WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL PROGRAMMES &
Collectables through the Decade
A Pictorial History
theyflysohigh : Steve Marsh
1964-65 Football Combination (First Division)
Manager: Ernie Gregory
FULHAM
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Hugo, Peters)
22 August 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Peters
Bickles
Charles J.
Dear
Bennett
Sealey
Hugo
Scott
West Ham's second-string emulated their seniors with a 2-1 Football Combination win against a robust Fulham team in the season's opening game at Upton Park.
Much the better side in the first half, West Ham had only one goal to show for their efforts at half-time. This came from Roger Hugo after Brian Dear had beaten off two tackles and made the opening.
Fulham equalised after the interval, but West Ham got a deserved winner when wing-half Martin Peters astutely raced through to steer home another good pass from Dear.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
City Ground
2 - 1 (Dear, Hugo)
29 August 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Peters
Bickles
Charles J.
Dear
Bennett
Sealey
Hugo
Scott
An experienced Forest line-up gave the young Hammers literally their hardest Football Combination game for a long time a the City ground on Saturday. After 25 minutes Tony Scott made the opening for Roger Hugo to put Hammers ahead but before half-time Winfield equalised. The winner came when Brian Dear headed home a Bennett cross after the interval. After this Hammers' defence held out well against gruelling attacks.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Upton Park
4 - 2 (Dear 3, [og])
5 September 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Dear
Hugo
Scott
A hat-trick from Brian Dear, the winger West Ham sometimes used as a centre-forward, was the feature of this Football Combination win over a Tottenham eleven that included several of Spurs' experienced big game men.
Commented Hammers' .reserve team manager ex-goalkeeper Ernie Gregory. "The boys were magnificent. In the first half they were great."
Twice in that opening half Dear beat Spur's former Scottish international goalkeeper Bill Brown with fine efforts, although Brown was caught napping with one, a smart shot on the turn. An own goal added to Hammers' advantage while Spurs could manage only one goal in reply against the splendid team-work of the young home line-up.
Early after the interval Spurs hit back to make the score 3-2 but Hammers settled the issue when Dear smashed another cannon-ball shot past Brown after racing on to a clever chested-down ball from Peter Bennett.
CARDIFF CITY
Ninian Park
1 - 0 (Dear)
12 September 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Dear
Hugo
Scott
In the wide open spaces of Ninian Park there was not a great deal of " atmosphere," but our team overcame this and gave a spirited display in the early and late stages. The only goal of the game was netted after five minutes' play; Tony Scott made his way across the field, and then turned to make a long pass which Brian Dear met on the run.
For the latter portion of the first half and the early part of the second there was little to choose between the teams, but in the final 25 minutes the Hammers dominated the exchanges.
IPSWICH TOWN
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Bennett 2)
19 September 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Dear
Hugo
Scott
Ipswich made this game rather easy for our second-string, as after our third-minute goal they went very much on the defensive and seemed content to keep the score down to a minimum. A second counter came immediately after the interval and it was very similar to the opener, Peter Bennett again finishing off a combined movement between three or four players. That ended the scoring, so we annexed the points by a 2-0 margin.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Home Park
1 - 2 (Hugo)
26 September 1964
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Dear
Hugo
Scott
In a fairly even-first half the Argyle gained a 1-0 interval lead. The Hammers kept very well in the game, and equalised through Roger Hugo; Tony Scott did most of the work leading to this, as after beating his fullback he cut along the goal-line to lay tack the bail and give Hugo a fine opening. We had several opportunities to score before and after this solitary success but failed to accept them, and a further goal by the home side made it 2-1 at the final whistle.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : London Challenge Cup (1st Round)
White Hart Lane
0 - 3
1 October 1964
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Dear
Hugo
Dryden
We visited Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in the First Round of the London Challenge Cup, the line-ups being composed largely of the present Reserve Team strengths of the clubs.
