SATURDAY 28TH NOVEMBER 1953
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOLVES 4 (Swinbourne 2, Wilshaw, Hancocks pen) SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 (Woodhead)
Williams; Short, Pritchard; Slater, Shorthouse, Wright (capt);
Hancocks, Broadbent, Swinbourne, Wilshaw, Mullen;
Ryalls; Conwell, Curtis (capt); Gannon, O'Donnell, Davies;
Finney, Quixall, Jordan, Sewell, Woodhead;
Referee:- J.H. Clough, Bristol
With international inside forwards Sewell and Quixalll combining well Wednesday had a good start and Woodhead, receiving from Sewell, cut in cleverly to beat Williams after only six minutes. After twelve minutes however Hancocks' fierce drive rebounded from Ryall's body for Wilshaw to equalise. Just before half time the tiny winger did score himself, this time from a penalty after Broadbent had been brought down and an earlier appeal turned down.
Wolves dashing centre forward Roy Swinbourne added two further goals during the second half. The first from a centre by Hancocks and the second after Wednesday's young goalkeeper had made a brilliant save from the hard shooting wing man. Hancocks was therefore involved in all four Wolves goals and on the whole gave Wednesday skipper Norman Curtis quite a hectic afternoon.
Wednesday's main failing was shooting power in front of goal. They schemed well but unfortunately Clarrie Jordon has lost the goal scoring touch which was so prominent in the early years of his career. O'Donnell did quite well against the lively Swinbourne, following him everywhere and Gannon was a sound, constructive wing half. For Wolves Williams, Pritchard and Shorthouse stood out in defence while all the forwards, with the notable exception of Mullen, had fine games.
SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER 1953
LEAGUE DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 1 (Morris) TORQUAY UNITED 3 (Collins 2, 1 pen, Dobbie)
Chilvers; Horne, Flavell; Tarrant, Bridgett, Russon;
Grubb, Green (capt), Jefferies, Jones, Morris;
Hayes; Parfitt, H. Smith; Lewis, Webber (capt), Norman;
Shaw, Collins, Dobbie, Mills, Bond;
Ted Tarrant, signed from Hull City, made his debut for Walsall and Gwyn Jones, from Leeds United, made his home debut. Amateur right back Harry Smith, from West Bromwich Albion, made his debut for Torquay.
In Walsall's first raid Jefferies shot into the side netting but when Torquay swept upfield they scored a perfect goal. Dobbie, the former Middlesborough player, ran up the right wing and his perfect centre was headed into the top corner of the net by Collins. Tarrant soon showed up well with a twenty yard drive going just side. Despite the heavy ground Torquay's on the floor football was paying dividends.
Their forwards, well supported by two attacking wing halves, combined extremely well, with Ron Shaw and Don Mills the dangermen, but the other three all doing well also. Webber was usual calm, cool self and the full backs supported him manfully. Walsall went near on several occasions but their shooting was terrible.
Russon, near the left hand corner flag, lobbed the ball over Hayes' head, only for a wall of defenders to stop
Jeffries and Grubb.
Walsall's main weakness seemed to be the left flank, Flavell leaving Shaw far too much room to work in and Russon giving a very poor display. In contrast the rest of the defence played quite well, Chilvers making some good saves and Horne and Bridgett giving their usual satisfactory performances. The forwards as usual were a great disappointment, but improved somewhat in the second half when Grubb ad Morris changed places. Green was out of place in the forward line and Jones improved as the game went on.
Collins scored Torquay's second goal from a penalty and Dobbie the third, heading in a long left wing centre by Norman. Morris eventually scored a consolation goal in an untidy goalmouth scramble.
