1926 - CHELSEA U -21 PREMIERS MATCH REPORT

MATCH REPORT


The clash between Chelsea and Cheltenham was a ding dong struggle. There was plenty of speed interspersed with thrilling aerial work and nippy ground play. The duels between Davey and Morrow were spectacular with honours to the Chelsea man. Chelsea won the game in the last quarter through the good play of the back men.
Chelsea were first away, McIntosh from a free had a shot and gained first point for Chelsea. O'Toole sent play along the wing, Clough freed, sent play forward, O'Donnel marking shot for goal. Adams saved well. Cheltenham dashed forward, O'Toole and Williams being prominent, the latter trying for goal, McIntosh marked on the goal line, sent to R. Loveless. Davey took a brilliant mark and kicked first goal. E. Henderson, freed on the bounce in, kicking for goal sent the ball out. Kennedy passed to McIntosh who shot for goal, Adams again saving well.
Good play by Lonsdale and Williams gave Cunningham a chance who lost the ball. Cochrane dashing in had a quick shot and kicked out and Clough played along the wing. Plumeridge's shot fell short. Monk shot for goal.  Mack, taking a brilliant mark saved well and passed to Gathercole who played to Davey who missed an easy shot. Wright was freed; played across to Gathercole, the latter found Davey and up went the two flags. O'Toole to Lonsdale. Copeland was pushed and played to Cochrane who did not allow for the wind. Clough saved well, sending well down, Dennington marking and finding Davey; he had no trouble in raising two flags. Dennington and Davey gained a behind each and then Davey, taking a brilliant mark in a crush, kicked another goal just before the bell rang.


Cheltenham were quickly off, H. Gardiner taking a brilliant mark, but could only raise one flag. Carpenter marking, turned play. Robertson freed, shot for goal, the ball going through the behind posts. On the kick in Carpenter ran the wrong way and kicked a behind for Cheltenham amidst groans, O'Toole, dodging players, played for goal. Downs, marking well, saved. Kicking against the wind, the ball came back to goals and C. Gardner marking, kicked a nice goal. On the bounce W. Henderson played to Lonsdale who always was in a good position and up went the two flags. Cheltenham lost no time in getting to the attack. Good play by W. Henderson, H. Gardner and Robertson ended in the latter raising one flag. H. Gardner was pushed, and with the free, sent to Lonsdale and that brilliant forward, taking a good mark, raised two flags. The ball was rushed down the centre, Watt saving well, played to Downs who passed to Kennedy, Lonsdale was freed, his shot was marked by Mack. H. Gardner was freed. O'Donnell saved well, his kick going out. Williams shooting for goal, kicked out. Play was all around Chelsea goals and Cheltenham missed some easy shots. Robertson, with a hurried shot, kicked out. Bowman relieved and Robertson, marking, kicked a good goal. McIntosh sent down centre. Morrow saved. B. Loveless, marking sent well down. H. Gardner turned play with a quick pass to Cochrane who raised two flags. On the bounce McIntosh sent along, Guiness, marking played to Lonsdale and only raised one flag. O'Donnell sent forward; Carpenter, kicking off the ground, Morrow saved, then O'Donnell to Johnston, who had a quick shot, when the bell rang.


Cheltenham attacked and within a minute C. Gardner kicked a goal against a strong wind. H. Gardner freed, played for goal, Carpenter saving. The McIntosh-Davey combination was again in evidence and Cheltenham were called upon to defend. Davey gained one point. O'Donnell dashed in and, with clever hand passing, gave McIntosh a chance and one flag waved. Dennington to Davey and another behind was secured. Lonsdale was sent to mind Davey who was playing a brilliant game; a free to Lonsdale staved off a Chelsea attack. Kennedy sent well down. Carpenter freed, tried for goal, Morrow saved and O'Donnell turned play. Gathercole, marking near the behind post kicked a wonderful goal. Wright relieved. Plumeridge turned play. Bowman saved and passed to Downs and a behind was scored. Dennington dashed down the centre and with a running shot raised both flags. Guiness sent forward, Clough turned play. Downs, marking raised two flags.
A chain of marks by Kennedy, Downs and Davey ended in the latter gaining a goal. Plumeridge played forward, Adams shot for goal, Clough saved. Watt and B. Loveless gave Davey a chance and up went the two flags. O' Donnell to Gathercole, his shot going out. Watt played along the wing. Carpenter saved and sent well down, Lonsdale taking a brilliant mark staved off a Chelsea attack. Kennedy, freed, sent to Davey and up went the two flags, making his seventh goal. Morrow to Copeland, who played forward, Cochrane freed, shot for goal and raising one flag.
Cheltenham started the last quarter 26 points behind. Cheltenham lost no time in attacking, Plumeridge, with a long kick for goal, kicked out. Gough turned play. H. Gardner kicked for goal. R. Loveless was pushed. Downs, going for a mark was pushed and kicked to R. Loveless who came down heavily and was badly shaken. O' Donnell placed Davey on the back line and it proved a good move, for that player saved at least four goals. Guiness to Lonsdale who could only gain a point. O'Toole played to H. Gardner who missed the mark and, dashing for the ball raised two flags. Robertson, freed, shot for goal; H. Gardner, freed, sent to W. Henderson and he had no trouble raising the two flags. Cheltenham were missing easy shots. Wright turned play, Downs freed, played to Wright who was pushed.


Cheltenham were throwing the game away by giving away free kicks. Payne, marking from Wright sent well forward, Carpenter taking shot for goal, Adams saved well, sent well down, H. Gardner marking and, with a running shot gained the goal. Downs, from the ruck, shot forward, O'Toole saved. Bowman, freed, sent play away. Copeland to Lonsdale to Copeland, McIntosh marking on the goal line, saved. Payne was freed, O'Toole taking the ball, played for goal, but only raised one flag. On the kick in Lonsdale was freed. The game was getting crowded, only a few minutes to go and Cheltenham with a goal would make the game a draw. Lonsdale's shot for goal went out.
Carpenter, with the free, played to Davey, Morrow beat Davey, the latter rushing back in goals, marked the ball and saved his side; his kick fell short. Lonsdale, freed, played to Guiness, Dennington was freed when Cheltenham looked like scoring. Dennington played to the wing, Guiness, marking shot for goal and again Davey, marking, saved well; he kicked the ball well along the wing and play had reached well forward when the bell rang. Chelsea premiers by six points, both teams finished very tired.


GOAL KICKERS
CHELSEA :  Davey 7, Gathercole, Dennington, Downs.
CHELTENHAM:   Lonsdale 2, C. Gardner 2, H. Gardner,     Cochrane, Robertson, W. Henderson.
Both teams were exhausted. Chelsea players were carried in by their supporters; every player did his best to win the premiership. Morrow, Captain of Cheltenham, was the first to congratulate Chelsea on their win. The President of the Federal Association also congratulated the team.
Best Players for Cheltenham :
Lonsdale and H. Gardner followed by O'Toole and Guiness, Robertson, W. Henderson and Copeland the best of the others.


(Ref : "The News" - Saturday September 4th, 1926.)


In 1926 we played Cheltenham for the premiership on the Chelsea ground and won the game.

Roy O’Donnell was captain and I was vice-captain, plus an old chap named Harry Saw, an ex-Carlton seconds player, was our coach, but in the last few weeks of the season a local man named Les Warren, who played for Fitzroy, took over and gave us extra coaching. As a result we beat Cheltenham for the flag.
Later the team split up and I went to St Kilda.

JACK DENNINGTON

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