MATCH 7: DIVISION 1 PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL, 18-05-2011, HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 3-3 AFC BOURNEMOUTH (TOWN WON 4-2 ON PENALTIES, AET...)

 Terrier Kilbane Sniffs Out the Cherries…

Huddersfield Town 3-3 AFC Bournemouth

(aet, 2-2 at 90 mins. 4-2 to Town on penalties)

18th May 2011, Division 1 play-off semi-final, 2nd leg… 

Att: 16,444

(First leg 1-1)

Bournemouth’s attempts to pass their way to the League 1 play-off final stumbled against a resolute Huddersfield, mainly due to their occasional weaknesses against crucial high deliveries into sensitive defensive zones, a hesitant goalkeeper and the lack of a more physical forward than Danny Ings, whose goal belied his overall contribution which, although committed, lacked product. The poor penalties struck by Liam Feeney, whose marking at the scoring of the opening Town goal was weak and then the busy Robinson were stark in comparison with the confident spot-kicks taken by the hosts to win the tie and progress to Old Trafford for a Final against Peterborough. 

And there was Kevin Kilbane, whose presence filtered through this game like a stain spoiling a pair of beige trousers. He was fortunate to see out the match, as was Gary Naysmith, although the official took a sterner line with the Cherries’ Jason Pearce, whose late absence allowed Town to gain ascendancy, thus becoming more resilient in the penalty shootout.

Kilbane’s early long passes were inaccurate, his tussles with Bournemouth’s Danny Hollands lusty but Town’s blustery start stunned their visitors on a damp, slick surface which was well watered before the game. Gary Roberts’ shot from the largely ineffective Jordan Rhodes’ nudge was blocked by Shwan Jalal in the guests’ goal in the opening frenetic seconds, subsequently the ‘keeper missed a cross and Shaun Cooper and Pearce were like foremen in a factory’s strike-meeting, demanding more and more of their fellow defenders. Roberts’ dribbles were clap-worthy, he also drove wide, Naysmith’s two-footed challenge earned only a yellow card from the hesitant referee and all that Bournemouth could muster during those first fifteen minutes were Ings’ stubbed effort wide and Adam Smith’s drive past the left upright.

The Cherries suddenly began to pass the ball though and despite certainly lacking that physical presence in attack, they survived nervous moments provided by their own goalie too, who lost a long Antony Kay kick then dropped a corner before collecting the loose ball. In the 26^th minute, Jack Hunt, impressing at right-back for the hosts, crossed for Rhodes to beat Cooper in the air and head down for goal. Jalal saved fairly well but Roberts’ ensuing right-wing corner was met by Lee Peltier, having pushed off Feeney who reacted not at all and forced a header off the left post and Smith’s shoulder into goal. 

Jalal’s communication with his defenders became questionable, Peltier then fouled Hollands with aplomb and Town ‘keeper Ian Bennett saved at the near post as Donal McDermott, gaining in confidence, cut inside and drove low for goal. Ings was quickly foiled by Bennett’s desperate clutch at the loose ball, however. 

On 44 minutes, the visitors, who had achieved considerable chunks of possession without causing Bennett too much anxiety, equalised. Good play between Feeney, at last, and Smith, allowed the full-back to move inside from the right, exchange passes with Anton Robinson’s heel only to find himself scythed down by Peter Clarke’s unwise 7 yard challenge. Steve Lovell, who was acquitting himself well, slammed a penalty into the top centre of the goal-net, although it was noticeable that it was the inimitable Kilbane who had failed to track Smith’s run into the penalty-box successfully. 

A linesman blundered, giving Huddersfield a corner on the opposite side of the field, despite the facts that the referee was closer to the incident, the assistant’s own view was obscured and that he was simply downright wrong. The flag-kick was cleared but Roberts’ second centre was headed across goal by Peltier for Rhodes who drove his shot over the right angle of bar and post. This action should never have happened but Kilbane soon reared his head again, angering supporters by passing deeply back to his own defence, yet the ensuing long clearance towards the right allowed the awkward Benik Afobi to combine with Hunt and when Danny Ward picked up the ball, he was gifted space at 19 yards when marker Robinson slipped over. 

