Soham Grammarian Autumn 1949
SOCCER MATCHES
FIRST ELEVEN
Saturday, Oct 1st: v March GS 1st XI (away) Won 1-0
This game, being the first of the season, was very scrappy with neither side looking like scoring. After twenty minutes' play, Peacock C scored with a long lob to put the School ahead. The rest of this half was spent in "kick-and-rush" tactics.
Half-time: School l, March GS 0Play livened up in the second half; Notley, switched to centre-forward, hit the post, and the March right-half hit the bar with a long shot. Apart from these incidents neither side looked like scoring.
Result: School l, March GS 0Wednesday, Oct 12th: v Newmarket GS 1st XI (home) Won 6-1
From the first whistle the School attacked strongly, but it was not until after twenty minutes' play that Daisley scored with a long shot. Further goals were added by Strawson (1) and Notley (1).
Half-time: School 3, Newmarket GS 0The School attacked strongly again and Notley and Peacock C added further goals. Newmarket came more into the picture and scored a consolation goal through Shaw, their inside-left. Before the final whistle Notley completed his hat-trick from close range.
Result: School 6, Newmarket GS lSaturday, Oct 15th: v Newport GS 1st XI (away) Lost 0-4
This game, played in the morning, was the best game to date. Newport kicked off and scored within a minute. Undaunted, the School went to the attack and Chambers, the Newport goalkeeper, was called upon to make a good save from Strawson. Just before half-time a slip by the School defence let in the Newport centre-forward to score their second goal.
Half-time: School 0, Newport GS 2After the interval, Newport returned to the attack only to find a stubborn and solid School defence, in which Whetstone and Ibbott were outstanding. Before the end Newport added two more goals and finished worthy winners.
Result: School 0, Newport GS 4Thursday, Oct 20th: v Kings' School (Ely) 1st XI (home) Draw 1-1
The School were the first to attack, but good efforts by Notley and Forsdick were well dealt with by the Kings' School goalkeeper. Ely came more into the picture and were the first to score, when Sargent was deceived by a long dropping shot from the outside-right.
Half-time: School 0, Kings' School 1After the interval the School kicked against the wind, rain and slope. However, they attacked strongly and were rewarded with a goal from Draper, their diminutive outside-left. The School had a good chance of winning the game five minutes later, but both Currie and Forsdick missed easy chances. The Kings' School came near to scoring in the last minute, but Sargent saved a good drive from their right-back.
Result: School 1, Kings' School (Ely) 1Saturday, Oct 29th: v King Edward VI, Bury St Edmunds 1st XI (home) Won 3-1
The game opened at a fast pace and the School were kept on the defensive for a long period. The Bury forward-line, in which their inside-right was prominent, was very lively. The first goal went to Bury when Ward had the misfortune to turn the ball into his own goal. Just after, their inside-right was injured and this disorganised their forward-line. About a quarter of an hour from half-time Notley scored a grand equaliser.
Half-time: School l, Bury St. Edmunds lThe School were more prominent, but they did not gain the ascendancy until the last quarter of an hour, when Notley completed a good hat-trick. Bury made a few raids, but were unable to pierce a strong School defence. The game was played under ideal conditions and it was surprising that so many passes were wasted.
Result: School 3, Bury St Edmunds 1Wednesday, Nov 2nd: v Newport GS lst XI (home). Draw 1-1
In the first quarter of an hour play swung from end to end; Newport missing two open goals. After twenty minutes Fuller put over an excellent centre, which Notley headed home. Then Newport had the misfortune to lose their centre forward with a split chin. Nevertheless, their outside-left beat Sargent from close range after Ibbott had sliced his kick.
Half-time: School 1, Newport GS 1Newport were more prominent in the second half, but all their attacks were foiled by the School defence, in which Sargent, Whetstone and Strawson were outstanding. With five minutes to go, the Newport outside-right hit the post and the ball was scrambled away. A feature of this fast game was the strong defence of both sides.
Result: School 1, Newport GS 1st XI 1Saturday, Nov 12th: v Huntingdon GS 1st XI (away). Won 5-4
The School took a long time to settle down on a small and muddy pitch. Huntingdon scared first when their centre-half succeeded with a long shot. Almost immediately Notley equalised after good work by Draper. Ten minutes before half-time the Hunts outside-left converted a penalty awarded for a foul by Mard.
Half-time: School l, Hunts GS 1st XI 2After five minutes Notley, on his second attempt, equalised. Then came four goals in as many minutes; two being by each side. The School marksmen were Notley and Fuller, both from good centres by Collins. With five minutes to go Bumpsteed scored the winner for the School. The game was marred by many off-side incidents.
Result: School 5, Hunts GS 1st XI 4Saturday, Nov 19th: v Saffron Walden FS 1st XI (away). Won 2-1
Saffron Walden started the game in a robust fashion ; this upset the School team and it came as no surprise when the home centre-forward scored a good opportunist goal after a School defensive blunder. The School then came more into the picture and they equalised when the opposing full-back diverted the ball into his own goal. The School continued to press strongly, but no further goals were added.
Half-time: School 1, Saffron Walden FS 1The School attacked continuously for the first quarter of an hour and their efforts were rewarded by a goal from Ward. Then the School defence was tried to the limit and Saffron Walden had two good shots well saved by Sargent. With ten minutes to go Saffron Walden were awarded a penalty, but again Sargent saved.
