1947
 
Saturday, 10 January 1948
London Senior Cup - 1st Round
Plough Lane
 
Wimbledon
Ron Head
1 - 2
Sutton United
?

Harry Stannard’s inclusion in the International Trial match meant another reshuffle up front. Ron Head took his pre-war place at centre-forward with Jock Smith taking his place on the inside. Jimmy Green moved out to the wing in place of Wallace and there was a rare start for Alec Fuce.

Perhaps because of, perhaps despite, the changes for the second week running the Dons lost at home in the first round of a County cup tie. On this occasion local Athenian League rivals, Sutton United, were the victors however, unlike the previous week, this time the performance of the opposition attack had as much to do with the win as the ineffectual home forwards. Head and Smith did a lot of hard work, but there appeared no plan and Carr had an easy afternoon, at the other end the U’s were yards faster, had more method and all five forwards backed up every attack and Haydock was forced to make some wonderful saves. That the score ended as close as it did was due to sterling defence from Lister and Wallis, although injury forced the latter to switch with Green after half an hour, ably assisted by the two backs, Maggs and Cousins. Sutton took the initiative early on, Haydock twice forced to concede corners, from Allbutt’s header and Pettit’s rising shot, then Lister headed clear after the keeper was beaten during a goalmouth scramble. Wallis, despite his limp, forced the Dons’ first corner, but it was a brief respite and the ball soon returned to the other end. Case hit the crossbar with a shot before, five minutes before the break, Sutton took the lead. As Haydock dealts with an effort from Allbutt he was challenged by Case and the ball fell to Daly who tapped the ball into an empty net. Stung, the home side hit back within three minutes, Smith’s through ball finding Head, who capitalised with a low drive.

The second half saw more pressing from the Dons but, apart from a short from Head that rattled the crossbar and a header from Laker that forced Carr into a save, Sutton were still on top for the duration. Twenty-six minutes into the half and Daly scored his, and the visitor’s second goal, eluding the challenge of three defenders before beating the keeper. Barely a minute later and Haydock had to be alert to turn a short from Boatright for a corner. Although the Dons’ forwards livened up a little towards the end and went in search of an equaliser they could make little impression on a sound Sutton defence and the final whistle signalled the end of their London Senior Cup aspirations for another season.