The Jersey Cup

Heyford Athletic: McFee Dale Scraggs Wells D. Walton (c) Wells Brock Varney Darvill Sale R. Walton

Heyford Athletic Scorers: Darvell 2 Sale 2

Middle Barton: Berry Wood Smith (c) A. Cox Gascoigne I. Cox Dempsey Coaker G. Cox A. Berry Baukham

Middle Barton Scorers: A Berry 1

Hail Heyford Athletic ! In the 58th final of the Lord Jersey Cup at Bicester Sports Ground on Monday they beat favourites Middle Barton 4-1 and so won the coveted trophy for the second time in their short history.

Make no mistake about it, Athletic are still the premier side in local junior football, and the fact that they have appeared in all but one of the Jersey Cup finals since 1952 is decisive proof. Barton were considered favourites because of their excellent run in the County Junior Shield, and the fact that they knocked out Marsh Gibbon, the holders, in last season’s Jersey Cup competition.

But Heyford, in the unfamiliar role of outsiders, paid little heed to Barton’s reputation. With superior tactics and better quality football, they tore the Barton myth to shreds.

Athletics skipper and centre-half, Don Walton, and his men worked to a plan. Barton, in attack, rely chiefly on their two speedy and sharp-shooting wingers, Baukham and Dempsey, and it was this two-pronged attack which Heyford sought to nullify. They succeeded handsomely and Barton failed to find the answer.

The game was played in bright sunshine and watched by a large crowd. Play opened very quietly with Barton, if anything, a little on top.

Heyford’s policy of blotting out the Barton wingers began to pay dividends, and it was Athletic who slowly took command. In the 20th minute Darvill, the Athletic centre forward collected a pass from the right and scored a lovely goal.

Ten minutes later Barton got on terms when a well-taken free kick by Dempsey was banged into the net by A. Berry.

This success bucked up Barton’s spirits, but Athletic retained their grip on the game. A series of well planned moves had the Barton defence in trouble, and in the 35th minute Sale put Heyford in front again with a neat header from close in.

In the closing stages of the first half Athletic fell away a little and Barton fought hard for an equaliser. Four minutes from the interval they were awarded a penalty, but goalkeeper McFee made a splendid save and cleared.
Heyford scored again in the second minute of the second half and never looked back. It was an opportunist goal by Sale who chased a long centre-pass, sped past the Barton centre-half and slammed the ball into the net from close range.

The Athletic goal had a narrow escape shortly afterwards when a long-range free kick by Dempsey was brilliantly tipped over the bar by McFee. Baukham almost scored direct from a corner kick, but again McFee made a spectacular save.

In the 66th minute Heyford made it 4-1 and clinched the match. Darvill beat the Barton keeper in a race for the ball, and although tackled, recovered quickly and found the net with a lovely drive.

The final stages of the match saw Heyford well in command and with more luck they would have scored more goals. Barton never looked capable of saving a game and rarely troubled the Athletic defence.

For Heyford, skipper Don Walton took a major share of the honours. His generalship was superb, and although a little slower now, he showed himself to be the best centre-half in local village soccer. Defensive honours also to left-back Scraggs who worked hard to quell the elusive Dempsey; and to goalkeeper McFee who always handled the ball confidently. In attack, Darvill at centre forward was a problem, which Barton never solved, while Varney and Sale gave admirable support. Dempsey was Barton’s star, but he was always a marked man.

Heyford Athletic are a balanced side, and with their present team, look capable of earning honours in years to come. As a spectator said at the end of the match “I wonder who Athletic will meet in the final next year”.

Result Heyford Athletic 4, Middle Barton 1.

The match was well handled by referee Mr N. A. S. Matthews and his linesman Messrs Baker and Richards.

The cup and plaques were presented to the team by Mr F. Varney of Middleton Stoney, an old Jersey Cup Medalist.