It proved to be sweet revenge for the Spurs, who were beaten 2-4 in a Combination match earlier in the season at Upton Park, for they notched a convincing 3-0 margin tin's time. All three goals were scored by Leg Alien (in the 22nd, 50th and 53rd minutes) and it was his sterling performance which proved the vital balance in an otherwise even game.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Dryden 2)
3 October 1964
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Dear
Hugo
Dryden
Against a not very good Palace side we netted one goal in each half to gain a 2-0 margin. The first came after five minutes' play, John Dryden ending a combined effort, and this youngster marked his first Combination appearance of the season by getting another after the interval
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
London Road
2 - 3 (Britt, Hugo)
10 October 1964
Dickie
Presland
Burkett
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Hugo
Scott
The 'Boro are strong challenges for leadership in the table, and their 3-2 win on this occasion was gained by virtue of being the better side on "the day Defensive errors by the Hammers made their task easier, and at one time the home side had a three-clear-goals lead. We got back late in the game with counters by Martin Britt (75 rains.) and Roger Hugo (82 mm.), but it was too late to prove effective
CRYSTAL PALACE
Selhurst Park
3 - 0 (Britt, Dawkins, Sealey [pen])
14 October 1964
Dickie
Presland
Burkett
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Hugo
Scott
Our Reserve Team took over the leadership of the Football Combination last Saturday, and are now two points ahead of Arsenal Reserves though the Gunners have a game in band. The Hammers' second-string notched two 3-0 victories last week whilst the Highbury side lost by the only goal at the City Ground v Nottingham Forest. An extra note of happiness has been the return of Martin Britt to our line-up, and a goal in each of his three games indicate that he is on the, way to full recovery from the injury which kept him out for several matches earlier in the campaign. We went "one better" on this occasion against the Palace, winning by 3-0 to complete a double over the Glaziers who succumbed by 2-0 at Upton Park earlier this month.
Once again the South Londoners proved no match for our strong side, and although Roger Hugo hurt his leg in the second half we proved quite capable of holding the opposition. Martin Britt got our before-the-interval goal and in the second half Trevor Dawkins and Alan Sealey (from a penalty) completed the scoring.
LEICESTER CITY
Upton Park
3 - 0 (Britt, Burnett, Scott)
17 October 1964
Dickie
Burnett
Burkett
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Smith T.
Scott
We severely set back the City's challenge on this occasion, and might well have been more than one goal up at half-time; Tony Scott scored this one with something of a "banana shot." After the interval we put on much more pressure and tallies from Martin Britt and Dennis Burnett (the latter a 35-yarder from an angle) made its comfortable 3-0 victors
CHELSEA
Stamford Bridge
1 - 3 (Dear)
24 October 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Burkett
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
Although Arsenal Reserves and our own second-string held a clear lead in the Football Combination a couple of weeks ago, each has since suffered an away defeat, but has won at home; this means that we are now back at the top of the table, but other contenders have come into the reckoning. One of these is Chelsea, who beat us by 3-1 at Stamford Bridge. The Pensioners conceded a goal in the first half when Brian dear netted with a chip shot over the home 'keeper, but after the interval the West Londoners took advantage of our mistakes and gained full spoils.
PORTSMOUTH
Upton Park
7 - 3 (Dear 4 [1 pen], Smith 2, Redknapp)
31 October 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Burkett
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Dear
Smith T.
Dryden
For the home game against Portsmouth Reserves we retained the same defence against Chelsea the previous week, but had a changed forward-line which comprised: Redknapp, Bennett, Dear, Smith, Drysden (Tony Scott had moved up to First Team duty in the absence of johnny Byrne at Blackpool). There was a burst of scoring in the first four minutes; Brian Dear got the opening goal from Harry Redknapp's pass, Pompey equalised almost from the kick-off, and then Dear made it 2-1 after Jack Burkett came up to split the Blues' defence. The remainder of the first half was tight duel, and the score remained that way until after the resumption. However, the second half brought goals galore, and the final count ran up to 7-3 in our favour. dear netted twice more (once from a quickly-taken free-kick move with Peter Bennett and the other from the penalty spot), while Tony Smith (2) and Harry Redknapp got the others. Portsmouth fought very well and merited their further "consolation" gaols, but we cannot give too much praise to our youngsters who were handicapped by mishaps which caused John Charles and Trevor Dawkins to be under paced in the later stages.
