1947
Saturday, 20 December 1947
Friendly
Plough Lane
 
Wimbledon
Harry Stannard
1 - 0
Erith & Belvedere

Before the game it was announced that Don Rhodes had returned to Tooting & Mitcham. Since joining from Wandgas the centre-forward had scored six goals in ten appearances but had asked to be released to return to his former club.

With the shortage of cup games, due to byes and early exits, a friendly was arranged with Corinthian League Erith & Belvedere, who had twice been Amateur Cup finalists before the War. Harry Bull took Rhodes’ place in the front-line, unusually at outside-right, with Green moving into the centre.

Wimbledon had the best of the game throughout, but the game was sealed by a single goal from Harry Stannard half an hour in. Back to help out the defence, Stannard received the ball just outside his own box and dribbled the full length of the field, keeping the ball under perfect control and eluding opponent after opponent before beating the visiting goalkeeper, surely one of the best goals ever seen at Plough Lane. The marksman was in top form and was hotly tipped for a call-up to the England Amateur team the following month.