The Jersey Cup

Ardley United: W. Beasley J. Knight N. Brock I. Gow M. Howe C. Starrett J. Dunn K. Dallaway J. Scarrott J. Lillis P. Starrett

Ardley United Scorers: P. Starrett 1 K. Dallaway 1

Bicester Civil Service: W. Latty P. Callow M Trafford P. Long C. Renicks T. Walker D. Horner M. Smethurst S. McCort E. Nix C. Winstone

Bicester Civil Service Scorers: C. Winstone 1 M. Smethurst 1

Bicester Civil Service won a cracking Lord Jersey Cup final 3-2 against Ardley at the Bicester town ground, the first town side to lift the cup for 20 years.
A fiery first half from civil Service gave them a 2-1 interval lead, a foundation that Ardley could not surpass.

Civil Service broke through when Pete Callow’s long ball out from the back fell for Clive Winstone, who took it into the box and hammered in the first goal. Winstone was again involved against his old club when Civil Service scored again, he pushed the ball in from the right and Martin Smethurst volleyed it home. Winstone also hit the post twice as the team really buzzed, with veteran Paddy Horner being given more space than is wise and revelling in it.

Ardley lost their captain, Ian Gow, with a injury after 20 minutes, but got a bonus shortly before half-time when Phil Starrett was needlessly pushed and Norman Brock made no mistake with the spot kick.
In the second half, Ardley turned it on, hitting everything except the back of the net for some time. Keith Dallaway eventually equalised. Brock took the ball up field and crossed to the far post where Ardley men waited. Dallaway put it in the net. Civil Service shot straight back into the lead, Horner’s chip finding Steve McCort who scored a worthy winner.

Late on, Ardley missed an open goal from five yards and hit the post from the rebound. At the other end, Winstone’s keenness to put the game beyond reach had him blasting the ball vertically when a walk into the empty net would have been enough.

Alan Bunce the popular referee from Merton and member of the LJFA executive council presented the cup.