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Wanderers FA Amateur Cup run of 1930/31
Games so far:
1st Round - London Caledonians 1 Wycombe Wanderers 4
2nd Round - Wycombe Wanderers 6 Walthamstow Avenue 1
3rd Round - Wycombe Wanderers 6 Romford 2

1930-1931 A 2-2 home draw with Dulwich Hamlet in the Isthmian League was sandwiched in-between Wanderers third round thrashing of Romford and the quarter-final encounter away to Metropolitan Police. The Wanderers selection committee for the tie at Imber Court sat on Monday 16th February and made only change from the previous round with Charlie Simmons being chosen to replace Arthur Greenwell. It was the task of the committee to also arrange the matchday transport to Surrey. Messrs Allen and O'Gorman were put in charge of the 25 seater team coach that would be provided by W.Crooks and was due to leave the Gas Works at 12.45pm. A seperate 21 seater coach was also arranged to take "players' lady friends and others.". Meanwhile, Wanderers supporters also turned out in force for the tie with an estimated 3,000 of the 5,000 attendance cheering on the lads from High Wycombe. They witnessed one of the most grueling games that the Wanderers had played that season.


F.A. Amateur Fourth Round proper - Saturday 21st February 1931
Metropoliton Police versus Wycombe Wanderers
At Imber Court - Attendance: 5,000

Bill Brown - Wycombe Wanderers FC 1930-1931Regular Bucks Free Press reporter ‘Touchline’ reported on the tie and commenting on the opposition said, "Why the Police are in the Spartan League passes comprehension. They are, without doubt, one of the best amateur teams. They are a heavy side, using their weight to their best advantage and coupling it with remarkable speed."

Wycombe won the toss which forced the Police to play direct into the sun. The home side went straight onto the attack leaving the visitors with little time to settle. Cox put in a last ditch tackle on Haldin and then the ball flashed across the goalmouth only for Haldin to fire over the bar.

Wycombe fought back and a neat move between Badrick and Vernon saw the later fire straight at Police glovesman Moody from 20 yards. The aggressive tactics of the home side saw them seize back the initiative and Cox again defended well before Kipping punched away to successive corners. Brown then found winger Simmons who centered for Braisher who shot over the bar.

Wycombe attacked down the wings for a change and it paid immediate dividends as the Blues forced a corner. Britnell curled in the dead ball and in the ensuing melee Bill Brown drove the ball home. It may have been slightly against the run of play but the Wanderers had a priceless lead with 27 minutes on the clock. Brown then flicked on a free-kick from Badrick which almost beat Moody and then Braisher was just beaten to the ball by the alert Moody who kicked clear from the edge of the area.

The Police quickly played the ball forward and the ball found itself to V. Avey who smashed the ball into the corner of the net. Kipping had little chance of saving it and the Wanderers had led for just six minutes. Vernon then went agonisingly close with a 20-yarder that clipped the foot of the post. Kipping then managed to keep hold of a difficult shot from Bateman.

Half-time: Metropolitan Police 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1

The home side began the second half playing some aggressive football and immediately scorned a golden opportunity through Dyer and then Avey found himself in space but skied the ball over the bar. Wycombe responded and Moody had to save from Braisher and then Brown in the space of two minutes. The home side found themselves camped in their own goalmouth for almost five minutes but couldn’t find the crucial goal. Police goalkeeper Moody was clearly feeling the pressure as he ran out of his area before the clearing the ball from his hands.

The game became a midfield battle, but the football continued to be extremely fast and the score remained level after 90 minutes. Thirty minutes of extra time followed but neither side could find the breakthrough and after 120 minutes of football the referee brought the tie to an end, with a replay at Loakes Park to follow.

Captain John Timberlake had a fine game, encouraging his players but towards the end of the game he picked up a knock and limped through extra-time as almost a passenger. Despite that it had been a game played in the best possible spirit. With home advantage, the Wanderers were hoping it would be sufficient to enable them to reach the semi-finals of the Amateur Cup for the first time in the history of the club.

Final score (after extra time) : Metropolitan Police 1 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Wycombe Team: Kipping, Crump, Cox, Timberlake, Badrick, Rance, Simmons, Brown, Vernon, Braisher and Britnell.
Scorer: Brown 27

Metropolitan Police Team: Moody, Woodcock, Belt, Rhodes, Ivey, Edermaniger, Dyer, Bateman, Avey, Haldin, Malkin.
Scorer: Avey 33



The replay was set to take place at Loakes Park on Saturday 28th February 1931. Click here for memories of that game.

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