AMID frayed tempers and a mysterious “unfortunate incident”

involving their “brilliant”

goalie, Evesham Town lost 5-1 to Leamington 75 years ago.

The Journal of 1936 reported: “An unfortunate incident in the second half of Evesham Town’s away game with Leamington Town in the second round of the Birmingham Senior Cup on Saturday proved the turning point which led to the Robins’ defeat by a decisive margin.

“Davis, Evesham’s brilliant goalkeeper, was involved in this incident which resulted in a penalty being awarded to Leamington; Maitland, the home left back, made no mistake with the kick and subsequently Leamington ran riot, scoring three further goals and eventually winning by five goals to one.

“A keenly contested first half concluded with Leamington leading by the only goal scored, but a few minutes after the interval Spalding, Evesham’s clever inside right, beat five men before firing in a shot which put his side on level terms.

“In the absence of George Knight who, unfortunately for Evesham, is again on the injured list, the Robins made several changes in their vanguard.

“Tomkins, formerly with Badsey Rangers, led the line and Andrews, of Redditch, did duty at outside right.

“Leamington also made changes, introducing two new forwards – O’Neill, late of Darlaston, and Hawkes, formerly with West Bromwich Albion.

“Beacham and Hope were prominent in the Evesham defence and Spalding was the pick of the forwards.

“In the later stages of the match tempers became frayed and Evesham probably owed their defeat to the fact that they allowed themselves to get ‘rattled’.

Within a quarter of an hour of Maitland’s penalty, Hawkes, Parker and O’Neill added goals to the home team.”