Stay Signed In
Do you want to access your site more quickly on this computer? Check this box, and your username and password will be remembered for two weeks. Click logout to turn this off.
Stay Safe
Do not check this box if you are using a public computer. You don't want anyone seeing your personal info or messing with your site.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : London Challenge Cup (Second Round)
White Hart Lane
2-2 (Wragg, o.g.)
21st October 1957
Wyllie
Wright
Cooper
Pyke
Brown
Morley
Wragg
Newman
Blackburn
Lewis
McDonald
Our Second Round tie of this season's London Challenge Cup competition against Tottenham Hotspur was played at White Hart Lane. We fielded a mainly-Reserve Team before a 2,000 attendance. Duquemin opened the scoring for the Spurs after a quarter-of-an-hour, and they led 1—0 at the interval. An hour's play had elapsed before we drew level, Wragg heading in after his first shot had rebounded from the bar Our fighting rally appeared to he in vain when " Duke " made the score 2- I with 16 minutes to go; especially as Hollowbread saved well from Wragg in the closing stages. However, all was not lost, and with but two minutes left for play Hills put through his own goal to bring us a welcome equaliser and leave the North Londoners a disappointed team.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : London Challenge Cup (Second Round Replay)
Extra Time Success
This Second Round Replay in the London Challenge Cup attracted a 7,000 attendance to Upton Park. They saw the Hammers gain a 5—3 victory after extra time against the 'Spurs, who, like us, fielded a mainly Reserve team.
After the opening quarter-of-an-hour the visitors' efforts slackened off against a very keen Hammers' side, and our better teamwork paid dividends when a cross-pass by Malcolm was headed over the 'keeper's head by Lewis.
An unlucky handling offence in the 70th minute enabled Dyson to equalise from the penalty-spot, but almost immediately Lewis put us in front again with another penalty after a foul on Fenn. However, 'Spurs were not finished, and only two more minutes had passed before Dyson again netted to force extra time.
Only five minutes of the additional period had elapsed before we twice scored. A shot by Malcolm hit the bar and Fenn headed in the rebound to make it 3 --2 and a minute later Morley was the scorer. A Spurs' rally enabled Walley to reduce the arrears, but Newman settled the issue in our favour.
We now meet Fulham in the Semi-Final on the 4th November at the Boleyn Ground.
FULHAM : London Challenge Cup (Semi-Final)
Upton Park
5-1 (Newman 3, Neville, Malcolm)
4th November 1957
Rhodes
Wright
Cooper
Malcolm
Nelson
Morley
Grice
Newman
Neville
Lewis
Scott
Into the Final again
The Semi-Final of the London Challenge Cup occupied our attention on Monday evening, and despite rainy and windy weather the attendance was 6,275 (not 3,000 as incorrectly given in Tuesday morning's press).
Against a strong Fulham side that included three or four of the previous Saturday's First XI line-up, we fielded this team: Rhodes; Wright^ Cooper; Malcolm, Nelson, Mor-ley. Grice, Newman, Neville, Lewis, T. Scott.
Just before the interval a lengthy drive by Malcolm forced Hewkins to concede a corner, and with the goalkeeper only parrying Scott's kick, Newman shot home to put us in front. After the resumption Newman hit one and headed another of Grice's passes to complete his hat-trick, and with Neville and Malcolm adding further tallies we were five up. A late success by Doherty reduced the arrears, but the Cottagers were a well-beaten side.
We thus reached the Final for the eleventh time to set up a new record in the competition, but our next opponents are by no means certain. Brentford forced a late draw (3—3) at Highbury on Monday in the Second Round, and the winners of that replay meet Leyton Orient in the Semi-Final for the right to challenge us in the ultimate tie.
ARSENAL : London Challenge Cup (Final)
Upton Park
1-3 (Wragg)
17th March 1958
Despite the biting wind there was an attendance of 8,000 to see the Final of the London Challenge Cup was played under the Upton Park floodlights, and they were rewarded with a game of fast exchanges in which each side in turn had their full share of the play. The first goal came after six minutes; Brian Rhodes punched out the ball from a bunch of players as it was lofted into the goalmouth, and before our defence had time to recover Ray Swallow fastened on to the clearance and banged home a shot along the ground from the edge of the penalty-box. Just under half-an-hour's play had passed when we drew level, Doug Wragg finding the top corner of the net with a left-foot shot on the turn from the corner of the area.
The second half opened with the teams level at 1—1, but indications were that the Hammers looked like gaining the ascendancy. However, a freak goal once more put the Gunners ahead in the 60th minute ; Swallow punted down the middle, and although Rhodes had it covered all the way the ball struck Derek Tapscott in the back and diverted itself into the corner of our net. We promptly returned to the attack, but with eleven minutes left for play the issue was decided through another mishap; two of our defenders collided about 25 yards out and the ball rolled loose for Swallow to run on and make it 3—1.
The score remained that way at the final whistle, leaving Arsenal as winners of the trophy for the eighth time. Although congratulating the Gunners on their victory we must confess that we did not consider fortune smiled upon us. Nevertheless we had much to be consoled with in the general play of our XI, of whom seven are still in their teens. Against a wealth of international class experience they more than held their own, and a slight sway of luck in our direction might well have found the Cup remaining on our board-room sideboard.
Rhodes
Kirkup
Cooper
Pyke
Moore
Lyall
Wragg
Smith
Lewis
Newman
Scott
ARSENAL : Southern Junior Floodlit Cup (Final)
Upton Park
5-1 (Moore, Smillie 3, Scott)
22nd April 1958
Earl S.
Kirkup
Cripps
Moore
Keetch
Hurst
Woodley
Smillie
Keeble R.
Cartwright
Scott
Cup Final Victory for the Colts
Our Colts brought off a very good win in the Final of the Southern Junior Floodlit Cup at Upton Park, their 5—1 victory enabling them to retain their hold on the trophy.
An attendance of 4,500 saw a fast game in which the Young Hammers produced their best form of the season against a team which reached the Semi-Final of the national youth tournament. The defence was extremely capable, making only one real error (from which the Gunners scored), and the forward-line never gave the visiting rearguard any respite. On top of this our wing-halves—Geoff Hurst and Bobby Moore—linked up in outstanding fashion, and helped to lay the foundations of a resounding victory-Moore opened our scoring, and two tallies by Andy Smillie put us three up at the interval. Arsenal reduced the margin after half-time, but firstly Tony Scott made it 4—1 from the inside-right position and then Smillie completed his hat-trick to round off an excellent personal display.