SATURDAY 12TH DECEMBER 1953
F.A.CUP SECOND ROUND AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 3 (Holding 2, Jones) CREWE ALEXANDRA 0 Attendance 12,877
Chilvers; Horne, Flavell; Dean, Bridgett, Green (capt);
Grubb, Alsopp, Holding, Jones (G), Morris;
Floyd; Mould, Briggs; Morris, Lees, Murphy (capt);
McGuigan, Boyle, Bettaney, Broome, Curzon;
Referee:- A.A. Howlett, Swindon
Walsall were soon on the attack and Morris shot wide from well out. Holding was soon prominent and was keeping the forwards together well. His first shot, hampered by two defenders went well over. Walsall were keeping Crewe penned in their own half and whenever they broke away Bridgett and Horne soon repelled them. The Saddlers had three consecutive corners, all good ones. Morris' first inswinger hit the corner of the goal. Walsall's inside men were playing particularly well and when Alsopp put Gwyn Jones through the tiny inside left's shot struck the bar as he was tackled.
Alsopp and Grubb combined well but goalkeeper Floyd was in good form. Then Green went near with a header and a thirty yard drive. After thirty three minutes it was 0-0, after 34 minutes it was 2-0! Holding beat Lees on the edge of the area and hit the ball into the corner of the net. Then immediately Jones scored a similar goal amidst great excitement. Straight way after half time Walsall scored again. Full back Flavell had a terrific shot which rebounded to Holding who hit it into the empty net as Floyd had moved across goal for Flavell's shot.
Broome had moved to his old position of outside right and soon after Dean was injured and also went on the right wing for Walsall, with Grubb moving to right half. Murphy, Crewe's skipper, tried to score several times but got little support. Lees and Briggs were next best to Floyd in the Crewe defence and Boyle was the pick of the forwards. Ralph Ward on the bench must have been very disappointed with his team's performance.
Walsall's forwards all played well, supported by two good wing halves and deserved their place in the third round draw.
SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER 1953
LEAGUE DIVISION ONE AT MOLINEUX, WOLVERHAMPTON
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 3 (Hancocks 2, 1 pen, Wilshaw) MANCHESTER CITY 1 (Davies)
Williams; Short, Pritchard; W.J. Slater, Shorthouse, Wright (capt);
Hancocks, Broadbent, Swinbourne, Wilshaw, Mullen;
Trautmann; Branagan, Little; Revie, Ewing, Paul (capt);
Hayes, Hart, Meadows, Davies, Clarke;
Referee:- A. Murdoch, Sheffield.
During the first half hour the play was very even, but after twenty five minutes Roy Clarke made a brilliant run down the left beating two men, drawing a third and then passing to Davies, who had switched with Hart, for him to drive into the corner of the net. Ten minutes later, after prolonged Wolves pressure, Ewing slipped and Wilshaw had only Trautmann to beat, but Ewing lying on the ground pulled his leg back as he was about to shoot! Hancocks took the resulting penalty and scored with a terrific accurate shot in the right hand corner, which Trautmann very nearly got to.
Previously the German goalkeeper had saved City time and time again, one brilliant save from Hancocks' point blank left foot shot, he then punched a powerful Swinbourne header over the bar and dived to catch one from Wilshaw. After sixty minutes, Mullen's centre started a scramble and Wilshaw shot in with Trautmann out of goal. A minute from the end Hancocks managed to beat him again following Mullen's centre.
Branagan played well at full back, but his headwork was not up to standard. Little and Ewing , although strong in the tackle, were always vulnerable to skill and speed. The strong point of City's team was at wing half. Don Revie giving a very cool display, one speciality being his collection of the ball from Trautmann's clearances. Roy Paul was even better, with long curling passes straight to Roy Clarke's feet. This made Clarke City's danger man, as he was able to do what he liked against Short, his sparkling runs being a feature of the game.
Davies and Hart did not fit in as inside forwards. Hayes, who had a good turn of speed, suffered from lack of support and Meadows although outplayed by Shorthouse, was very good with his head and went near on several occasions. Williams, Pritchard and Wright were next best in defence for Wolves. Unfortunately Broadbent's shooting and passing at times was very bad.