The Town midfielder drove a low shot, curling slightly, towards the left post and Jalal failed to save it. To be fair, the ‘keeper didn’t seem to move his feet, merely performing a falling reach. Half-time had arrived, the Terriers’ fans were noisy but Bournemouth’s fans must have rued that second goal, for their play had been more watchable than Huddersfield’s more forceful game plan. 

And of course they had Kilbane…

Cooper diverted an early second period low shot by Clarke past a post but again Jalal seemed rooted to the damp turf, then McDermott’s ugly foul on Peltier was deserving of the booking he received. Naysmith stumbled into the Bournemouth penalty-box in receipt of a pass from Afobe but again Rhodes skied a shot, from 8 yards this time. McDermott for the guests and Ward for the hosts both missed the target from distance then Smith and Kilbane became embroiled in a pushing moment, Kilbane became incensed, chased Smith like barking terrier and manhandled the referee. Surprisingly he was only cautioned… 

Hollands was becoming more effective for Bournemouth and his 63^rd minute pass initiated a fine three-man, left-footed creation, which afforded Bournemouth a second equaliser. Hollands hooked the ball left-footed and left to McDermott’s shoulder, the winger’s low left-footed pass, angled slightly backwards, found Lovell racing into the penalty-area at 18 yards. Lovell left a defender on the ground, rounded the advancing Bennett veering left and clipped a superb left-footer from the left corner of the 6-yard box high into the far side of the Town net… 

Lee Novak replaced the disappointing Rhodes, before Afobe, offside anyway but missed by the linesman, received Roberts’ pass on the left, beat the powerful Pearce and the floundering Jalal as he drove inside but fell over as he shot badly over the crossbar from 12 yards. 

Bournemouth continued to impress at times with their passing, Huddersfield were more dogged and strong, Ings was on the fringes of the game, Marc Pugh replaced the tiring McDermott and Kilbane took out Pugh immediately with a head and shoulder butt, being punished with, er, nothing at all. Feeney failed to find three supporting attackers as he broke away on the right for the Cherries and crossed badly, Hollands left Kilbane metres away from him but headed downwards from 8 yards for Bennett to catch easily and Roberts, clever but inconsistent, curled a fair effort past the left upright from 20 yards. Lovell earned a booking for a late challenge on Kay and extra-time loomed…  

The overtime period was begun with hesitation from Jalal, forcing Cooper to clear hurriedly as Afobi lurked with some intent, before the tricky Roberts passed to Ward, left side but although the inconsistent midfielder moved inside Smith well, his drive at goal was held by Jalal with some comfort. Jamie McCombe replaced Peltier for the hosts and Lovell was replaced by Michael Symes for the Cherries but the substitute looked a little sluggish from the start. Robinson challenged Kilbane but the experienced midfielder fell a good second later, making spectators hide their faces with embarrassment but he won a free-kick anyway and avoided trouble from the referee. 

A 19 yard free-kick for Town, after Roberts was tripped by the uncompromising Smith, led to Kilbane attempting to dummy taking the kick short but he actually touched the ball and Feeney was warned for encroaching… The eventual free-kick was allowed to be taken and Kilbane had escaped trouble again.

Rhoys Wiggins made a fine tackle on Afobe, McCombe escaped punishment for a reckless foul, then Bournemouth, who had maintained their passing ethic, took the lead in the 104^th minute. Hollands, working manfully, won possession and fed Pugh on the left and although the winger hadn’t really got into the game thus far, he flicked the ball cleverly for Symes to return it to him as he broke on the flank. Pugh’s centre was perfect for Ings, who affected the game at last and rose unmarked between the two defensive but motionless sentries to head the ball neatly beyond the diving Bennett and into the far right corner of the net from 8 yards. Pearce did well to tackle the slipping Afobe then Naysmith’s 23 yard shot took a touch off Hollands’ head, leading to a left-wing corner and Town’s equaliser just a minute later.

INGS NODS AFC 2-3 AHEAD...