MANSFIELD TOWN
Field Mill
1 - 2 (Britt)
7 November 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Dryden
In the fourth minute Brian Dear made a good opening which was successfully completed by Martin Britt. We continued to hold the upper hand for the first half-hour or so, but were persistently pulled up for very narrow offside decisions when the Stags’ defence was wide open; it was not surprising, therefore, that our team felt themselves forced to change their tactics, but this proved our eventual undoing.
Mansfield came back into the game after this, equalizing just before the interval and then going 2-1 ahead soon after the start of the second half from the penalty-kick. The Hammers afterwards regained the initiative, but were prevented from gaining at least partial spoils thanks to excellent goalkeeping. The game was interesting, but it was to some extent a disappointment as we were not able to capitalize on our midfield superiority.
ARSENAL
Upton Park
7 - 2 (Dear 3 [1 pen], Scott 2, Britt, Redknapp)
14 November 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
The Gunners went ahead with an early goal and we had a rather unhappy opening ten minutes before settling down to a brilliant exhibition. Trevor Dawkins paved the way to our equalizer which was netted by Martin Britt, and then Brian Dear put us in front with a shot over the ‘keeper’s head as he was falling. Arsenal got back into the game to draw level once more, but we went in at the interval 3-2 ahead thanks to a somewhat fortuitous penalty ably converted by Dear.
That more or less finished Arsenal, as the second half was very much ”one-way traffic” Dear completed his hat-trick to round off a great afternoon’s work, with Tony Scott (2) and Harry Redknapp also finding the net to make the final tally 7-2 in our favour.
Thus the only forward not to score was Peter Bennett, but he could take consolation from the fact that a tremendous header by him rebounded from the bar to give Tony Scott one of his goals.
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NORWICH CITY
Carrow Road
1 - 1 (Britt)
21 November 1964
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
We were a goal down at half-time - mainly due to defensive errors which put us under pressure - but in the second half came well into the game and might well have snatched both points. Nevertheless the 1-1 result was fairly representative of the two sides, and we could have no cause for complaint in this respect. Our goal came from a move down the right wing when Harry Redknapp beat his opposing defender and crossed the ball to the far post for Martin Britt to notch the equaliser.
COLCHESTER UNITED
Upton Park
9 - 2 (Bennett 4, Britt 2, Dear 2, Scott)
28 November 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Howe
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
The score of 9-2 was by no means flattering to our team, and the fact that the visitors gained their two goals after we had netted all ours is an indication of the superiority we enjoyed. Four of our gials came in the first half, Brian Dear (2), Tony Scott and Peter Bennett being the scorers. Bennett was our star man after the interval and he added a hat-trick to make his personal total four while Martin Britt got into the list with two well-taken successes.
LEICESTER CITY
Filbert Street
3 - 1 (Dear 3)
5 December 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
Burly Brian Dear edged himself in front of first-team star Johnny Byrne as the club's leading scorer when he hammered yet another hat-trick in this fine Football Combination win by West Ham's title-chasing reserves at Filbert Street. Ex-East Ham Schools' star Dear look his season's tally to 18, one ahead of lihe haul Byrne has bagged in the First Division. Commented reserve team coach Ernie Gregory "They were three good goals from Brian - but the great thing about this win was that it was achieved through our best team display of this season." High praise from a man whose charges have lost only four of 16 games!
Dear's first goal gave Hammers' an interval lead. Tony Scott, again in fine form, beat his back, went to the byline and pulled back an accurate centre. Home goalkeeper Heyes and a defender both went for it, and the ball came out to Dear who did well to find the net with his drive with several opponents massing on the line.
After the break Hammers played well to keep firm control and Dear finished some subtle attacks with two more good shots to complete his fourth hat-trick th!s season. Leicester's consolation goal came too late to help them and resulted from a rare defensive lapse.
