THE SURREY JUNIOR CUP.
KINGSTON-ON-THAMES ENTER THE SEMI-FINAL ROUND.
In the ante-penultimate round of the above competition, Kingston-on-Thames had to meet Leatherhead on Saturday, at Leatherhead, and after a most exciting contest, the Kingstonians gained a splendid victory by two goals to one. The team with a party of friends drove down by road, and made the Bull Hotel their head quarters. At 3 o'clock the teams lined up. Kingston won the toss and elected to defend the Church end, with the wind slightly in their favour.

Leatherhead kicked-off and A. R. Short passed well out to the right wing, where Ocock and Vincent got away, the latter player indulging in a neat and tricky run, ending by scoring a splendid goal two minutes from the start. This sensational start was quite unexpected.

Notwithstanding the very heavy going, the game became exceedingly fast and Lanham was called upon repeatedly to save some clinking shots, which he did in brilliant style being loudly cheered by both the Kingston and Leatherhead supporters. Forcing a corner off Short the play became very exciting, and Short and Peck saved shot after shot in splendid style. A. R. Short got in a huge kick, and Ocock and Vincent were again seen to advantage, the former having hard luck with two of his shots, the first one striking the uprights, the goalkeeper just saving the other.

Off-side was now given against Ocock, and this brought relief to the home team. The home forwards got well down, but their attempts were nullified through the outside left getting repeatedly off-side. A. R. Short now got badly kicked above the knee, and was rendered practically "hors de combat." Following this Short missed his kick through his knee giving out, and let in the inside right. Lanham, however, saved well, but before he could recover himself the outside right had put the ball into the net, amid loud cheering by the home supporters.

The game now became fast, the ball travelling rapidly from one end of the field to the other, but the defence of both teams was too much for the attack, and when half-time was sounded the score stood at one goal each.

On the re-start Kemp and H. Short broke away, but were soon sent to the right about. An attack was now made on Lanham's charge, but Tully, Short, and Peck frustrated all efforts to score, the former playing a very fine game indeed. One of the home team was injured, but after a few minutes resumed play, and the Kingston defence was severely tested for a time, the ball eventually going over. Tully took the kick and sent to Ocock, who, in conjunction with Vincent, attacked finely but could not score.

Kemp had a good run down, but in passing to Baker, put the ball on to the toe of an opponent. A. Short was again badly hurt but soon resumed, although it could be plainly seen that he was suffering severely. Following a brisk attack by the home right, Short relieved, and the home inside left was again injured. Keeping up the pressure, the home side nearly scored on two occasions. Kingston now had a look in, and forced matters for about ten minutes, H. Short and Kemp repeatedly getting away only to be robbed by the home right back, who was playing a grand game.

Time was now drawing to a close and the supporters of each team made themselves hoarse in urging on their favourites, consequently play became very fast and exciting, Kingston having the best of matters. With eight seconds to go Kemp sent in a magnificent centre, which Baker made no mistake about, and amidst frantic cheering by both players and supporters Kingston secured the winning goal. The ball had just been kicked off when the whistle sounded, the final score being:
Kingston-on-Thames ... Two goals.
Leatherhead... One goal.

Sides:-
Kingston-on-Thames: Lanham, goal; A. R. Short; and A Peck, backs; Tully, Fagan and
Hurliman, half-backs; Kemp, H. Short, J. Baker, Vincent, and Ocock, forwards.
Leatherhead: W. Davis goal; W. Blaker and B. L. Hue Williams, backs; R. Nash, W. Killick, and J. Wafforn, halfbacks; F. Caiger and E. Utterton (right), G. Hue Williams (centre), A. W. F. Rutty and Eric Hue Williams (left), forwards.
Referee, Mr. J. P. Asher, honorary secretary of the S.C.F.A.

After the match, the team and supporters, to the number of 30, sat down to a knife and fork tea, which was well served by Host Milton. About 6 30 a start was made for home, the breaks being well illuminated by a member of the committee, the first bearing an illuminated screen, on which were the words in large letters "Kingston beat Leatherhead." This attracted considerable attention on the way home, and on reaching Kingston the team were heartily congratulated all round.

Report from Surrey Comet dated 16 January 1897- see report in original format.


KINGSTON-0N-THAMES v. LEATHERHEAD: JUNIOR CUP TIE.-
Last Saturday Kingston made the journey to Leatherhead by brake, with a good complement of supporters, to meet the club of that town in the fourth round of the competition for the Surrey Junior Cup, and contrary to general expectation the visitors came off triumphant, winning on the stroke of time by two goals to one.

The start was sensational, for Kingston scored after two minutes play through Vincent. Half-time arrived with the score standing at one all, both sides playing a good game.

Within a very few minutes of the close, from a good centre by Kemp, Baker shot another goal, and amidst a scene of great excitement Kingston ran out winners by two goals to one. The Kingston team to a man played a capital game, and the eleven was as follows:-

F. Lanham, goal; Peck and Short, backs; Tully, Fagan, and Hurliman, halves; Vincent, Ocock, Kemp, Baker, and H. Short, forwards.
Referee, Mr. J. P. Asher, S.C.F.A.

Report from Kingston & Surbiton News dated 16 January 1897- see report in original format.


LEATHERHEAD v. KINGSTON.
At Leatherhead on Saturday an evenly contested match between these teams ended in a
victory for Kingston by two goals to one. Accurate shooting was rendered difficult, by the greasy state of the ground.

Playing with the wind in their favour, Vincent scored for the visitors from a corner within five minutes of the kick-off. Then the homesters put in some hot work, but found they had a sound defence against them. Kingston replied with several spirited runs, and several shots came very near to scoring. Things went on thus for some time, until Rutty, having got clear, apparently had matters all his own way, but he was not sharp enough in shooting, although the goalkeeper was brought to his knees in trying to save. A free kick resulted in a fruitless corner for Leatherhead, but not long after this Utterton scored, and put Leatherhead level with their opponents, and the whistle sounded for half-time with the score one all.

On changing ends both teams fought hard, the most conspicuous being Rutty and Utterton for Leatherhead, and Peck for the visitors. The former very neatly took the ball through several of the attacking force, until he had covered three-quarters of the ground, a fruitless corner supervening, and Eric Hue Williams shot as he was falling, with the same result. The leather having been taken up and down the field in quick succession, eventually Davis had to run out to save, this being followed up by a shot from Caiger which hit the upright.

Time had now almost expired, and a tie seemed inevitable, when, from a pass out by Davis, Kingston netted their second, thus winning the game by two to one.

Teams:
Leatherhead.- Goal, W. Davis, W. Blaker and B. L. Hue Williams; half-backs, R. Nash, W. Killick, and J. Wafforn; right wing; F. Caiger and E. Utterton; left wing, A. W. F. Rutty, and Eric Hue Williams; centre, R.G. Hue Williams.
Kingston.- Goal, F. Lanham; backs, A. Peck and A. R. Short; half-backs, W. Hurliman,
J. Fagan, and G. Tully; right wing, W. Ocock and S. Vincent; left wing, H. Short and J. Kempe; centre, J. Baker.
Referee, Mr J. P. Asher.

Report from West Surrey Times dated 16 January 1897- see report in original format.