Walden 2In the second half the School ran riot, goals coming from Fuller (2), Reed (2), Norman (1) and Sallis (1).
SECOND ELEVEN
Saturday, Jan 22nd (Home): School 2nd XI 2, Huntingdon GS 2nd XI 2
The School won the toss and, with the wind behind them, attacked strongly.
Huntingdon, however, scored first from a good movement. We again pressed and Peacock G scored.
Half-time: School 1, Huntingdon GS 1After half-time Huntingdon were again first to score, but after a hard struggle Smith got through to equalise. A 2-2 draw was a fair result to a good game.
SOCCER NOTES
Out of all the games played by the various XI's this season only one has been lost, a very satisfactory record and a credit to all those who have taken part. The success of the First XI has been due mainly to the strength of the half-back line, where Sallis, Whetstone and Handley have been outstanding. It is pleasant to record that the Captains of both Senior and Junior XI's have carried out their duties efficiently and they are thus responsible to some extent for the success achieved.
1st XI CHARACTERS
JP SARGENT (goalkeeper): A good goalkeeper who has been of great service to the team. There are times when he has failed to gather the ball, but these lapses have been interspersed by periods of brilliance. Should do very well as he gains experience.
B BUMPSTEED (right-back): Not really a soccer player, but has adapted himself so well to the game that he has proved of great value to the XI.
FL EDEN (left-back): Perhaps the most improved player in the team. Shows good anticipation and tackles well.
P HANDLEY (right-half): A very sound half-back and captain. His keen tackling and distribution of the ball to good purpose have always been features of his game. He has led the team with quiet efficiency and his grit and determination have been exemplary.
MJG WHETSTONE (centre-half) : His success in this position is due to correct positional play. He knows the third back game and plays it effectively; he has proved a good anchor for the rest of the team. His heading deserves special mention.
EM SALLIS (left-half) : A good sound half-back. A ninety-minute player who is quick to recover, and who rarely fails to get the ball in the air. Very consistent.
R FULLER (outside-right): The best ball player in the team. Has all the skill required to make a really good player. Needs to be quicker on the ball and develop thrust.
FF DEWEY (inside-right): An early knee injury slowed him up and might have been responsible for his lack of promise this season. He has the stamina for inside-forward play, but must be quicker on the ball and go harder for goal.
MT BONHAM (centre forward): A rugged player with a good shot, plenty of thrust, and all the physical attributes necessary for this position. Has the happy knack of drawing his opponent out of position. Should develop into a really good player.
LC REED (inside-left): Has shown improvement throughout the season and has been a real asset to the team. Never tires, tackles well, and has scored some good goals. His versatility was amply demonstrated in the house matches.
RH NORMAN (outside-left): What he lacks in ball control he makes up for in other ways. Has speed and uses it correctly by going hard for goal. Centres well and keeps going.
P ELAND (full-back): A very useful full-back who has played well for the 1st XI on several occasions.
JC SMITH (outside-right): A purposeful winger. Played several good games for the 1st XI at the beginning of the season.
CR STRAWSON (half-back or inside-forward): A good hard tackling ninety. minute player. With experience should become a useful player.
RKT CALLAN (goalkeeper): Has played for the 1st XI several times and kept goal well.
DC GARDINER (full-back): He has been a useful member of the First on several occasions.
JE LEANEY: Captain of the 2nd XI and has played a few games for the First XI. What he lacks in bail control he makes up in thrust for goal.RAT
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last update 7 Dec 2007