1960-61 Football Combination (Division One)

LEYTON ORIENT : Football Combination

Leyton Stadium

4 - 3 (Beesley 2, Bovington, Obeney)

14 January 1961

Shearing

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Woodley

Boyce

Obeney

Beesley

Dear

Our Reserves continued their winning Football Combination run with a 4-3 victory over Leyton Orient at the Brisbane Road Ground.

We led by 3-0 just after half-time, having outplayed the Orient from the start by adapting ourselves better to the conditions successfully finishing off moves thanks to good support by their full-backs and it looked as if we would get plenty more goals A penaltly for hands put us out of our stride for a while and the O's got another goal shortly afterwards; however, we weathered the spell sufficiently to regain the advantage and finally ran out winners by 4-3.

Mick Beesley got two of our goals, Eddie Bovington and Harry Obeney each netting once.

CHELSEA : Football Combination

Stamford Bridge

2 - 6 (Brett, Hurst [pen])

21 January 1961

Shearing Presland Burkett Bovington Lansdowne Peters Grice Boyce Hurst Smillie Brett

There was plenty of good football from both sides in midfield but Chelsea's forwards were quicker to take their chances and finished off in more successful style. The greater experience of the opposition proved a decisive factor during the closing stages, and the Pensioners ended as comfortable 6-2 winners. This heavy reverse was disappointing after a run of six successive victories, but it was pleasing to see youngsters like Eddie Bovington, Ron Boyce, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters showing up well. Our scorers were Geoff Hurst (from a penalty) and Ron Brett.

PORTSMOUTH : Football Combination

Upton Park

1 - 3 (Cartwright)

4 February 1961

Shearing

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Peters

Grice

Cartwright

Beesley

Smillie

Brett

It could be fairly said that what " breaks " were going in this game went to the visitors, but it is also equally true that we did not deserve to win, for we missed easy opportunities that should have been converted despite our not playing very well. The left-flank was to some extent exempt from this, but in general the Hammers too easily conceded the advantage to a Pompey side which never achieved great heights. The visitors gained a 3-0 lead before John Cartwright scored our only goal late in the game.

BRISTOL CITY : Football Combination

Ashton Gate

1 - 6 (Dear)

11 February 1961

Shearing

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Bickles

Smillie

Grice

Boyce

Dunmore

Beesley

Dear

The Bristolians adapted themselves far better to the conditions, using the long pass on a sea of mud while the Hammers tried to carry the ball with short movements. The homesters continually forced the play into our goalmouth where their forwards were always ready to capitalise on the many mistakes made by our defence. It was not surprising that we were overwhelmed, and although Brian Dear netted one goal for us the City well deserved their 6-1 victory.

BOURNEMOUTH & BOSCOMBE : Football Combination

Upton Park

1 - 2 (Smillie)

18 February 1961

Shearing

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Grice

Boyce

Dunmore

Smillie

Brett

There was not a lot to enthuse over in a game which we lost by 2-1. Individualism rather than team-work was the keynote of several players, and as some did not approach their best form the Cherries had an easy time. The visitors' inside-forwards got the upper hand of our half-backs and in general the exchanges went against a disappointing Hammers' side. Andy Smillie was our scorer.

NOTTINGHAM FOREST : Football Combination

Upton Park

6 - 0 (Brett 2, Dunmore 2, Bleanch, Boyce)

25th February 1961

Shearing

Bond

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Grice

Boyce

Bleanch

Dunmore

Brett

A move that began on the half-way line with the ball going from player to player ended with Norman Bleanch opening the score after two minutes, and more clever approach work led to Ron Brett getting another in the twelfth minute. Two up at half-time, the Hammers continued to dominate the play, Dave Dunmore adding two goals (the first a 25-yard "cracker") within a quarter-of-an-hour of the resumption. With 20 minutes to go Mike Grice put in some good work before Ron Boyce got our fifth, and in the closing stages a long ball from John Bond left the Forest defence wide open for Brett to make it 6-0 at the finish. A greatly improved display and a well-merited win.

ARSENAL : Football Combination

Highbury

1 - 4 (Brett)

4 March 1961

Shearing

Cripps

Burkett

Peters

Lansdowne

Hurst

Grice

Boyce

Bleanch

Brett

Smillie

Ron Brett got one of our best goals of the season with a 25-yard drive to give us an early advantage, but after that it was a case of "flattering to deceive." We were unable to retain this 1-0 lead for anv length of time and long defensive periods with slack marking by the rearguard had the inevitable ending a 4-1 victory for the home side.

CARDIFF CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

5 - 3 (Bleanch 2, Smillie 2, [og])

9 March 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Woodley

Cartwright

Bleanch

Smillie

Scott

The request by Cardiff City that this game be played during the afternoon (to enable their team to get back to Wales the same evening) had the effect of reducing the " gate " to less than a thousand - well below our average. However, those who did make the journey to Upton Park were amply rewarded, and there was plenty of excitement before we emerged as 5-3 winners from a ding-dong tussle. A Bluebirds' defender was responsible for one of our goals, but both Norman Bleanch and Andy Smillie contributed their share to our success with a brace apiece.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : Football Combination

Upton Park

3 - 0 (Dunmore, Scott, Smillie)

11 March 1961

Reader

Cripps

Lyall

Peters

Lansdowne

Hurst

Grice

Cartwright

Dunmore

Smillie

Scott

Dave Dunmore, Tony Scott and Andy Smillie were the scorers in a game which ended 3-0 in our favour. Very good football and inter-passing led up to excellent finishing, the ball going through at the right time to give the visiting defence a harrowing 90 minutes. First-rate goal-keeping (albeit aided by a little luck!) kept down our score, and there is no doubt that we were better all-round, our powerful half-hack line providing an effective counter to the few attacks which the Albion were able to mount.