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FULHAM
Craven Cottage
5 - 1 (Britt 2, Dear 2, Charles)
12 December 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
West Ham kept their lead at the head of the table with a comfortable win over a rather mediocre Fulham team at Craven Cottage. A very good first half paved the way to a decisive victory, for we led by three clear goals at the interval, Martin Britt netting twice and John Charles once. A goal by Brian Dear put us further ahead before the Cottagers found the net, but another tally from Dear brought a final score of 5-1 in a game of exchanges reflected by the score.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST
Upton Park
3 - 2 (Charles, Dear, Redknapp)
19 December 1964
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
Forest gave us one of our hardest games in recent wekks, and it was not until seven minutes from the end of play that we netted the decider, after being ahead by 1-0 and 2-1 in the early stages. The visitors twice drew level and contribyted to a well-contested 90 minutes. Brian Dear made his total for the season 21 when he notched the first goal, John Charles got the second with a long "dipper" and Harry Redknapp was the scorer of the one which made the final count 3-2 in our favor.
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SHREWSBURY TOWN
Gay Meadow
3 - 1 (Dear, Dryden, [og])
28 December 1964
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Dryden
West Ham reserves kept their three-point lead at the top of the Football Combination table with this smart win in difficult conditions at Shrewsbury on Monday A light covering of snow on the pitch had frozen to make control uncertain and movement hazardous.
After falling behind early on, the Hammers adapted themselves well and before half-time were back on terms when a home defender put through his own goal.
After the interval West Ham were much more impressive than their opponents and went ahead when the free-scoring Brian Dear added yet another goal to his season's tally. It was a fine indjvi-dual cflort by the inside-left, who took possession, beat his man and closed-in to place his shot accurately in the corner.
The third West Ham goal was 'scored by young left-winder Johnny Dryden, having one of his infrequent reserve team outings, Dryden ran well on the blind side of the home defence to meet a fast, low cross from Harry Redknapp and grab a good goal.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
White Hart Lane
0 - 3
2 January 1965
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Sealey
In this vital Football Combination match at White Hart Lane on Saturday, Hammers' table-topping reserves were badly handicapped when ace-goal-scorer Brian Dear suffered a muscle injury after only 10 minutes. But they played well enough, despite having Dear as a virtual passenger on the wing, to restrict their experienced opponents to a one-goal interval lead, scored by Les Allen.
After the resumption, West Ham continued to put up a good fight and kept a crowd of over 3,000 keenly interested as they threatened to equalise. Then in the last ten minutes Spurs scored twice to finish good winners.
Centre-forward Frank Saul got the first and the second was unluckily diverted past Alan Dickie by wing-half John Charles.
CARDIFF CITY
Upton Park
1 - 1 (Bennett)
16 January 1965
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Dryden
The Welsh club had a lot of experience in the line-up which opposed the Hammers' XI. The Bluebirds got away to a one-goal lead during the first half, but soon afterwards Peter Bennett equalised to make the interval score 1-1. We gained the ascendancy after the resumption, but failed to clinch the issue although having a number of very good opportunities to do so.
It was fortunate that our nearest rivals - Chelsea -also dropped a home point against Fulham Reserves, so we are still three points ahead of these but having played two games more.
IPSWICH TOWN
Portman Road
0 - 1
23 January 1965
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Britt
Hugo
Dear
Our Reserves let slip their chances of Combination points at the Portman Road, for although they completely outplayed Ipswich Town Reserves in the second half they lost by the only goal of the match which was conceded before the interval. It was a disappointing afternoon in more ways than one, and as our rival-contenders Chelsea had a 4-0 home win they have closed the gap at the top of the table.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
Upton Park
2 - 1 (Britt, Dear)
6 February 1965
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Moore
Brabrook
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Dryden
REPORT:
CHELSEA
Upton Park
0 - 1
20 February 1965
Dickie
Kirkup
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
Our second-string were meeting the table-topping Chelsea Reserves side in a " four-point" fixture. Unfortunately the weather proved inclement with a biting wind and although 5,800 spectators turned up the atmosphere seemed affected by the climate.
After a rather indifferent first half there came a "hot spot" in which three goals were scored in the space of a few minutes. Of this trio ours was the best, Tony Scott meeting a long ball crossed to the far post by Joe Kirkup to nullify the lead which Chelsea had taken a minute earlier.
The visitors' first tally came from a speculative lob that looped into the top corner of the net, and the decider was an "own goal" which was the outcome of a defensive misunderstanding.