THURSDAY 24TH DECEMBER 1953
CENTRAL LEAGUE AT VILLA PARK, BIRMINGHAM
ASTON VILLA RESERVES 1 (Tyrell) EVERTON RESERVES 4 (Mayers, Potts, Saunders 2)
M.J. Pinner; Lamb, Hunt; Spencer, Proudler (capt), Barrett;
Slatter, Roberts (K), Pace, Tyrell, Roberts (K.O.);
Leyland; Heyes,------; Grant, Woods, ------;
Mayers, Lewis, Saunders, Potts, Stewart;
Referee:- J.A. Turner, Willenhall
Although Christmas Eve and very cold there was blue sky and bright sun. Everton did most of the attacking during the first half and were unlucky not to score. This was due to a fine performance by M.J. Pinner, the Cambridge University player, in goal. Villa's back were not quick enough for Everton's speedy wingers - 19 year old Mayers and Canadian Gordan Stewart. Villa's attacks were occasional break-aways and none was more prominent than young K.O. Roberts on the left wing. His namesake also had quite a good game.
Villa rather surprisingly scored when Tyrell pushed in Slatter's centre from close range. H.T. 1-0.
In the second half Everton found their shooting boots, Mayers scoring the first from Pott's pass. Mayers returned the compliment and Potts, the former Burnley player, scored himself. The after a brilliant run by Jackie Grant, Ron Saunders slammed the ball in to the empty goal. Then the centre forward scored another after good work by Stewart and Gwyn Lewis, who had only a quiet game. Both half back lines were outstanding, particularly Grant and Woods for Everton and Barrett for Villa. Everton's backs played well, but Heyes showed a tendancey to use his right foot too often. Leyland was a safe goaly for Everton, but for Villa Pace was too small at centre forward, and apart from his simple goal, Tyrell did not come up to expectations.
(Of course both Harry Potts and Ron Saunders had long managerial careers in years to come.)
FRIDAY 25TH DECEMBER 1953
DIVISION THREE SOUTH AT FELLOWS PARK, WALSALL
WALSALL 3 (Holding 3) BRIGHTON AND HOVE ALBION 1 (Munday)
Flack; Horne, Flavell; Dean, Bridgett, Green (capt);
Morris, Tarrant, Holding, Jones (G), Columbo;
Gill; Tennant (capt), Langley; McIlvenny, South, Wilson;
Gordan, Munday, Addinall, Sirrel, Foreman;
Referee:- W. E. Dellow, Croydon
Christmas Day morning and most of the long suffering Walsall supporters faced a long walk to the ground as no buses ran today. However they were rewarded by one of the home side's best wins for some time.
Walsall introduced new signing Donald Columbo (no relation to the TV detective who appeared years later) an outside left from Portsmouth, who was opposed by one of his former team-mates Albert Munday.
During the first half Walsall gave a very poor display in both passing and marking. Flack, the former Fulham player, did not look at all confident in goal and when he failed to punch clear a centre, Munday scored seven minutes before half time. Horne played well against the tricky South African, Dennis Foreman who also pla cricket for Sussex. The other cricketer on the field, Jack Flavell of Worcestershire, left 'Flash' Gordan open too much and was often beaten or speed.
Dean had a poor game, but Bridgett was his usual safe self. Green's passing was not up to standard, but he and Morris had been involved in a car accident before the game. Morris did play well against Brighton's best defender, the former Leeds United man Jim Langley. Columbo is a sound player but unlikely to do anything particularly brilliant. Half time 0-1..0
In the second half Walsall suddenly came to life. Gill could not hold a shot from Tarrant and emergancy centre forward Holding, normally a full back scored with ease. Tarrant, Holding and Jones all played very well as South, the Brighton centre half, was always vunerable. Holding scored a second after Bridgett had come upfield and then amazingly completed a 'hat trick' from Jones' pass. Tarrant very nearly scored a fourth when clean through, but his shot hit Gill's knees and rebounded to safety. Only Munday looked dangerous for Brighton and in the end it was convincing victory for the Saddlers to send the fans home happy for their Christmas turkey.
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