No Walk-Over
For Otford In Smith Final
Otford 2 Platt 1
When Otford scored two minutes after
the start of their Smith Senior Final against Platt on
Boxing Day, writes "Marksman", the goal might
excusably have produced visions of a slaughter of the Sevenoaks
League innocents by the Tonbridge premier division team.
It served instead as an inspiration
to both teams, for Platt immediately tightened up their
defence and gave the opposition a good deal of thought
before equalising in the 16th minute, while Otford tried
hard to increase their advantage without being able to
beat Parrett a second time before the interval.
It was during the first-half that
Platt's chances of snatching a surprise win were brightest,
for they had almost as many openings as Otford and appeared
to be more accurate with their shooting. Yet they had one
man to thank above all others for the fact that they were
not four or five goals behind when half-time came .......
W.Parrett, their goalkeeper,
was magnificent and produced the most spectacular saves
seen in local football this season.
Every one of the Otford forwards tested
his ability fully during this period from every angle and
range but found him able to cope with every type of shot
from the skidding grounder to the stinging drive just under
the bar.
For all that he was spared the bother
of picking the ball out of the net more than once by the
unaccountable inaccuracy of C.Paige, the young Otford inside-forward,
who hooked the ball miles wide when it appeared even easier
to score.
When Platt did get
to the other end, and these occasions became more frequent
as the interval
approached, they always looked dangerous and had Vizard
in difficulties once or twice, although he was only beaten
once spite of suffering from a sharp attack of 'flu.
When the teams changed over however,
it became increasingly apparent that the cup was on it's
way to Otford for the second time in three years. The Tonbridge
side soon regained the lead and although they failed to
increase it they methodically played Platt out of the game
long before the end.
In the last 20 minutes every one of
the winning players showed a fitness which was not matched
by many of their opponents, although it was a brilliant
save by Vizard from Higgins two or three minutes from the
end which prevented extra-time, when the Platt man seemed
sure to score.
Mention has already been made of Parrett's
brilliance in goal, but even he had to take second place
to the man-of-the-match. I am told that Don Rosser, Otford's
right-half, never plays a bad game, although I doubt whether
he has ever played a better one that he turned in on Boxing
Day.
Just about the smallest player on
the field, he displayed unending energy with his persistent
tackling which often blotted Hawkes and R.Bowen out of
the game, and also controlled the slimy ball perfectly.
His eye for an opening and the precision with which he
placed his passes made the Otford right-wing pair Martin
and Potter, as dangerous as any I have seen this year.
For the rest of the players on both
sides it can be said that their work was good. There was
no failures in spite of the treacherous nature of the slippery
pitch and the standard of play was frequently high, if
not exciting all the time.
Where Otford had an undoubted advantage
was in their closer teamwork and their physical fitness.
There was purpose about most of their moves and a confidence
which brought it's reward.
Only two minutes after the start Marchant
caught the Platt defence by surprise and gave Otford an
encouraging goal, but the opposition gradually recovered
until a throw-out from Vizard went astray and Richardson
was given an easy chance to equalise.
Just as quickly after the interval
Otford regained their lead when one hard shot smacked against
the crossbar with Parrett beaten and Potter netted coolly
from close in.
The cup and medals were presented
by Mr J.May, Chairman of the Tonbridge League.
Team: W.Parrott,
Roy Bowen, J.Bowen, L.Garrett, L.Gladdish, N.Holdstock,
P.Richardson, R.Pearce, W.Higgins, H.Hawkes, Ray Bowen.
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