2-7-9 FA Sunday Cup 1973/74

'South London Press' 5th October 1973:

2-7-9 go through

2-7-9 4, Crossness 0

Three headers sealed 2-7-9 a place in round two of the Sunday FA Cup where they will meet LESSA Walthamstow, conquerers of Southern Argyle.
Gerry Collier was 2-7-9's man of the match. He seemed to be involved in every move and inspired his colleagues in this first round tie at Abbey Wood. Collier laid on the pass for Paul McArthy to fire 2-7-9 into a fifteenth minute lead. Then Phil Emblem bravely dived full length to head home a Patsy Carey cross from among a forest of legs on the half hour. Within a minute John Duffy hung in the air before heading a fine cross from Terry Dinan.
Although the second half was a one sided affair, 2-7-9 only managed one more goal. In a brilliant move the ball went from Collier to McArthy who pulled back from the corner flag for Duffy to head home.

'South London Press' 2nd November 1973:

(No headline)

2-7-9 2, LESSA 0

For the first time 2-7-9 have reached the last thirty two of the Sunday FA Cup. Their in over LESSA, from Walthamstow, was easier than the scoreline suggests. In the first twenty minutes 2-7-9 played their best football of the season and were rewarded with two goals through Johnny Duffy & Sid Williamson.
After the interval, LESSA were more settled, but couldn't break their opponents defence, consisting of Ian Dorney, Tony Dinan, Phil Emblem and young Tommy Dudfield, the most improved player at the club. Newcomer Bobby Walker had an excellent debut in midfield for 2-7-9 and looks like holding his position.

'South London Press' 30th November 1973:

2-7-9 squeeze out Charterhouse in extra time

2-7-9 go through to the final sixteen of the Sunday FA Cup after being forced to play extra time by old Sportsman League rivals Charterhouse. Patsy carey was the hero, for after a poor season he suddenly sprang to form to score two goals. He scored his first soon after the start of the second half when he netted from close range after centre-half Phil Emblem had headed against the crossbar. With 15 minutes to go Charterhouse were award a free-kick on the edge of the box. Bobby Green fired it low and hard at the 2-7-9 wall and goalkeeper Kenny Baker misjudged it and saw the ball trickle over the line. In the first period of extra time 2-7-9 went ahead with a freak goal from Geoff Allen, whose intended cross sailed over keeper Geoff Parsons and into the net. In the closing stages of the game Patsy Carey picked up a pass from sid Williamson and ran on to place wide of Parsons.

'South London Press' Friday 11th January 1974:

2-7-9 have their most important game ever on Sunday in the Fourth Round of the Sunday FA Cup. They meet Louis International from Plymouth.

'South London Press' Friday 18th January 1974:


2-7-9 in Quarter Final of the Sunday Cup

2-7-9 reached the quarter final of the Sunday FA Cup, the major tournament of Sunday football, when they beat Louis International of Plymouth 2-0 at Sidcup.
Because of the boggy conditions 2-7-9 packed the midfield and played a strict 4-4-2 system for the first time this season. That made hard work for the front runners. Johnny Duffy opened the scoring in the first minute. direct from kick off Gerry Collier hit a long ball over the defence, Duffy out-paced the centre-half, beat the goalkeeper and slotted the ball home. This gave 2-7-9 a tremendous boost and after 15 minutes Duffy again had a great chance when he slipped past the centre-half, but this time the goalkeeper smothered the shot. the only other near miss 2-7-9 had before the interval came when Duffy completed a one-two and sent over a cross for Sid Williamson. he headed just wide of the post.
Five minutes into the second half Phil Emblem nearly put 2-7-9 further ahead when he went up for a Collier corner kick. His header went wide. The Plymouth side staged a revival and 2-7-9 goalkeeper Kenny Baker was called on to make several sound saves. Billy Wood and Geoff Allen were outstanding in defence. Kenny Jolly, who had a tremendous second half, scored his first ever goal for the club when he ran onto a long ball from Duffy, evaded a challenge and beat the keeper with an angled shot.


