South Yorkshire Times, April 12, 1969

Houghton Main Won Montagu Cup Against All The Odds

Houghton Main 4, East Dene 2

Houghton Main won the Montagu Cup on Sunday morning against the odds. One goal down at half time, they came back in the second period to play some sterling cup-tie football to clinch the match with fast, direct play and decisive opportunism.

On a bone-hard pitch and attempting to master a swirling wind, both these teams had conceded goals before adapting to the conditions. The tall striker, Edwards, snapped up two golden opportunities for East Dene after defensive errors, and Houghton centre-forward Pilkington ran on to a long through ball to drive in an equaliser in between, For all three goals the wind had a major role in creating the chances.

With mastery of the conditions came reliability in defence for Houghton. Fletcher prompted East Dene to do most of the attacking in this first half, and his side looked the more skilful and professional outfit. In Edwards they had a forward who could take chances, and a lively attack to create them.

By half-time the Rotherham club looked to be well in control as Houghton struggled to crack a strong-tackling defence.

Re-shuffle

A second – half re – shuffle seemed to do the trick. East Dene had been rattled once or twice in the first period by incisive through balls, and Houghton came out to exploit this to the full.

Pilkington was moved on to the right-wing, and he and Guest outstripped East Dene’s square defence, FeIlow s moving into the attack to add a little more weight and power. After Fellows had hit the bar, Pilkington equalised to set the scene for a tremendous struggle through the second half.

It is the same in all games, Territorial advantage is one thing, taking chances is another. East Dene still looked  in control, but Houghton had only four chances in this match, and took every one. It was Guest who hit the decisive third goal after 65 minutes. He cracked a scorching left-foot drive wide of the ‘keeper from an angle, a cup-winning goal.

Brookes was in fine form for Houghton as East Dene threw everyone into attack looking for an equaliser. They never quite got there. Blayden headed a fourth to seal the match close on time, and Houghton took the cup, the prize for top-class opportunism.

Teams:—

Houghton: Brookes, Littledyke, Gregory, Rawson, Parks, Wilson, Pilkington, Blayden, Guest, Fellows, Uttley Sub. Malin.

East Dene: Haverty, Eames, Hodgkinson, Wagstaffe, Wilson, Woodward, Morgan, Fletcher, Snowden, Edwards, Stacey, Sub.. Bates.

Referee: D. Jones.