Roberts took it, Kay rose powerfully near the far post to crash a header from 6 yards into the top right corner of the net and half-time in overtime was reached with parity. Tired limbs ached but Hollands was rampaging on for the Cherries and he fed Wiggins on the left but Robinson’s eventual shot and rebound were both weak. Two fine Hollands tackles led to Symes’ shot from 20 yards but Bennett saved with comfort, before a nasty foul by Hunt on Pugh earned him a booking and Alan Lee replaced Afobi for Town. A Symes shot won a corner prior to Pearce’s slack touch leading to a jump-in challenge on an opponent and he, unlike Naysmith, was dismissed. The recipient of the tackle? Er, Kilbane…

KAY SCORES AND IT'S 3-3...

HE SEEMED PLEASED...

Ings was withdrawn, leaving Symes’ lack of pace to hand ascendancy to Huddersfield although Mathieu Baudry had taken Pearce’s place in the Bournemouth defence. Jalal hesitated again but Lee was deemed to have pushed somebody then Jalal dropped the ball, Cooper scrapped near his left post, Kay hacked, Jalal flapped a saving hand at the ball and eventually, Town were awarded a corner. Ward drove wide of the right post as time expired but penalties were by then, inevitable.

Symes drove his shot to Bennett’s right, as the goalie dived left and the side-footed effort was unerring but Novak replied with a low shot into the bottom left corner of the goal, with Jalal some yards away having fallen to his left: 1-1.

Bennett fell left to beat out a poor shot from the obviously uncertain Feeney but Ward drove a left-footer hard into the right corner of goal for Town: 2-1.

BENNETT SAVES FEENEY'S SPOT-KICK...

Robinson struck the top of the crossbar for Bournemouth but Kilbane, who had trodden a fine line with the officials and had not performed well, really sealed Town’s victory by firing a high penalty into goal just right of centre: 3-1.

Cooper drove a great shot into the top right corner of the net but Kay won the match with a fine shot off the crossbar, left side of goal which deflected up into the roof of the net from the turf. Jalal was again nowhere near to saving: 4-2…

Huddersfield’s resilience had won through and Bournemouth’s lack of strength in attacking areas had denied their passing game a victory. Ings netted but didn’t really impress, yet for Town, Afobi, although lively, lacked some finesse. Roberts and Hunt starred for the hosts, with Peltier seemingly everywhere but the Cherries were well served by Pearce, despite his dismissal, Cooper and both full-backs. Hollands was the anchor and marked the man who really affected the game, willingly or otherwise: Kilbane… 

It’s what he did then…    

Lee Clark: The Power Source

His assistant, thoughtful,

Sat well back,

Distanced and out of range of

The cleaving arm

Threatening harm

And the swinging elbows,

The flapping hands

And accusing fingers of the Manager’s emotion.

Eyes frowned shamelessly,

Glaring accusations.

Incensed and out of range but

Castigating bluntly,

Blinking poignantly 

And players winced at abuse,

Infantrymen under fire

From their barking General’s straining devotion.

Every facial muscle

Was wrenched,

Every sinew tense:

The archetypal dictator

Patrolling the perimeter,

Like a wound-up

Clockwork toy.

A dizzy, staccato motivator,

A taskmaster, a parade-ground Sergeant,

A mercurial, rising thermometer…

Pete Ray

Lee Clark, the Huddersfield manger was ‘engaged’, one could say…

MATCH 6: ALDERSHOT 3-1 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN, THE FA CUP ROUND 3 REPLAY UPSET, JANUARY 1970...

 Aldershot v Huddersfield Town, FA Cup Round 3 Replay, January 1970…

The first term at Bulmershe College in Reading ended with me having no room-mate; he had moved in with his girlfriend but after Christmas, I was to live in lodgings for two terms. A student of French, Charlie Watts, who was not the drummer of Rolling Stones fame, and I were placed with Miss Herbert, a retired headmistress from Wokingham. She owned nine mindless cats. Food was sparse, although not for the cats. She would suffer a heart-attack during the ensuing weeks, eventually leading to a change of lodgings for Charlie and me in the ‘new town’ of Bracknell. 

Charlie’s legendary catchphrase was “Cheers, boys!”, which sounded like: “Cheerth, boyth!” and I still use that phrase today. During our first evening, Miss Herbert called upstairs: 

“Peter, do you like bacon?” “Yes…” I replied. 

Then she added, “Do you like beans?” 

I retorted, “Er, yes…” 

Finally she called out: “Do you like tomatoes?” 

