TORQUAY WIN THE DEVON CUP

• FIRE IN THE GRAND-STAND

A fire broke out in the main grandstand at Plainmoor after the Devon Professional Cup Final there on Wednesday April 30th, Torquay having beaten Exeter City by 3 goals to nil to win the Cup. The fire started in the boiler room next to the visitors' dressing room and was well alight by the time it was noticed. The manager of Torquay United, Mr. Eric Webber, trainers David Pryde and H.Dellow, vice-chairman Mr. John Farrell, and several supporters, made a chain from the dressing-room baths to the stand, and by the time the Fire Brigade arrived the fire was under control. All Torquay's spare kit, track-suits, and a lot of other equipment in the dressing-rooms, valued at about £500, was lost. The visitors' dressing-room will probably have to be broken down and rebuilt.

As regards the football it was not a very interesting final tie, and the City suffered another injury.

MacDONALD HURT

MacDonald, who has had his share of misfortune in the past, injured his left ankle in a tackle with Mills in the 16th minute, and spent the rest of the match on the left wing before going off the field for good before the end.

TORQUAY:- Wakeham; Bettany, H.Smith; Lewis, G. Northcott, Collins; Bond, T.Northcott, Baxter, Mills, Pym. CITY:- Hunter; Foley, MacDonald; Butterworth, Harvey, Mitchell; Robinson, Hill, Rapley, Churms, Rees.

Not until four minutes after half-time did Torquay go ahead, through Mills, who slammed in a first-time drive from Bond's centre. The City made several chances, and missed them all, as they played as well as Torquay, but in the 76th minute T.Northcott scored the second goal from a penalty after Foley had brought down Pym. Almost on time T.Northcott ran through to hit the third goal into the bottom corner of the net. Attendance 2,235.

EAST DEVON SENIOR CUP FINAL St James Park April 30 1958

Sidmouth Town 2 Friernhay 1 aet

Scorers

Sidmouth:- Dave Rew, Jack Matthews

Friernhay Terry Atkins

Paper report:

In the closing minutes of extra time Sidmouth Town snatched the winning goal to defeat Friernhay 2-1 in the final of the East Devon Senior cup at Exeter Citys ground St James Park last night (30 April 1958). A free kick just outside the penalty area was taken by Vincent, which was blocked, but Jack Matthews rammed home the rebound. When Friernhays Terry Atkins closed in from the right, Bess headed away a dangerous looking attack. The shooting of the Friernhay attack was poor and when Atkins put Mills through he shot well wide. A long ball up the Friernhay defence was collected by the burly Dave Rew and beating Joe Mills he cooly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper Gerald May to put Sidmouth ahead. May held a long shot from Hart, and Bess was again on hand to head away a shot by Ron Atkins. Rew and Trivett combined well and set up a Sidmouth attack which saw Vincent shoot wide. The Friars had bad luck when Terry Atkins their most capable forward burst through and cracked the ball against the crossbar. Friernhay mounted more attacks but Wood denied Richards and Dommett. Friernhay defender Joe Mills was a big stumbling block for Sidmouth. Richards shot wide for Sidmouth, and then when Terry Atkins dribbled through his cross pass was fiddled away by other Friernhay forwards in front of goal. A long clearance by Ron Isaacs found Good who headed forward for Terry Atkins who equalised with a fine cross shot. Friernhay moved their forwards around in extra time but to no avail their best chance coming from a free kick which Isaacs hit wide.

Then came the winning goal with minutes remaining, and the trophy was presented to Sidmouth skipper Bess by Mr A.S. Line chairman of Exeter City F.C

Southern League 
3rd May 1958
Chelmsford v Exeter City Reserves 


The last of football for this season was played on May 3rd by Exeter City Reserves, who were beaten 1-0 by Chelmsford at Chelmsford.