We could fairly claim to have about two-thirds of the game, but Chelsea put up an eight- or ten-man defence for much of the time, and most of our efforts at penetration were held near the edge of the penalty-area. The visitors relied upon breakaways, but the manner in which they reaped their reward was most frustrating to us. It was also unfortunate that when the game sparked to life with the scoring of three goals that a lack of control on the part of a number of participants should cause unnecessary "needle" to creep in.
PORTSMOUTH
Fratton Park
1 - 0 Brown)
27 February 1965
Dickie
Needham
Kitchener
Dawkins
Brown
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Dear
Scott
Terry Needham came in as a late deputy for his Combination debut and Billy Kitchener made his first Reserve Team appearance of the season in this visit to Fratton Park. Both did well in a defence which easily held the Sailors, and remained steadfast until the final whistle, but at the other end our attackers missed well-made chances which could have brought a wider margin than the one goal which secured us the points.
The playing surface was not conducive to good football and exchanges were generally scrappy; the decider came when Ken Brown moved up field to net a good goal as he squarely met the ball from Alan Sealey's corner-kick during the second half.
MANSFIELD TOWN
Upton Park
6 March 1965
Postponed: Poor ground conditions
ARSENAL
Highbury
1 - 0 (Britt)
13 March 1965
Dickie
Burnett
Burkett
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Sealey
Bennett
Britt
Hugo
Dear
A second-half goal by centre-forward Martin Britt was sufficient to give Hammers a surprise victory at Highbury on Saturday and revive their Blender hopes of carrying off the Football Combination title.
After a quiet first half, West Ham gained the measure of the Arsenal and it was no surprise when Britt hammered in a close range shot from Alan Seeley's cross pass.
The light ball and hard ground gave both sides plenty of trouble but West Ham overcame the conditions better and their off the ball work allowed them to make good use of the gaps left by the up-field wandering of wing-half Frank McLintock, having his first outing for six weeks.
NORWICH CITY
Upton Park
20 March 1965
Postponed: Waterlogged pitch
COLCHESTER UNITED
Layer Road
2 - 2 (Hugo 2)
27 March 1965
Dickie
Bond
Burkett
Howe
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Smith
Britt
Hugo
Scott
Fortunes have fluctuated very much in the First Division of the Football Combination during the current season, and after a very even duel between Chelsea and ourselves in the earlier part of the season the Spurs' second-string also came into the reckoning. The triangular duel at present favours the West Londoners, but with three of our last four games to be played at home we are still in the running.
Roger Hugo's two goals indicated our first-half superiority, and the bottom-of-the-table home side looked likely to be in for a hiding. However, after the interval we were lacking in bite, and conceded a couple of simple tallies that resulted in the Oystermen sharing the points with a 2-2 draw.
PETERBOROUGH UNITED
Upton Park
1 - 0 (Bennett)
3 April 1965
Dickie
Bond
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Britt
Hugo
Scott
We made hard work of this one, as although Peter Bennett put us a goal up at the interval we were kept on tenterhooks until the final whistle before knowing that the points were ours. We mad© a multitude of chances, but a lack of finish cut us down, to the closest of victories.
MANSFIELD TOWN
Upton Park
5 - 1 (Brabrook 2, Britt, Burnett, Redknapp)
8 April 1965
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Brabrook
Britt
Bennett
Scott
Our Reserves' chance of gaining the Football Combination championship are now very slim. We have to hope that while we gain full spoils from our outstanding four fixtures, Chelsea Reserves drop at least a couple of points in their two remaining games.
Although we had territorial advantage during the first half we did not take full benefit from this to build up a commanding lead. However, after the interval we showed greater determination in front of goal and secured a 5-1 win through goals by Peter Brabrook (2), Martin Britt, Dennis Burnett and Harry Redknapp.
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NORTHAMPTON TOWN
County Ground
2 - 2 (Charles, Hugo)
17 April 1965
Dickie
Burnett
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Britt
Hugo
Dryden
In an evenly-fought game we gained a point through a 2-2 draw, Hugo and Charles being our scorers. After building up a 2-0 lead through good goals (Hugo scoring the first from a hard, low cross from Brabrook which finished a good run and then a 30-yarder from Charles), we let the Cobblers draw level before the interval. It was a good game considering the very bad conditions,
NORTHAMPTON TOWN
Upton Park
1 - 4 (Hugo)
19 April 1965
Dickie
Bond
Presland
Howe
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Herbage
Hugo
Smith T.