I hesitated, puzzled, but yelled: “Yes, Miss Herbert…” 

She then hailed Charlie: “Peter wants bacon, beans and tomato. Is that all right for you?” Charlie called: “Yes, Miss Herbert!” 

When the food came, World War Two rationing had reared its ugly head again. 

Charlie was my mate because he was more involved with the P.E. guys than the French students but he was a Swindon Town fan and was sometimes prone to singing: “Donald, Donald Rogers, Donald Rogers on the wi-ing, Donald, Don….etc…” So sad. I had seen Villa draw 1-1 with Charlton in the FA Cup 3rd Round on the Saturday and my father had driven me and my belongings to Berkshire on the Sunday. On my first full day in Wokingham, a Monday, sixth in Division 4 Aldershot were due to play an FA Cup replay against Huddersfield, who were top of Division 2 at the time, following a stunning 1-1 draw at Leeds Road on the Saturday. Frank Worthington would spearhead The Terriers’ attack and we simply had to go and see the match, which seemed to us marginally better than spending the whole evening at The Rifle Volunteer, a Wokingham pub of little interest, but even that would have been vastly more pleasurable than a night in with Miss Herbert’s cats. 

Replays were quickly arranged in those days and Villa’s replay was held at The Valley on the same evening. It was meant to be a walkover at Aldershot for the Yorkshiremen and I suggested thumbing lifts to the Recreation Ground. Now thumbing from Wokingham to Aldershot wasn’t easy in those days because of sixteen miles of road which did eventually go from A to reach B but actually via F. We made it rather easily however, becoming part of a crowd of 14,332 packed into The Rec’ and Charlie and I soon squeezed into the covered end of the ground with the hard core of vociferous Shots fans. What we witnessed was memorable. 

I was impressed that Aldershot’s chairman was called Caesar and two of his directors were Barefoot and Hooker, all names you simply couldn’t invent, surely? Shots’ striker Dennis Brown, whose Chelsea debut had been a goalscoring one against Manchester United as a youngster but who was now playing with one plastic knee-cap, following a car accident, partnered the prolific Jack Howarth in attack. Jack was a tall centre-forward who headed the ball a lot, taking three or four strides before jumping and he won a good deal of ball aerially throughout two periods of time in his Aldershot career, scoring 171 times. Ex-Celtic youngster Peter Gowans hugged the touchline on the left and the single substitute, Tony Priscott eventually became a Christian Minister.

The Terriers included a ‘keeper I liked, Terry Poole, forward Colin Dobson, ex-Sheffield Wednesday, even Trevor Cherry, who would go on to star at Leeds and play for England, plus the enigmatic Worthington. Huddersfield would have a fine season and began the replay strongly. The hosts, in an electric atmosphere, conceded a 15th minute goal, when the ex-Manchester United and Leeds player, Irishman Jimmy Nicholson took a free-kick and Worthington moved in front of Shots’ goalie Tony Godfrey to convert from close range. 

BIG Jack Howarth...

Steve Smith then rattled the Aldershot crossbar, before the Shots began to compete, with Gowans and Howarth firing a header and a shot too high. However, the night would belong to Shots’ balding player-manager Jimmy Melia, who had scored 76 goals for Liverpool early in his career and had won two England caps, scoring a goal for his country too. He prompted his troops, ‘The Soldiers’ into making some exciting moves, which belied the team’s lowly standing. 

JIMMY MELIA: GLABROUS AT THE BACK (LACKING HAIR...)

I was totally swept up in the excitement as he capitalised upon a poor 20 yard back-pass by Nicholson to goalie Terry Poole, who made a hash of collecting the ball, allowing Melia to nip in, take possession and run on alone. He stopped on the goal-line though, turned round, looked at the referee and only then stroked the ball deep into the Huddersfield net. He reckoned afterwards that he was simply thinking: “I wish I had one like that every match!” The fact was though, that the crowd had become eerily hushed as Melia ran on, perhaps wondering about an infringement, or maybe they were just stunned into disbelief. The official signalled a goal and the crowd went crazy, the noise became deafening and infectious and Charlie suddenly couldn’t even remember who Don Rogers was, or who he played for any longer.

MELIA WALKS THE BALL INTO THE NET FOR 1-1...