Result: School 2, Saffron Walden FS lWednesday, Nov 23rd: v Newmarket GS (away). Won 3-2
The School attacked from the start, but weak finishing produced no goals. From a breakaway Newmarket scored the first goal through their inside-right. The School continued to press strongly, but no further goals were added.
Halftime: School 0, Newmarket GS 1Newmarket scored again through their outside-left. The School pressed very strongly and Collins netted the first goal about a quarter of an hour from the end. Notley added two more goals before time.
Result: School 3, Newmarket GS 1st Xl 2Saturday, Dec 3rd: v March GS 1st XI (home) Won 2-1
Kicking with a strong wind which helped them, March attacked strongly, but the School defence, in which Whetstone and Sargent were prominent, were equal to all their efforts. Just before half-time Notley scored for the School, following a good run by Collins.
Half-time: School 1, March GS 0March started off the second half in a robust fashion and their right-winger netted with a good drive. The School attacked fiercely and with five minutes to go, Fuller scored the winning goal.
Result: School 2, March GS 1st XI 1Thursday, Dec 8th: v Kings' School (Ely) 1st XI (away) Won 3-0
Within five minutes the School were on the attack and Notley had a good effort saved by the Kings' goalkeeper. After twenty minutes' play Fuller opened the scoring with a grand drive from outside the penalty area. After this both teams missed some golden opportunities.
Half-time: School l, Kings' School 0The second half was a direct contrast to the first, being full of thrills and good football. After ten minutes' play Notley scored from close range, following good work by Collins. Before long, Collins scored the third goal with a good shot. At the other end Ibbott broke up a fierce movement and Sargent saved a good shot from Casey, the outside-right.
Result: School 3, Kings' School (Ely) 1st XI 0JPS
SECOND ELEVEN
Oct 1st: v March GS 2nd XI (away). Won 6-4
After an early attack by the School, March broke away and a good shot by a March forward reached its mark. The School then pressed very hard with the result that three good goals were scored by Draper (2) and Collins.
The second half was more even and after three quick goals had been added by Collins, Bray and Draper, March fought back and their centre-forward replied with a hat-trick.Oct 20th: v Kings' School, Ely (away). Won 7-4
Winning the toss, the School kicked down the slope with the wind behind. The School did most of the attacking, and before half-time were leading by three goals to one, the School scorers being Kendall, Collins and own goal.
In the middle of the second half, it rained very hard so that ball control became very difficult, and the Kings' School reduced the lead to 3-2. Goals by Bonnett, Collins and Peacock G (2) increased the lead, and although the Kings' School attack added two more, the final whistle came with the School leading 7-4.Nov 12th: v Huntingdon GS 2nd XI (away) Lost 5-2.
From the very start the School could not accustom themselves to the small, uneven pitch, and it was not long before Huntingdon, helped by a strong wind, were two goals in the lead. After this early setback, the School tried very hard to get on equal terms, but could make little headway. Just on half-time Huntingdon added another goal and so started the second half with a three-goal lead.With the wind behind them the School tried to recover, but a quick attack by the Huntingdon forward-line led to another goal. About halfway through the second half the School scored through Forsdick, and soon after Fletcher scored the best goal of the match, from the edge of his own penalty area. This "revival" was only short lived as Huntingdon scored again just on time.
Result: School 2nd XI 2, Huntingdon GS 2nd XI 5Saturday, Dec 3rd: v March GS 2nd XI (home) Draw 1-1.
Making use of the slope and a following wind, the March forwards attacked strongly and in one of these attacks the centre-forward scored a good goal. The School forwards pressed in the latter part of the half, but no goal resulted.
The School did most of the attacking in the second half and after a goal by J Jordan, the School forwards tried hard to gain the lead, but were unable to score. A draw was a fitting index of the game.Dec 8th: v Ely Kings' School. (home) Won 7-5.
Losing the toss, the School kicked down the slope. Within one minute, however, the School were a goal up through Draper, and the same player increased the lead immediately after. This setback resulted in some hard pressing by the Kings' School forwards and they scored two goals. Currie restored the lead just before half-time.
The School, playing excellent football, added goals through Fletcher, Currie, Sharp, and Forsdick. Three determined thrusts by the Kings' School also produced goals, and the final whistle came with the School leading 7-5.JPR
UNDER 14 ELEVEN
Saturday, Oct 15th: v Newport GS Under 14 XI (away) Lost 1-2
The Under 14 XI was very unlucky to lose. Although having more than half of the play, the defence cracked and Newport scored two quick goals. Docherty was the School scorer.
School Under 14 XI 1, Newport Under 14 XI 2Saturday, Oct 29th: v King Edward VI, Bury St Ed's (home). Lost 4-6
The Bury St Ed's team took advantage of weaknesses in the School defence and scored four goals in the first half. The School pressed strongly and only just failed to save the game. The School scorers were Docherty, Metcalfe, Bush and Fyson.
School Under 14 XI. 4, Bury St. Edmunds 6Wednesday, Nov 2nd: v Newport GS Under 14 XI (home) Lost 0-2
The School played very well, but were well beaten by a team which played superior football.
School Under 14 XI. 0, Newport GS 2JPS
Soham Grammarian Spring 1950 - not to hand
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last update 15 Dec 2007