Brentford (1) – QPR (2) – ‘And with only Two Minutes before the Interval, Pat Kerrins Crashed Home a Fine Right-Footed Shot’
London Challenge Cup Final
Team: Springett, Nelson, Woods, Temby, Powell, Crickson, Pounder, Dean, Petchey, Quinn, Kerrins
Attendance: 10,400
After defeating Arsenal 2-1 at Highbury in the London Challenge Cup semi-final, on 15th November 1955 Rangers travelled to Griffin Park for the final. The following match report appeared a few days later in the local Gazette:
‘Queen’s Park Rangers won the London Challenge Cup for the third time on Tuesday evening when they defeated their local rivals Brentford, by two goals to one in the final at Griffin Park.
After their great 6-2 victory over Chelsea in the semi-final, Brentford’s young reserve side were the favourites as trophy winners.
The Rangers, however, played the more direct football and took full advantage of the two chances that came their way.
The young Bees literally swarmed round their visitors’ goal in the first 15 minutes, and 20-year-old goalkeeper, Ron Springett, had a very busy time.
But with tall Mike Powell dominating the middle of the field, the Rangers gradually settled down to good hard play.
Rangers had some luck, however, when a header from the Brentford right-winger, Johnny Pearson hit the underside of the crossbar and rebounded into play.
But for the greater part of the game, the Bees finishing was poor and, surprisingly enough, worst offender was young Jimmy Towers.
Soon after Pearson’s piece of bad luck, Joby Dean seized upon a faulty back-pass by a Brentford defender and put the Rangers into the lead.
Then a minute later, and with only two minutes before the interval, Pat Kerrins crashed home a fine right-footed shot.
The second-half was mainly a battle between the Bees’ forwards and the Rangers’ slowly weakening defence. Yet again, the Rangers came out top in the majority of frays.
However, Brentford centre-forward George Francis, brought some life back into the disappointed home side with a fine goal eight minutes from time.
Francis also sent the ball crashing on to the bar a couple of minutes later.
The number of spectators who saw QPR repeat their win of 1932 and in 1938 was 10,400.’
The Daily Express reported that Jimmy Bain, Brentford’s assistant manager, must have spent a tough time in hospital last night listening to a private broadcast of the match.
‘Jimmy is recovering from an operation, and Brentford laid on their own commentary for the hospital patients.’
Four days later the R’s exited the FA Cup 0-2 at Southend.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for his assistance and also to Ray Marno for lending me the match programme)