The pandemonium was exciting and haunting and much of Aldershot’s passing was accurate, even the odd back-heel and flick was successful but then, moments after the interval, Shots’ dangerous winger Gowans made a quick rush from the left flank, fed Brown inside, who turned on his plastic knee and returned a pass for his winger, who fired the hosts into a 2-1 lead from 18 yards, with a low drive into the right corner of the net, right in front of Charlie and me. Children ran onto the pitch, Charlie and I were leaping up and down, joining in with the almost plaintive but certainly voluminous chants of “Come on Soldiers, come on Soldiers, come on Soldiers…”

PETER GOWANS SMACKS THE SHOTS 2-1 AHEAD...

Ten minutes later, Ray Mielczarek handled as Gowans fought his way through the heavy ground conditions and Aldershot were awarded a penalty. Melia stepped up, sent Poole falling left and struck a low right-footer into the opposite corner of the net. Oddly, Huddersfield were forced back time and again, with Brown, Howarth and Ronnie Walton all going close but Howarth drew applause with a superb drive from the right side, only for Poole to draw admiration with a magnificent diving save to touch the ball over his crossbar. One-twos, odd back-heels and quick passes embarrassed the Terriers, but only because, astonishingly, they often came off and the visitors were eventually muscled out of the FA Cup, earning Aldershot a tie at Carlisle, which they drew 2-2, although they lost the home replay 1-4 in front of a record attendance of 19,138... 

MELIA CONVERTS HIS PENALTY...

Charlie and I were joyous, leaving me with a lasting soft spot for both teams. We battled our way out of the Rec’ and were lucky to pick up a lift back to Wokingham almost immediately and we were in a local Wokingham pub by 10.15pm, a rare pleasure for us in the town, for shortly after a month in Miss Herbert’s quaint and furry surroundings, she became very ill. Charlie and I were immediately moved into Easthampstead Park women’s teacher training college and were placed in staff bedrooms with en-suite sitting rooms for a fortnight. 

EASTHAMPSTEAD PARK COLLEGE...

You just couldn’t make that up, either... 

MATCH 5: SPURS 0-1 ARSENAL ON 3RD MAY 1971. ALMOST EXACTLY 50 YEARS AGO & ARSENAL CLINCHED THE LEAGUE TITLE AT WHITE HART LANE...

 A CRUSHING EVENING…

SPURS 0-1 ARSENAL, 3RD MAY 1971…

My best two mates at college were John Follett, a Millwall fan and Martin Phipps who followed Spurs. Mart was a decent centre-forward himself and when Spurs were to have a pertinent say in whether Leeds or local rivals Arsenal won the league-title on May 3rd, 1971, it was suggested that a few of us should travel to White Hart Lane on that memorable Monday. One of the lads borrowed his mother's car for the occasion and around lunchtime we set out from Reading. We were aware that a huge crowd was expected but what we saw when we arrived at the ground was not entirely anticipated. 

It was not an all-ticket affair and queues were forming all round the stadium for the evening kick-off but it was only 3.20pm! The car was left too close to the ground for my liking but no parking restrictions were visible and I made no comment. We had intended to find a food-joint but due to the throng of people, we had little choice but to join the fairly orderly, snaking lines of expectant supporters. By all accounts, some 100,000 people were locked out of the ground that night and 51,192 forced themselves through the turnstiles… 

COULD I BE ON THE PICTURE?

The entrances were opened very early, unsurprisingly. I guess this was done to shift the ever-growing mass of spectators but the mood began to change. Orderly queues became panicky and people rushed and pushed towards the turnstiles from any position. We were fortunate, for we were able to twist and wrestle clear of the stampede and make for an opening gate. And so it was that we witnessed a famous match. 

THE ARSENAL SQUAD...

A no-score draw would have given Arsenal the title by the narrowest of margins, 0.013 of a goal. A win would obviously have been preferable but defeat or a score-draw would have sent the trophy to Elland Road, leaving Arsenal to contest the FA Cup Final against Liverpool the next week, maybe as a mere consolation. Spurs had finished third in the league but well behind the other two protagonists and their players had been promised a £400 pounds bonus per man, should Arsenal lose, thus nullifying talk of handing the title to their rivals. 