IPSWICH TOWN : Football Combination

Portman Road

5 - 0 (Smillie 2, Beesley, Cartwright, Scott)

18 March 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Woodley

Cartwright

Beesley

Smillie

Scott

Our football was a delight to watch "along-the-carpet" stuff with the ball going from player to player at great speed and accuracy ; we literally over-ran the home side. Andy Smillie got our first goal after nine minutes and added another 13 minutes later; Tony Scott netted a third in the 25th minute to give us a commanding interval lead. We held this advantage until ten minutes from time when Mick Beesley increased it to 4-0, and the final goal came from John Cartwright with two minutes-to go for a five-clear-goals victory that was not flattered by the score-line.

BIRMINGHAM CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

4 - 1 (Brett, Scott, Smillie, Woodley)

25 March 1961

Reader

Cripps

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Peters

Woodley

Boyce

Brett

Smillie

Scott

The Hammers played really good football right from the kick-off., adopting the push-and-run style on a hard ground that made the ball difficult to control. There was no doubt that the final result would be in our favour, for within five minutes of the start we had taken the lead through Ron Brett and further goals by Tony Scott, Andy Srnillie and Derek Woodley enabled us to be comfortably in front by 4-1 at the finish.

This victory enabled us to climb to fourth place in the Combination table, and with game? in hand of third-place Arsenal we could move into-that spot if our second-string's run of success continues. However, it will not be oossible to challenge Chelsea or the Spurs for the championship, as these clubs have made it almost a " two-horse race " from the start

BIRMINGHAM CITY : Football Combination

St Andrews

1 - 4 (Cartwright)

28 March 1961

Reader

Cripps

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Peters

Woodley

Cartwright

Beesley

Brett

Scott

Having beaten the Heathens at Upton Park three days earlier by 4-1 it came as a surprise to be defeated by the same score in the return. However, the game was not one to enthuse over, being played at a slow pace on a hard surface, and with the City being given and taking what chances were going it was a rather disappointing evening.

The Blues scored first through a defensive error, but five minutes later John Cartwright took the opportunity in fine fashion to make the interval score 1-1. The homesters' second goal appeared to us to be offside and the third came when a rebound from a defender went in; of the fourth goal against us we had no complaint - it was the only real good one !

CARDIFF CITY : Football Combination

Ninian Park

3 - 0 (Boyce 2, Sealey)

1 April 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Peters

Woodley

Boyce

Sealey

Smillie

Scott

This was Alan Sealey's first appearance in our colours, and he celebrated his Hammers' debut by netting one of our goals ; Ron Boyce got the other two. The most pleasing feature was the general all-round display of our side, who secured a thoroughly deserved win with the young forward-line giving the Bluebirds' defence a harrowing afternoon.

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR : Football Combination

White Hart Lane

2 - 2 (Bleanch, Smillie)

3 April 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Peters

Grice

Cartwright

Bleanch

Smillie

Brett

With the Spurs chasing Chelsea for the Combination championship we had a hard task on hand, but succeeded in taking a point through a 2-2 draw with goals by Norman Bleanch and Andy Smillie. It was a keen game from start to finish, and the Hammers' enthusiasm proved most effective against a skilful Spurs' display.

LEICESTER CITY : Football Combination

Upton Park

3 - 1 (Beesley 2, Bovington)

8 April 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Obeney

Grice

Cartwright

Beesley

Smillie

Brett

It seemed that the Hammers never really got going in this fixture, although we ended as 3-1 victors with Mick Beesley (2) and Eddie Bovington getting the goals. Too many of our players appeared to be below their best form and it was something of an anti-climax after their two previous performances. There was not a great deal of excitement in the exchanges, and more open football by our XI might have brought better satisfaction, for the watchers.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION : Football Combination

Goldstone Ground

3 - 1 (Smillie 2, Beesley)

12 April 1961

Reader

Cripps

Lyall

Bovington

Lansdowne

Hurst

Grice

Boyce

Beesley

Smillie

Brett

This was our Reserves' second 3-1 victory in succession, but this time they played much better than on the previous occasion (when they defeated Leicester City at Upton Park). Andy Smillie was again among the goals with a couple, Mick Beesley netting our other counter.

SOUTHAMPTON : Football Combination

The Dell

0 - 3

19 April 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Peters

Lansdowne

Obeney

Grice

Cartwright

Beesley

Smillie

Brett

This was a disappointing reverse, but on the balance of play it could not be denied that the lowly-placed Saints earned their three clear goals' success.

LEICESTER CITY : Football Combination

Filbert Street

3 - 0 (Smillie 2, Bessley)

22 April 1961

Reader

Cripps

Burkett

Bovington

Lansdowne

Obeney

Grice

Cartwright

Beesley

Smillie

Brett

Faster on the ball and moving quickly and accurately, the Hammers achieved complete superiority for a 3-0 victory.

After near-misses we went ahead when Ron Brett picked up a loose ball inside the City half and ran on to pass the ball to Mike Grice inside the full-back ; the right-winger's centre to the far post was headed home by Mick Beesley as he ran in. From the kick-off we went downfield again, and a combined move between Harry Obeney, Brett, John Cartwright and Andy Smillie ended with the latter being brought down in the penalty area; Smillie then scored from the resultant spot-kick for our second goal before the interval. A low, hard centre across the goal by Grice found Smillie "on the spot" to net the third.

1959-60 Reserves Season 1960-61 1961-62 Reserves