Dryden
This game gave us an opportunity to congratulate the Cobblers* players and officials on the gaining of promotion to the First Division of the Football League by their senior side. However, they reciprocated our good wishes in somewhat harsh fashion by beating us 4-1. We moved excellently for the first twenty minutes and scored first, but the Cobblers' experience began to tell and our young forward-line played very well considering they were against a more mature opposition.
SHREWSBURY TOWN
Upton Park
1 - 3 (Smith)
24 April 1965
Dickie
Bond
Presland
Dawkins
Bickles
Charles J.
Brabrook
Bennett
Hugo
Smith T.
Dryden
Shrewsbury's defence took what few honours were going in the Football Combination match. They pulled nine men back at times in the second half to throw up a barrier which West Ham's slow-moving attack rarely pierced. It was hardly entertaining, but it was certainly effective. Despite playing at half-pace, West Ham were the better side throughout and had their chances in the first half but brilliant anticipation by goalkeeper Alan Boswell kept them out.
Inside-left Tony Smith was the Hammers' danger man and scored a deserved goal after 11 minutes when he coolly headed in John Bond's centre. With West Ham chasing second spot in the League it looked as though it might be an easy victory. But Shrewsbury kept plugging away and four minutes later they were level. Blond inside-right Bobby Stephenson won a tussle near the corner flag and centred for Bill Nixon to neatly head the equaliser. These two continued to plague West Ham for the rest of the game. Nixon dropped back to become a hard-working defender after the interval, while Stephenson formed a two-man attack with John Regan.
Regan gave Shrewsbury the lead after 22 minutes when he held off John Charles to slide home Trevor Jones's pass. And it was Stephenson who settled the issue seven minutes from time with a third goal. A bad call by Alan Dickie left him and Dave Bickles stranded on the 18-yard line as Stephenson beat both witha neat lob.
NORWICH CITY
Upton Park
2 - 0 (Hugo, Presland)
26 April 1965
Mackleworth
Burnett
Presland
Howe
Bickles
Charles J.
Redknapp
Bennett
Hugo
Dawkins
Dryden
West Ham sent Norwich packing in their last Football Combination match of the season with a second-half display which almost matched the first-half thunder and lightning at Upton Park.
But bad luck, allied to some good defensive work by goalkeeper Mike Palmer kept them down to one second-half goal, in the 70lh minute.
Harry Redknapp breasted down John Charles' long pass, beat his back and hared for the by-line before putting over a low cross which Roger Hugo slid home as Palmer dived at his feet.
Ten minutes earlier Redknapp had laid on two beautiful passes inside the back for Trevor Dawkins to intelligently run onto. From the first Palmer suddenly found the ball at his feet as Hugo and two defenders went for the cross and almost immediately only a desperate lunge by Graham Willis kept out a second, identical, centre by Dawkins.
Hugo was Hammers' danger man and his intelligent forward running had the Norwich defenders resorting to some tough tackles. He was unlucky not to get a penalty on the hour as three men converged on him at the end of a 40-yard solo effort. The centre-forward delayed his shot just too long and was submerged under a pile of bodies as the referee waved play on.
Led by the experienced Terry Allcock, the visiting forwards played neat, on-the-ground stuff in midfield but lacked the punch to trouble Colin Mackleworth, just back from the England Youth Cup tour.
We had to wait 30 minutes for the first decent shot of the game as Allcock thundered a great 25-yarder through the driving rain to force Mackleworth to go full length in the mud to turn it aside. But that was virtually the only decent shot Norwich could produce, although the hard working Perry Anderson moved in from the left wing in the second half to send a fine shot just too high. Man who did most to block Norwich was centre-half Dave Bickles who had a great game although limping in the second half.
West Ham wasted two perfect chances of opening the scoring as first Peter Bennettt and then John Dryden shot weakly at Palmer when clean through. But two minutes later Eddie Presland perfectly headed in Redknapp's centre to open the scoring after 11 minutes.
