The Jersey Cup

Middle Barton: Berry Bolton Smith Millin Schroeder Green B. Dempsey (c) Slatter Towsy Jarvis Bauckham

Middle Barton Scorers: Towsy 1 B. Dempsey 1 Slatter 1

Marsh Gibbon: C. Beckett G. Slaymaker (c) D. Slaymaker B. Wall Stokes G. Beckett Rawlings Rouse O. Slaymaker Cross

Marsh Gibbon Scorers: G. Beckett 1

The 56th Lord Jersey Cup final was almost as disappointing as this years budget. At Bicester Sports Ground on Easter Monday the stage was set for a real cup-tie thriller: the weather was perfect, a crowd of nearly 1,500 surrounded the pitch, and the two top teams in division I of the Jersey Shield Middle Barton and Marsh Gibbon, were the contestants for one of Oxfordshire’s oldest football trophies. But the game was no thriller; in fact it was quite dull with hardly a ripple of excitement throughout the ninety minutes. Middle Barton beat their Buckinghamshire rivals by 3 – 1 and so gained the coveted trophy for the first time. Although they were slightly the better team, especially during the second half, their victorious two goal margin was due to a penalty conceded by the Marsh Gibbon centre-half, and a tragic “own goal” scored by G. Slaymaker the Marsh Gibbon skipper.

Two reasons underline the cause of this dull and almost dreary cup final. The bone hard ground and a light ball played many tricks and neither team never mastered the conditions which is to be expected after a winter of heavy pitches. The second reason was that neither team was ever allowed to settle down and play its normal game. Defences called the tune and both forward lines lacked rhythm and teamwork.

Middle Barton won the toss and elected to kick off with the powerful sun at their backs. Straight away they attacked and the dangerous situation in front of the Marsh Gibbon goal was avoided when left-back G. Slaymaker cleared. Marsh Gibbon replied with a sharp raid down their left wing which earned them a corner kick, but Cross placed the ball into the side-netting. The game gradually settled into a steady tempo of end –to-end play until rudely shattered in the eleventh minute when Marsh Gibbon took the lead with what proved to be the best goal of the match. A long clearance by centre-half B. Wall was collected by inside-right Rawlings and flashed out to G. Beckett on the right wing. Beckett sped into the Barton penalty area and was tackled by two defenders. He fell to the ground but quickly recovered, and still in possession, sidestepped a third Barton defender and flashed the ball into the net with a cracking left-footed drive.

Within sixty seconds however, Middle Barton were on level terms. Referee Mr F. G. Gregory awarded a penalty against B. Wall, and the Barton centre-forward, made no mistake from the spot. Spurred on by this goal Middle Barton attacked furiously and earned a corner, and a dangerous centre by Dempsey the Barton skipper, was safely headed away by Rawlings. A minute or two later Townsy rounded Wall, but with only the goalkeeper to beat sent in a shot that was both weak and wide. Marsh Gibbon than resumed the offensive and a neat header by O. Slaymaker scraped the cross bar.

As the game proceeded Marsh Gibbon were generally on top, but the forwards lacked finish. Also, they could rarely break through the solid Barton defensive triangle of Bolton, Schroeder and Smith. In the closing stages of the first half the Marsh Gibbon goal came under pressure; but the storm was safely weathered.

Score: Middle Barton 1, Marsh Gibbon 1.

Both teams made positional changes in the second half and Middle Barton soon assumed the offensive. Their forwards used the ball well and made a series of attacks on the Marsh Gibbon goal, but with poor shooting many chances were wasted. The hitherto rock-like Marsh Gibbon defence was weakened by an injury late in the first half to left-half Stokes, and in the second period this sturdy player was not at his usual best. Not until ten minutes of this half had gone did Marsh Gibbon attack and then it was a brief raid quickly repelled by the Barton defence.

In the 21st minute, after long periods of Middle Barton pressure, fate struck a tragic blow against Marsh Gibbon. The Barton right-winger had moved over to the left and sent in a low shot which King appeared to have well covered. But skipper G. Slaymaker tried to clear, and the ball glanced off him and into the net.

Marsh Gibbon rarely looked like wiping off the one goal deficit and eleven minutes later Middle Barton made sure of victory with an opportune goal from Slater whose shot went through King’s legs.

There was a late rally by Marsh Gibbon when a fast centre from O. Slaymaker was headed goal wards by Rouse, but the ball flashed by the wrong side of the post. With two minutes to go, Rouse streaked through alone, but with the goal at his mercy, he shot wide.

Result: Middle Barton 3, Marsh Gibbon 1

In a game that was too defensive and therefore not attractive, Middle Barton’s centre-half Schroeder stood out head and shoulders as their man of the match. It was he who, by superb positioning and timely interception, broke up numerous Marsh Gibbon attacks. For Marsh Gibbon, Wall played a solid game in the pivot position and was well supported by G. Slaymaker and F. Stokes.

The trophy and plaques were presented by Mr G. Lapper, of King’s End, Bicester, who played for Weston-on- the-Green, when they won the Jersey Cup in 1904. Mr Lapper was introduced by Mr R. Chard, Vice-Chairman of the Lord Jersey Football Association.

A collection taken during the interval for the Oxon F.A. Players’ Benevolent Fund amounted to over £13.