PAT JENNINGS CLAWS AN ARSENAL CROSS AWAY...

MORE PRESSURE ON SPURS...

RAY KENNEDY: MATCH WINNER...

JENNINGS DOWN TO COLLECT AGAIN...

THE STATE OF AFFAIRS...

Leeds actually played in a testimonial match that evening in Hull, alleviating their problem of huddling around radios and twitching… 

The crowd noise was deafening yet I felt like I shouldn't have been there. I didn't really belong. Pat Jennings saved early from Charlie George but Spurs then linked well, culminating in Martin Peters' drive clipping the Arsenal crossbar, yet the Gunners ended the half in the ascendancy. Bob Wilson was injured at the feet of Joe Kinnear, almost precipitating a punch-up, then Alan Gilzean failed to get a touch to Cyril Knowles' low cross and Arsenal creaked. As the game noisily yet nervously careered towards a 0-0 draw and Arsenal's title, Jennings made a fine save from Jon Radford's header but Ray Kennedy headed George Armstrong's resulting cross into the net off the crossbar. Three minutes to go, Arsenal were in the lead but also in a cleft stick. An equaliser for Spurs would mean the title going to Leeds & Arsenal's nerves looked terribly frayed as the players defended desperately and Wilson pounced on the ball in a crazy goalmouth melee as the seconds ran out. 

KENNEDY'S LOOPING HEADER...

JENNINGS & CYRIL KNOWLES ARE BEATEN...

...& ARSENAL CLAIM THE LEAGUE TITLE...

Odd really that Spurs had won at Leeds earlier in the season and Jack Charlton had not been impressed by that or Arsenal’s eventual victory at Spurs. My mates and I struggled off the terraces and joined the throng filing from the ground, squeezing through sardine-packed exits and spilling onto the street. We clutched at each other as we tore away from the marauding masses to locate our transport back to Reading. 

The car looked different somehow. The hood and trunk sections were scratched and curiously the roof was crushed in, to the horror of the owner's son. We could do no more but sympathise and attempt to push out the dents from inside the car. We alerted the police but as the crowds finally began to disperse, the constabulary was of little use except to explain that young children had been placed onto the vehicle earlier in the day when the crowd congestion had been at its worst. They said that the car might even have saved lives… 

We never did find out how the driver's mother reacted to the damage but that game, fifty years ago has remained in my memory ever since. 

And Arsenal won the cup too…

MATCH 4: THE WATNEY CUP 1970, READING 2-3 MANCHESTER UNITED...

 The Watney Cup Round 1, 1st August 1970…

Reading 2-3 Manchester United

Having completed my first year at Teacher Training College at Bulmershe, Reading, studying P.E., I had seen Reading FC’s fortunes change also. When I arrived there in late 1969, the first match I saw was a 2-3 defeat to Walsall, a club from my neck of the woods but after that, the Biscuitmen or Royals, whichever nickname one prefers, enjoyed a turnaround of fortunes and had Malcolm MacDonald not scored a belligerent late winner for Luton at Elm Park towards the close of the season, Reading might just have been promoted instead of the Hatters. 

So because Reading had smacked in a huge number of goals during that season, they, like seven other top goalscoring teams in other divisions were invited to take part in the Watney Cup in pre-season, 1970-71. They were drawn against Manchester United, who fielded Alex Stepney, Pat Crerand, Willie Morgan, Dennis Law, Bobby Charlton, Brian Kidd and George Best on that summer’s afternoon. This tournament was the first ever to be sponsored… 

AN 8-0 THRASHING OF SOUTHPORT MEANT A WATNEY CUP SLOT FOR READING...

I was still on my summer break on that date back in Birmingham but I made my way down to Reading by train to see the team which possessed goalkeepers Death and Pratt (surely a firm of undertakers?) take on a star-studded visiting outfit. Steve Death, who had played once for West Ham United, was not a tall ‘keeper but had good reactions, whilst John Pratt was by all accounts a local schoolteacher… Death would play the remainder of his career at Reading, amassing 471 games.

DEATH PLUNGES TO GRAB A CHARLTON CROSS IN FRONT OF KIDD...

I wrote after the game that the sun blazed down upon a rich, green playing area and most spectators wore as little as they could get away with in the ‘Cup Final atmosphere’. 

