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Wycombe Wanderers 3
Newport County 1
Saturday 24th November 1973
FA Cup First Round Proper

Wycombe v Newport programme - 24 November 1973 Saturday 24th November 1973 saw Wanderers beat Football League opposition for the first time in their FA Cup history as Fourth Division Newport County were beaten 3-1 at a buzzing Loakes Park. The victory came after the game had reached the hour stage still goalless but three goals in nine second half minutes saw Wycombe take a grip of the tie and despite a late flurry from County (11th in the Fourth Division), Wycombe (4th in the Isthmian League) were deserved winners.
Wanderers' route to the First Round stage had come after Qualifying Round victories over Tilbury (away won 3-0), Woking (home won 1-0), Chatham Town (away won 7-0) and Worthing (away won 3-0). The tie with Woking is best remembered for the Wycombe fans chairing opposition 'keeper Dave Collyer off the pitch at the final whistle after he had performed heriocs to keep the score down to 1-0 - Keith Searle's goal after 14 minutes being the decisive strike.
The excitement of the draw with Newport saw Wanderers prepare for their first tilt at Football League opposition since bowing out to Watford at the Second Round stage in December 1959. Prices for the tie were set at 30p for Adults, 20p for Children and 10p for OAPS's. If you wanted a seat it would set you back an extra 15p.
Speaking after the victory over County, Wanderers Manager Brian Lee said, "They (Wycombe) were terrific. Without lights, we hadn't been able to train for a week. I also thought we would miss Keith Searle, our leading striker but the lads were magnificent and really deserved the win" And looking forward the draw for the Second Round, Lee added, "We want Brighton, Brian Clough (Brighton Manager) is an old pal of mine". The draw would eventually see Lee's side take on Fourth Division leaders Peterborough United at Loakes Park but there would be no further glory that year, as Posh ran out 3-1 winners.
Wycombe: J.Maskell; R.Williams (sub A.Brothers 29 mins), P.Wood, D.Bullock, R.Grant; T.Reardon, M.Holifield, L.Pritchard; A.Horseman, D.Evans, S.Perrin
Scorers: Perrin 62,67 Evans 71
Newport: J.Macey; G.Coldric, M.Hancock, S.Aizlewood. M.Sprague; B.Godfrey, W.Screen (sub W.Hooper 70 mins), L.Hill; W.Brown, R.Jones, H.Jarman
Scorers: Hooper 84
Referee: Mr T Spencer Attendance: 6,888
What the papers said:
Wycombe v Newport - Bucks Free Press report - 24 November 1973
Bucks Free Press - Stuart Earp reporting from Loakes Park

It looked all over as Newport’s Rod Jones chipped the ball over goalkeeper John Maskell, just three minutes into the second half. The ball dipped and seemed to be dropping into the net, but then struck the crossbar and was hurriedly cleared away. If ever there was a key turning point in a game, this was it. Had the ball entered the net, I wouldn’t have fancied Wycombe Wanderers chances in Saturday’s epic F. A. Cup first round clash with the Fourth Division professionals from Newport County. But it didn’t. And Wanderers went onto to record one of their most thrilling and emotional victories for many years. What followed that incident was quite amazing. Wycombe proceeded to play some superb football, scored three goals and won themselves a place.in the second round for only the second time in their history. The previous occasion was back in 1959 when they lost out 5 1 to Watford at Vicarage Road. Many were wondering who was man of the match on Saturday. The truth is, there wasn’t one. All 12 players emerged as heroes, each gave 100 per cent effort.
