Soham Grammarian Spring 1961
Three members of the School 1st XI (Darby, Clarke (Capt.) and Bailey), played for the Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire Combined Grammar Schools XI against Middlesex Grammar Schools. The Cambridgeshire side were victors by 3 goals to 2.
FOOTBALL NOTES
On the first day of the Autumn term I look round in Assembly to see if a soccer nucleus has returned. The big gap left from last season was that of centre forward, a position Parish had filled so admirably the year before, and it soon became evident that we were going to have great difficulty in finding a replacement.
Darby struggled gamely on for a short time in the middle, but it soon became apparent that his true position was on the wing and eventually Morton took over as centre-forward. Two such speedy wingers as Darby and Register, and surely the latter must be the most improved player in school, should have assured us of goals galore, but their sterling approach work was never really completed in the middle.
The two inside forwards, Pollard and Sharp, proved to be good ball players, but neither they nor Morton had the necessary thrust in front of goal. The strength of the team lay in the half-back line of Taylor, Clarke and Hicks, all of them rugged tacklers and good distributors of the ball.
Taylor in particular was often called upon to give added strength to the forward line which he did very well, always managing to cover in defence too. Ellingham at full back must have been very pleased to have him as a spoiler just in front. Binge at full back enjoyed a very good season, a consistent hard player we shall be sorry to lose.
Bailey made few mistakes in goal, we will not dwell on the match at Walden, his understanding with the defence was as good as ever and we shall be pleased to see him again next season.
For the record, the 1st XI lost only one match and Clarke who has just completed his third year in the 1st XI can be well satisfied with his team.
The 2nd XI once again performed well and the under 14 XI under Mr Bozeat came up to expectations.
So far the Under 15's have won all their matches and are again in the final of the Fordham Cup.
The juniors enjoyed their match with St. Faiths which fits in very well with our annual fixture with Downing College.
Once again our grateful thanks go to all referees and linesmen and to that small but select band (male and female) who watch our matches.
RAT
FIRST ELEVEN
Sept 21st v Newmarket GS Away Won 6-0
Sept 24th v Wisbech GS Home Won 4-0
Oct 1st v Newport GS Away Drawn 3-3
Oct 8th v Huntingdon GS Home Won 5-0
Oct 15th v King Edward VI, Bury Away Won 3-1
Oct 22nd v March GS Away Drawn 1-1
Oct 26th v Newport GS Home Won 4-1
Nov 2nd v Thetford GS Away Drawn 1-1
Nov 5th v Saffron Walden Friends' Away Lost 0-3
Nov12th v King Edward VI, Bury Home Won 3-2
Nov 16th v Thetford GS Home Won 5-0
Nov 26th v Huntingdon GS Away Won 5-1
Nov 30th v Newmarket GS Away Won 6-0
Dec 7th v Saffron Walden Friends' Home Won 5-2
Dec 10th v March GS Home Won 2-1
Dec 17th v Old Boys Home Lost 1-5
Feb 15th v Downing College Away Drawn 2-2Goalscorers: Darby 16, Morton 11, Sharp 6, Register 5, Pollard 5, Burling 3, Taylor 2, Weston 1.
SECOND ELEVEN
Sept 24th v Wisbech GS Home Won 11-3
Oct 15th v King Edward VI, Bury Home Won 5-0
Oct 22nd v March GS Away Won 7-1
Nov 2nd v Thetford GS Away Won 5-1
Nov 12th v King Edward VI, Bury Away Lost 2-5
Nov 16th v Thetford GS Home Won 7-1
Dec 10th v March GS Home Won 7-2Goalscorers: Weston 8, Burling 8, Poole 7, Patterson 5, Sharp 4, Fuller 4, Aves 2, Docherty 1, Morton 1, Ogden 1.
UNDER FIFTEEN
Oct 6th v South Cambs. Away Won 2-0
Oct 20th v Needham's School Away Won 8-0
Nov 5th v Saffron Walden Friends' Away Won 11-2
Nov 24th v Bottisham VC Home Won 7-0
Dec 7th v Saffron Walden Friends' Home Won 15-1
Feb 23rd v Soham VC Away Won 7-1Goalscorers: Munns 10, Houghton 9, Aves 7, Booth 7, Pilbeam 3, Cross 3, Kent 2, Chapman 1.
UNDER FOURTEEN
Sept. 24th v Wisbech GS Home Lost 4-5
Oct. 1st v Newport GS Away Lost 3-4
Oct 8th v Huntingdon GS Home Won 8-2
Oct. 15th v King Edward VI, Bury Away Won 7-3
Oct 20th v Needham's School Away Won 7-1
Oct 22nd v March GS Away Lost 1-3
Oct 26th v Newport GS Home Won 6-2
Nov 2nd v Thetford GS Away Won 4-2
Nov 12th v King Edward VI, Bury Home Won 9-2
Nov 16th v Thetford GS Home Won 8-3
Nov 19th v Huntingdon GS Away Lost 1-3
Dec. 10th v March GS Home Won 5-0Goalscorers: Sargent 21, Newell 11, Dockerill 9, Jenkinson 7, Allan 4, Burtt 3, Sharp 3, Ladson 2, Rosbrook 1.
JUNIOR ELEVEN
Feb 15th v St. Faith's Away Won 8-0
SCHOOL 5 SAFFRON WALDEN 2
A defeat at Saffron Walden earlier in the term gave the School an added incentive in the return match with the Friends' School. In near perfect conditions the School took the lead almost immediately when a Saffron Walden defender headed a centre from Register past his own goalkeeper. This was the spur which the School needed but the forward line lacked the ability to turn cleverly contrived openings into goals.
Saffron Walden were seen only in isolated raids which the School defence invariably repulsed with ease, but the School's lead, which appeared safe until half-time, was lost when the visiting centre-forward outjumped the School defence and saw his header trickle over the line.
The opening of the second-half was similar to that of the first but this time it was a brilliant header by Morton that restored the School's lead. There was now, however, an urgency in the School's play which suggested that Saffron Walden would not be let off as lightly as in the first half. No defence could withstand such pressure and within a quarter of an hour Darby had scored a superb hat-trick to put the School in an unassailable position. Saffron Walden fought back to score again but valiantly as they tried they could close the gap no further.
DOWNING COLLEGE 2 SCHOOL 2
Playing their only game of the Spring Term against such formidable opposition as Downing College, the School did extremely well to gain a creditable draw.
The contrast in styles was soon evident with Downing keeping the ball close and the School relying on long passes to their wings. It was equally clear that of these two approaches the School's was by far the more likely to produce goals because the Downing forwards continually floundered against the uncompromising hard tackling of the School defence.
The School took a deserved lead when Pollard found a gap between a defender's legs to give Morton a chance from which he could hardly fail to score. The School had many chances to increase this lead but the only other first half goal came from Downing when their inside-forward drove the ball in from six yards.
The School did less of the attacking in the second-half but still looked extremely dangerous, and it was no surprise when the earlier lead was restored with a magnificent goal. After a right-wing movement had ended with a fierce volley from Pollard hitting the post, Darby was quick to gain possession and return the ball into the middle where Pollard was this time more successful with a header. From this point Downing gained control and their superior stamina became the deciding factor. After a period of gallant defence the School at last yielded when a mis-kick in front of goal gave the outside-left a simple chance.
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last update 2 Dec 2007