2-7-9 FA Sunday Cup 1975/76

'South London Press' 16th January 1976
2-7-9 sink Norfolk champs

Loke Athletic 1, 2-7-9 2

2-7-9 are through to the Sunday FA Cup Quarter-Finals following this win over the Norfolk champions.

Both teams seemed to play their better football when facing the strong winds that swept the splendid Lakenham Stadium pitch in Norwich.

Phil Emblem and Martin Ellison were superb in defence & midfielder Roy Mitchell-who snatched the 75th minute winner-was once again their architect.

Johnny Duffy opened the scoring after half an hour when the Loke defence only half cleared a Dave Waight shot & Duffy rammed home from close range.

The home side pressed strongly for an equaliser but found goalkeeper Steve Pateman in brilliant form. Then right on the half-time whistle Rudd put Loke on level terms.

In the second half 2-7-9 missed several chances before Mitchell finally got his boot to the winner.

( I am not sure if this was their first game in the competition or not. If there were earlier rounds then they were not covered by the newspaper.)

'South London Press' 6th February 1976

2-7-9 reach FA Sunday Cup semis

2-7-9 1, Robin Hood Retreat 0

Unbeaten 2-7-9 reached the semi finals of the FA Sunday Cup with this victory over Bristols' Robin Hood retreat at the National Dock Labour Ground, Sidcup.

The tie was settled with a 42nd-minute goal by Phil Emblem. Said manager Jimmy Wakeling "It was one of our better performances." Playing 4-4-2, 2-7-9's front runners Dave Flander and Johnny Duffy chased everything, never allowing the visitors defence to settle.

They received plenty of support from overlapping fullbacks Gerry Collier and Martin Ellison.

In the first fifteen minutes several chances came 2-7-9's way. Fiander running on to a through ball from Dave Waight, hurried and blasted his shot wide. Then Duffy had a shot charged down on the line.

In the 25th minute Waight, showing great skill, evaded several lunging tackles before being brought down just outside the box. Ellison took the fee kick but Fiander, despite out-jumping the defence, headed over.

The winning goal followed a long throw-in by Fiander. Duffy headed backwards into the six-yard box where Emblem charged in to head low into the corner of the net.

The visitors got into the game more in the second half, but could make little impression on classy 2-7-9.

Duffy had a goal disallowed ten minutes from time, the referee ruling that Duffy had handled before heading past Robin Hood goalkeeper Crowley.


'South London Press' Friday 27th February 1976

'Flu threatens 2-7-9 semi-final

Flu threatens 2-7-9's important Sunday FA Cup semi final against Evergreen from Watford at the Dulwich Hamlet ground at Champion Hill this weekened.

Manager Jimmy Wakeling will know today whether three of his players, Patsy Carey, Alan Williams and Jimmy Crombie have recovered and plans to contact the Football Association, if neccessary, to ask for a postponement. "I don't want to call it off," said Wakeling. "We have so many vital games still to squeeze in this season."

Injured Johnny Duffy is definately out with David waight (knee). Gerry Collins (groin) and Dave Fiander (groin) all doubtful.

Unbeaten 2-7-9, with four semi finals ahead of them, and 27 successive wind under their belt this trm, face an unbeaten Hertfordshire side. Wakeling, who formed the squad eleven years ago, added, "It promises to be our best season on record."

'South London Press'' 5th March 1976

2-7-9 chase Cup

Manager Jimmy Wakeling believes the winners of the Sunday FA Cup semi final at Dulwich Hamlets' Champion Hill ground this weekend will go on to win the competition. Wakeling, boss of 2-7-9, expects to have a full squad to pick from for their tie with Evergreen from Watford.

"The winners of this game will win the Cup," predicts Wakeling, who saw Evergreen beat Ship & Anchor 2-1 in the quarter final.

Sunday's match should have been played last week, but was postponed when Wakeling had eight of his players unfit through flu. Instead Wakeling travelled to Wolverhampton to watch the other semi final between Brandon United from County Durham and Birmingham's Club Lafayette. "Brandon won 3-1 and looked much the better side," he said. The winners of Sunday's tie meet Brandon in the final at Spennymoor, County Durham, on April 25th.

Evergreen, and 2-7-9, are both unbeaten this season, so one record must fall this Sunday, kick off 3 pm.

Striker Dave Waight is doubtful with an ankle injury.

'South London Press' Friday 12th March 1976

'We didn't deserve to win' says 2-7-9 manager Jimmy Wakeling

2-7-9 1, Evergreen 2

London Sunday champions 2-7-9 lost ther unbeaten record this season and a place in the Sunday FA Cup final with this defeat at Dulwich Hamlet's ground Champion Hill, writes Steve Grimes.

Manager Jimmy Wakeling, whoseside hadn't lost a match in 37 appearances, said after, "We didn't deserve to win. It was one of our worst performances this season and the players we usually rely upon had bad games."

Evergreen, unbeaten Watford champions and celebrating their first season in the competition with a final tie against Brandon United from County Durham, deserved their victory. Individually, they were not as strong as 2-7-9. But their teamwork was superior.

Wakeling added: "Phil Emblem is probably the best centre-half in Sunday football, but he had a nightmare game. In fact only full-back Collier seemed to raise his game. I think I might have given the lads too much confidence. But, honestly, I could see no way this team beating us if we played our normal game."

And 2-7-9 couldn't have got off to a better start when they took the lead after just eleven minutes. John Duffy collected a Collier free kick and turned in the Evergreen box before slamming wide of the keeper from fifteen yards. But it didn't take long before Evergreen gave warning of their intentions. The powerful throw-ins of burly Kevin McKenna upset the 2-7-9 defence and the fiery Norman Dodd found space well. McKenna set Dodd up for an equaliser after 37 minutes, but his low drive hit the foot of the post. Evergreen finally equalised three minutes before the interval when Roy Mitchell was robbed in midfield and the ball was knocked through for McKenna to chase and firee over the advancing goalkeeper Steve Pateman.

The Hertfordshire side could have had another before half time, with Pateman saving brilliantly and Collier clearing another effort off the line.

The winner came just seven minutes into the second half when Pateman stood stranded yards off his line as Tony Freeman hit a 20-yarder over his head into the net.

2-7-9 team: Pateman, Collier, Ellison, Williams, Emblem, Dorney, (Wood), Mitchell, Read, Duffy, Waight, Carty.