'South London Press' Friday 2nd February 1974:

2-7-9 skipper shows (photo of player with toe injury) why he will miss the most important game in the club's history on Sunday. Billy (28) a docker, of Brockman rise, Bromley, broke his right toe in last weekend's 1-0 win over Tate & Lyle in the quarter final of the London FA Cup.
Doubtful for this weekend's Sunday FA Cup semi-final with Newtown Unity from Birmingham are Patsy Carry, who broke his nose on Saturday, Kenny Jolly (ankle injury) and top scorer Johnny Duffy, who's suffering from a suspected pulled hamstring.
Club official Jimmy Wakeling said "After going 22 games this season undefeated we are full of confidence and have good replacements for the injured."
The match is being played on Aveley FC's ground, Dagenham, kick off 2.00 p.m.

'South London Press' Friday 9th February 1974:

2-7-9's Cup run leaves tough fixture backlog

Taverners (Boston) 1, 2-7-9 2.

2-7-9 travelled over 300 miles to play Taverners at Boston in the quarter final of the FA Sunday Cup and won themselves a semi-final place later this month.
In front of a 1,500 crowd, 2-7-9 had to overcome a few early anxious moments before settling down. Tommy Dudfield and Geoff Allen both cleared off the line in the first fifteen minutes. Kenny Jolly, who had a tremendous game, went close with an overhead kick and 2-7-9 again gave Taverners a scare when winger Paul McCarthy was pulled down. From the free kick on the edge of the box taken by Alan Williams, Phil Emblem headed just over the bar. 2-7-9 went ahead ten minutes before the interval. Gerry Collier hit a long ball into the Taverners penalty area, Jolly headed out to Johnny Duffy who fired into the net from close range.
At the start of the second half 2-7-9 went close twice, Sid Williamson and full-back Ian Dorney dominated the right hand side of the field and from this 2-7-9 created their second goal. Dorney gave the ball to McCarthy who out-ran two defenders and passed to Duffy. Duffy beat the centre-half and ran on to slip the ball past the advancing goalkeeper.
Taverners scored with five minutes to go. Later goalkeeper Kenny Baker saved 2-7-9 by racing off his line to smother another shot.
Now 2-7-9 have a busy fixture backlog because of their cup runs-and they are still left in five-they are forced to play a Kent Cup tie and a Forest & District League match on the same day. One in the morning and one on the afternoon.

'South London Press' Friday 1st March 1974:

LATE GOALS CRUSH 2-7-9

2-7-9 1, Newtown Unity 4.

Two goals in the last five minutes by Newtown Unity crushed any hopes of 2-7-9 winning the Sunday FA Cup.
It was the dead-ball situations that caused problems for 2-7-9 in this semi-final tie. Newtown scored after 20 minutes when their centre-forward headed in a free-kick. But Johnny Duffy, who played with his thigh strapped up, equalised when he latched on to a Gerry Collier free-kick ten minutes before the break.
Right on the stroke of half-time Newtown scored from a corner when goalkeeper Kenny Baker only managed to palm the cross away.
In the second half 2-7-9 lacked spirit and only Dave Flander, Collier, Geoff Allen and Duffy can be proud of their performances.
2-7-9 played in the Forest & District League, which unusually for a South London based club, appears to be an east London league.

Additional notes:

Their home ground, in Sidcup, was the NDLB ground. Which stood for the National Dock Labour Board.

2-7-9 may have failed in the FA Sunday Cup, but they beat Woolwich Town 3-2 in the London Challenge Cup final, in front of over a thousand. venue not mentioned.

In the Kent Cup, at Chatham Town, Royal Sports were beaten 6-3.

And in the Forest & District Premier Cup Southdown United were overcome 2-0, at Walthamstow Avenue.

In the Charterhouse line up: Bobby Green could well have been the player who was with Tooting & Mitcham United at the time. & The keeper Geoff Parsons was also a top amateur, I think he may have been with Kingstonian at the time, but that's from memory.