1950
Saturday, 09 September 1950
Isthmian League
Plough Lane
 
Wimbledon
Harry Bull, Freddie Gauntlett, Harry Stannard
3 (1) - (0) 0
Leytonstone

An injury to Pat Field meant a recall for Billy Cousins for the visit of reigning Isthmian League champions, star studded Leytonstone, to Plough Lane, otherwise it was an unchanged side from that which had beaten Chertsey Town the previous week.

For the first half an hour the visitors had things all their own way, but Cousins kept international forward Martin in check, limiting the clear chances, and Jack Haydock was in inspired form. The keeper pulled off a magnificent double save, firstly pushing out a shot from Noble then springing back to position to turn Groves’ follow-up for a corner. He also beat Noble to Martin’s centre to stop an otherwise certain goal. In the last fifteen minutes of the half the game was much more even and gradually Wimbledon got on top. Jim Smith had their first real scoring chance, his cross-shot was deflected for a corner, and another corner resulted before the danger was cleared. Five minutes before the half finished Vic Bird picked up the ball near the half-way line and moved forward, fed the ball to Harry Stannard who, in turn, crossed it to Smith, he centred it for Harry Bull to head out of the reach of Jarvis and give the home side the lead.

Within a minute of the resumption Stannard increased the lead from Bull’s corner. This invigorated the visitors and Haydock had to be alert to deal with a long range header from Fright. Cousins then notably cut in to check Groves when he was clean through, garnering applause from both the crowd and his opponent. The game flowed from end to end now, but the Dons had the confidence of their two-goal lead and in the sixty-third minute Freddie Gauntlett roamed inside, gathered a loose ball and went on a solo run that culminated in a low shot that left Jarvis helpless. From then on Leytonstone were well beaten and, although dangerous on the break, the home side had the better chances, the best falling near the end to Bull who got the ball in the net, only for it to be disallowed for an infringement that surprised the spectators.