The Jersey Cup

Steeple Aston: G. Kirby N. Butler S. Bell A. Cross (c) Patrick Brock B. Flowers M. Cross D. Gubbins P. Darvill A. McPhee J. Ryan Peter Brock

Steeple Aston Scorers: A. McPhee 3 P. Darvill 1

Middle Barton: Unknown

Middle Barton Scorers: R. Gascoigne 2 D. Jarvis 1

One of those incidents, which often happens in an important cup game, and thereafter becomes a talking point for long afterwards, occurred in the Jersey Cup final, at Bicester on Easter Monday afternoon. It was the incident leading up to, and the actual scoring of what proved to be the winning goal.
It was not to be wondered at, that on such a bitterly cold afternoon the crowd was not so large as the usual Jersey Cup final gathering.

Middle Barton, defeated finalist last year, and who have appeared in the final more than any other team during the post-war years, met their neighbours, Steeple Aston in the local “derby”, Monday’s being the 66th Jersey Cup final.
Play never reached a high standard; there was a great deal of wild kicking of the ball; and for long periods it was a case of Middle Barton hitting the leather, and Steeple Aston chasing it. Until late in the game, Alec McPhee, danger man and prolific Steeple Aston scorer, was well held by a former colleague of Heyford Athletic day’s Badby, but in Derek Jarvis, Middle Barton had the cleverest player on the field. He was the architect of most of their moves, old in experience and wise in the art of soccer and could show his younger colleagues a surprising turn of speed.

Gascoigne opened the scoring for Middle Barton, beating three defenders in a run, which he finished off with a neat goal. A few minutes later Steeple Aston were level with an amazing goal. McPhee heading back a clearance from goalie Panting, from quite some 25 yards out, and the ball sped into the net like a bullet, before the goalkeeper could regain his goal line. When Steeple’s goalkeeper Tony Cross fumbled a shot and dropped the ball Derek Jarvis was on hand to tap the ball into the net, and Middle Barton were holding a 3-1 lead at the interval.

For a long time after the restart, Steeple Aston were still making little impression on their opponents defence and again it was Derek Jarvis who made his side’s third goal. A neat pass to his winger Wetherall, and Jarvis was up to guide the winger’s pass inside, for Gascoigne to score.

It looked as if the cup was in safe keeping with Barton, but when Pete Darvill neatly lobbed the ball over Panting’s head, to reduce the lead, Steeple Aston became galvanised into livelier and more effective action than hitherto. It was not long after Darvill’s goal that McPhee equalised, amid excitement. He shook off the attentions of two opponents and fired in a beautiful shot from an acute angle, which left Panting helpless to save. The fight was on, Middle Barton recovering some of their momentary loss of form, and then came the winning goal, some six minutes from the end.

Just outside the penalty area, Johnnie Ryan was held by his legs as he struggled to get clear. It was an obvious foul, and under the impression that a free kick was being given, no-one challenged McPhee as he secured the ball. Panting stood still as McPhee advanced and shot, and merely put up his hands protectively as the ball hit under the bar and bounced down for referee Alan Marriott to signal a goal. He had evidently applied the advantage rule when Ryan freed himself from his clinging opponent, and Middle Barton had paid the penalty, apparently, of not playing to the whistle.

The referee was besieged by the appealing Barton players but, after consulting a linesman, he adhered to his decision of awarding a goal, and Steeple Aston had won the Jersey Cup for the fifth time in their club’s history.
Result: Steeple Aston 4, Middle Barton 3.

The cup and plaques were presented by Mr R. East, holder of three Jersey Cup final medals. Now aged 76, Mr East appeared in the final with the Kirtlington team on four occasions.

The referee and linesman in these finals receive plaques in lieu of their usual fee. This year the referee received a special whistle suitable inscribed and mounted with the Jersey F.A. crest. This was a gift of Mr A. J. Sadler, life vice-president and former hon. Secretary of the Jersey F.A.