LAW, RETURNING FROM A KNEE INJURY, ENJOYS THE HOT READING WEATHER...

Reading, I wrote, played some attractive football, engineered by the ‘brilliant’ Tony Wagstaff, with his brother Barrie playing in centre defence. Bobby Williams was also creative and only Stepney’s fine save prevented the latter from ‘steering the Biscuitmen home’. 

STEPNEY DEFLECTS A HABBIN SHOT...

Death did make some marvellous saves too, although his kicking was ‘suspect at times’ and marred his performance, whilst United’s Stepney had been in fine form, ‘changing my opinion of him’ as a goalie… Death plunged about during the first-half, making some timely interceptions but his team pushed United back and it was Stepney who in truth kept Manchester in the tournament…

DEATH BLOCKS AT BEST'S FEET...

However, the most memorable aspect of the encounter was that Reading’s right-back Wil(fred) Dixon, generally the unsung hero, took the sting out of Best, so that the Irish winger never really got going and he was overshadowed by Morgan, who was also given a rough ride by Reading’s Dennis M. Butler. Clearly, Dixon gained legendary status at Elm Park on that day for his exploits of marking Best closely and usually tackling the winger cleanly. He played 153 times for Reading and would later feature for nearby Aldershot too… 

WIL DIXON, LEFT: A SUPERB MATCH AGAINST THE WIRY BEST...

Butler was indeed ferocious in the tackle for the hosts and Terry Bell blossomed in attack alongside my favourite Reading player, Les Chappell, with Dick Habbin as the ‘centre-forward’. Bell was praised afterwards by United’s Crerand but incredibly at the end of that season, it was Bell’s late own goal at Villa Park which sent Reading crashing down to Division 4 and saved Walsall from the drop. He was released in 1973 after scoring 20 goals in 87 appearances for the Biscuitmen, before Aldershot snapped up the forward. He netted 49 times for the Shots in 124 appearances. 

LES CHAPPELL...

During the opening period, Stepney made fine saves to deny Chappell and Williams, as Manchester struggled against the eager Division 3 outfit. Typically, the team under pressure scored first, when defender Paul Edwards dived to head a long free-kick by Tony Dunne past an astonished Death. Clever play between Chappell and Gordon Cumming though, allowed Habbin to shoot and he applied a simple rebound equaliser after Stepney had saved his initial shot.

EDWARDS OPENS THE SCORING FOR UNITED...

HABBIN REGAINS PARITY FOR READING...

Charlton then scored, although he was perilously close to being flagged offside as Kidd freed him and the England player moved on to smack a rising drive past Death. The ‘keeper then erred twice in conceding goal three to United, for his weak kick fell to Charlton some 35 yards from goal and it appeared that Death thought that Charlton’s ensuing drive from downtown was going wide and he made no attempt to save the effort as it rushed into a corner of the net.

CHARLTON SMASHES IN UNITED'S SECOND GOAL...

1-3 at the break, although United would have felt flattered by the scoreline but after the interval, Wagstaff and Williams combined, Chappell headed the ball down for Cumming to race onto and he beat Stepney from 6 yards. Ex-United player Nick Murphy joined the fray for Reading and he quickly brought a fine save from Stepney, before heading into the Manchester net, only to be flagged offside.

STEPNEY FOILS HABBIN AGAIN...

Williams scorned a good late chance for the hosts and Stepney made a superb save from Chappell as time ebbed away but United held on, only managing two Law efforts, which were thwarted by Barrie Wagstaff and fellow defender Stuart Morgan. Law also had a strike cancelled out for offside during the second period.

CUMMING RAPS READING'S SECOND GOAL PAST STEPNEY...

Derby County beat Manchester United 4-1 in the Final…

The Reading game had certainly been a memorable match for me and oddly, after Aston Villa had been relegated to Division 3 in 1969-70, I had looked forward to seeing them play at Elm Park… Yeah, you guessed it, the game was scheduled for the October half-term holiday… I travelled to the match on an Aston Villa Travellers’ Club coach but stayed in Reading to begin my studies again after the weekend…  

HOW THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER'S CARTOONIST SAW THE MATCH...

Villa won 3-5 in an extraordinary match, another to write about soon…