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1959-60 London Mid-Week League

CHELSEA
Spotted Dog
0 - 4
12 October 1959

Casey, Borrowclough, Burkett, Bovington, Bickles, White, Maxted, Boyce, Brooks, Hugo, Dear

Inexperience of our XI was a decisive factor, and after being two up at half-time the Pensioners had no difficulty in gaining a 4-0 victory.

PORTSMOUTH
Sotted Dog Ground
1 - 1 (Hills)
19 October 1959

Mountford, O'Mahoney, Burkett, Bovington, Bickles, White, Hurst, Peters, Brooks, Hugo, Hills

A penalty gave Pompey a half-time lead, but apart from this they hardly had a shot to test triallist goalkeeper Tony Mountford. David Hills netted our equaliser with ten minutes to go and we finally shared the points in a 1-1 draw.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC
The Valley
3 - 1 (Brooks 2, Beesley)
28 October 1959

Reader, Cripps, Burkett, Bovington, Hurst, Peters, Woodley, Boyce, Beesley, Brooks, Scott

Mick Brooks scored after five minutes to give us a half-time lead and again netted in the second-half from a lay-back by Derek Wopdley. Between these Mick Beesley signalled his return to our colours after injury with a good goal, and although the Robins reduced their arrears ten minutes from time we were good winners by 3-1.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Spotted Dog Ground
3 - 1 (Brett 2, Smillie)
9 November 1959

Reader, Cripps, Lyall, Pickering, Lansdowne, Bovington, Wragg, Smillie, Brett, Hugo, Hills

Goals by Ron Brett put us 2-0 ahead at the interval and another by Andy Smillie made the issue safe, although the Spurs netted once before the end.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Spotted Dog Ground
1 - 3 (Brett)
16 November 1959

Reader, Bond, Lyall, Bovington, Lansdowne, Moore, Wragg, Maxted, Brett, Cartwright, Hills

After being one down at half-time the Hammers equalised through Ron Brett's header; however, we missed several chances after that and the Athletic secured a 3-1 victory.

WATFORD
Vicarage Road
5 - 2 (Beesley 2, Brooks, Scott, Wragg)
25 November 1959

Reader, Cripps, Burkett, Hurst, Bickles, Moore, Wragg, Brooks, Beesley, Brett, Scott

Watford included seven very experienced players, but were over-run by the speedier Hammers' youngsters. We took the lead after four minutes when Doug Wragg converted Tony Scott's cross-pass and Mick Beesiey scored another couple before the interval (good work by Bobby Moore leading to the first and a long ball from Mick Brooks providing the opportunity for the other). Although Watford made it 3-1 at half-time we netted twice in three minutes after the interval, Scott putting the ball over the goalkeeper's head from an oblique angle and Brooks ending our scoring from a through ball by Ron Brett. The Blues again reduced their arerars, but we were comfortable winners by 5-2.

MILLWALL
Spotted Dog Ground
7 - 3 (Wragg 3, Beesley 2, Brooks, Scott)
30 November 1959

Reader, Cripps, Burkett, Bovington, McClinton, Peters, Wragg, Boyce, Beesley, Brooks, Scott

Although we were one down in the first minute we soon went ahead when Harry Cripps' free-kick was headed home by Tony Scott and Doug Wragg made an opening for Mick Beesley. The Lions again got on level terms, but Ron Boyce started a move for Wragg to put Mick Brooks in a good scoring position and before half-time Brooks enabled Beesley to make it 4-2. Wragg had proved a constant menace to the opposing defence and ended with a second-half hat-trick; his second was a "solo" after beating two men and the third was the conversion of a penalty after being brought down. Three minutes from time Millwall made it 7-3 from a spot-kick.

CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park
6 - 0 (Brett 3, Bovington, Brooks, Hills)
27 January 1960

Shearing

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Bickles

Hills

Wragg

Brooks

Brett

Smillie

Scott

Although the Glaziers fielded seven professionals to our nine they were no match for the Hammers in rather heavy conditions. Combining in much superior fashion we led by 40 at half-time and ended as 6-0 winners; consequently the fullest opportunity was not afforded to P. Shearing (of Hendon) to try out his goalkeeping against senior opposition. Ron Brett netted a hat-trick and Eddie Bovington, Michael Brooks and David Hills got one goal apiece.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Cheshunt
3 - 4 (Brooks 2, Beesley)
11 February 196-

Reader, O'Mahoney, Burkett, Cockell, Bickles, Hurst, Woodley, Boyce, Beesley, Brooks, Dear

There was plenty of good football in a game of fluctuating fortunes. The Spurs scored just before half-time to lead 1-0 at the interval, but in the second hair each XI scored three times for a final tally of 3-4 against us, the count going 1-1, 1-2, 2-2, 3-2 (to us ten minutes from time), 3-3, 3-4. Michael Brooks (2) and Michael Beesley were our scorers.

CHELSEA
Hendon
1 - 1 (Boyce)
17 February 1960

Rhodes, O'Mahoney, Burkett, Peters, Bickles, Cantwell, Wragg, Boyce, Beesley, Brooks, Dear

After being bone-hard the previous day the pitch thawed out to a very muddy surface that made conditions very trying. However, the soccer was of a surprisingly high standard, and a Hammers' team that included eiight of our Colts' XI did very well to draw 1-1. Ron Boyce got our goal ten minutes after the start and the Blues equalised ten minutes before half-time. The game provided a try-out for Noel Cantwell after his absence through injury

CRYSTAL PALACE
Spotted Dog Ground
7 - 1 (Brett 2, Smillie 2, Bovington, Hugo, Wragg)
29 February 1960

Dwyer, Cripps, Hills, Bovington, Lansdowne, Hugo, Grice, Smillie, Obeney, Brett, Wragg

A Colts' engagement on the following day precluded our fielding many of the younger members of our staff for this game, and it was therefore largely a Football Combination strength side which took the field. It was therefore no surprise that they overwhelmed a less-experienced Palace XI by 7-1, after leading by 4-0 at half-time ; the Hammers' goals were scored by Ron Brett (2). Andy Smillie (2), Eddie Bovington, Roger Hugo and Doug Wragg.

PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
1 - 3 (Brett)
9 March 1960

Gregory, O'Mahoney, Burkett, Bovington, Bickles, Hugo, Woodley, Boyce, Brett, Hills, Dear

Ron Brett's goal put us ahead early on, but after that a complete lack of finish brought no further goals to the Hammers. Pompey rallied well, and it was no real surprise when they ended 3-1 ahead.

WATFORD
Spotted Dog Ground
3 - 1 (Obeney 2, Dick)
14 March 1960

Dwyer, Cripps, Picking, Bovington, Lansdowne, Cunningham, Maxted, Cartwright, Obeney, Dick, Hills

The inclusion of several players with First Division and Combination experience in our XI proved too, great an obstacle to Watford and we coasted to a comfortable 3-1 victory after being two up at half-time. The Hammers' scorers were John Dick, David Hills and Harry Obeney.

MILLWALL
The Den
1 - 0 (Bleanch)
23 March 1960

Dwyer, Cripps, Cunningham, Bovington, Lansdowne, Obeney, Smillie, Cartwright, Bleanch, Hills, Hugo

The defences almost entirely dominated this game, and the only goal came in the first half when Norman Bleanch took the opportunity to score and give us a 1-0 victory.

The London Mid-Week League ceased at the end of this campaign

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