Poor Newport. They were on a hiding to nothing when they came to Loakes Park and after Wycombe’s second goal, their heads visibly sagged, They had seen it all before, only three years ago when they were shattered 6-1 at Barnet, the Southern League club. For years people have been saying that the top Isthmian League clubs are on a par with the Football League Third and Fourth division outfits. Saturday’s game proved it and in the end, it was obvious that County had been well and truly outgunned. Two of the goals came after some delightful football from the home side and both Tony Horseman and Mick Holifield could have increased the scoreline in the closing stages. By that stage, however, it didn’t really matter, Wanderers were well on the road to victory and weren’t going to let it slip from their grasp. When Keith Searle was injured at Walthamstow last Saturday, I for one, felt Wanderers’ chances of success had diminished considerably. The Blues themselves could have been excused for being a trifle pessimistic and even more so when full back Rob Williams had to leave the field with a groin injury alter 29 minutes. Substitute Tony Brothers came on and took over the full back spot for the first time in his career. He went on to play one of his best games for a long time.
This really epitomised the spirit of the Wycombe side on Saturday. Yes, the chips were down and stacked against them. But with the marvellous crowd of over 6,000 roaring them on, they proceeded to give a magnificent display. Just how good were Newport? Just how much of a threat were centre back Steve Aizlewood, valued at Ł50,000 by County and Harold Jarman, their tricky veteran winger? The answer didn’t really unfold until the second half, It was then that we saw the professionals really struggling to withstand concerted Wycombe pressure. Aizlewood, the club’s leading goalscorer, was never given a chance to show his attacking flair and indeed, looked poor in comparison with home centre half Dave Bullock. Jarman was strangely ignored on the flanks and only occasionally dangerous.
In the first half very little was given away and the number or clear-cut opportunities were few and far between. Young centre back Mick Hancock, only 18 years old, made a series of timely interceptions but even at this stage, Newport looked susceptible to the quick breakaway. There was an anxious moment for John Maskell in the 14th minute when Willie Brown challenged the ‘keeper for Graham Coldric’s cross and the ball ran loose, hut Bullock was on hand to boot the ball clear. Wycombe were understandably nervous in the early stages and hammered the ball away from the penalty area at the slightest hint of danger, Constructive football was therefore limited.
Newport’s troubles began in the 15th minute when referee Spencer, who had earlier spoken to Len Hill, booked him for dissent. A minute later Steve Perrin broke clear through as Newport looked for offside, and screwed the ball wide. It was the first, time County had been caught square at the back but they failed to heed the warning and eventually paid the penalty later in the game. As the half progressed the choice of newcomer Terry Reardon for Brothers in midfield, really began to prove its worth. He fitted in as if he’d been with the side all season and his ability to slow the game down proved invaluable.
In the 23rd minute Dylan Evans, playing in Searle’s centre forward shirt, wasted Wycombe’s best chance of the half. Tony Horseman broke through inside the visitors’ box and although almost brought down, managed to slip the ball to Evans who blazed high over the top. Then in the 29th minute, Williams was forced to leave the field and Brothers came on. At first it looked as though Reardon would drop to full back but after a minute, the Wycombe bench decided to try Brothers in the number three shirt. He didn’t let them down. Hancock joined Hill in the referee’s book after 34 minutes when he tugged Evans’ shirt after the centre forward broke through. It was a “professional foul” and showed just how stretched the pro’s really were on occasions.
Roger Grant, whose overlapping posed real problems for Newport, gave John Macey a fright in the 36th minute when the ‘keeper gathered Roger’s long cross just underneath the crossbars. Referee Spencer turned down appeals that Macey had stepped over his line. Newport offered precious few attacking ideas and left Jones and Brown upfront to try and hustle Wycombe into errors. Jarman was rarely given a chance to show his undoubted skill and after 45 minutes the score was still goalless.
Wycombe v Newport - Bucks Free Press report - 24 November 1973
Only three minutes of the new half had elapsed when Jones struck the crossbar with that crucial lob. And for the next ten minutes, it seemed Newport, having sussed out the opposition, might pull clear. They dominated play for the first time in the match and had Wanderers distinctly rattled. Wycombe’s nerves again began to show at the hack as Jones went close once more, sending the ball just wide from Hill’s cross, Two minutes later full-back Coldric joined the attack and roared into lash the ball wide from Jarman’s far post cross. The kick and rush pattern of play continued in the second half but brought little reward. As the game progressed, however, Wanderers at last began to play their normal game. Passes found the mark accurately and the through ball again had Newport in trouble, Evans broke clear after a one against one situation with Aizlewood who pulled Dylan back by his shirt, Unlike Hancock, Aizlewood got away with the offence but again it showed Newport could be caught on speed.
On the hour, Larry Pritchard, an inspiration in midfield, set up a fierce goalmouth melee with Horseman twice having the ball at his feet but then being robbed on both occasions. At the other end, Jarman beat Grant for pace and fired in a low drive that Maskell saved well It seemed a goal had to come sooner or later and sure enough, in the 62 minute, amidst tremendous encouragement from the crowd, Wanderers went ahead. Tony Horseman, Wycombe’s wily veteran striker, made the goal with an astute chip into the path of Perrin. Big Steve outran the cover and took the ball to a narrow angle. He had a choice to either square it back or shoot for goal himself and plumped for the latter — with devastating effect. Macey, with about four yards to cover seemed to have the way blocked but such was the power of Perrin’s drive that it went through his arms and bulged the back of the net, The roar from the crowd must have been heard in Princes Risborough!
A goal down, Newport had to come forward and this presented Wycombe with more space upfront. It was from a breakaway that the Blues went two up five minutes later. Roger Grant sprinted down the flank before being upended by a desperate tackle from Coldric. Roger took the free kick himself and hit it hard into the box. Macey couldn’t hold the cross and dropped it straight onto the head of Perrin, racing in. The ball was going over the line when Tony Horseman helped it on its way, but the goal was still credited to Perrin.
Two nil! By this time the crowd were going wild and the roar was even greater when Dylan Evans made it 1-0 in the 7lst minute. Again it was Horseman who fashioned the score, robbing Hill and slipping the ball through to Evans. The Welshman had one defender to beat for a shot at goal and managed to shrug off Hancock’s sliding challenge. From about 15 yards out Dylan unleashed a superb cross-shot that left Macey grasping at thin air as the ball whistled-into the net.
Wycombe v Newport - Wanderers players leaving the pitch at the final whistle - 24 November 1973By now the match seemed well and truly out of reach for Newport. They had no answer to the enthusiasm of the home side and could easily have fallen further behind, Horseman headed just past the upright from Mick Holifield’s, left foot corner and then in the 79th minute Holifield brought the save of the match from Macey. Mick raced through into the penalty box and unleashed a tremendous drive which looked a goal all the way. Macey however, flung himself to his left and tipped the ball away. Sixty seconds later he repeated the feat from another Holifield shot.
By now Newport had nothing to lose by coming forward and for the last ten minutes they bravely mounted a final assault on the home goal. Jarman brought a finger tip save from Maskell which Brothers cleared off the line at the expense of a corner. Six minutes from the close substitute Wynne Hooper, who had come on for Willie Screen in the 81st minute, pulled one back when he slotted the ball home after a flick-on from Brown. It only served to add more excitement to the match. Had Hancock netted a good chance in the 88th minute instead of screwing the ball past the post, things could have got decidedly uncomfortable for Wanderers. But they held out and came back themselves with Horseman sending a header straight into Macey’s arms after Holifield had intercepted Brian Godfrey’s attempted clearance. It must have been an unpleasant experience for the Newport skipper, who, only a few seasons ago, was playing regularly with mighty Aston Villa. Here he was now, 3-1 down to a team of amateurs.
Even in the last few seconds, Wycombe looked confident. Bullock delicately cleared one final moment of danger and ten seconds later referee Spencer brought this classic to an end. Small wonder the pitch was invaded by admiring fans at the end.
Wycombe v Newport - national reports and match ticket - 24 November 1973
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