Gauld put seal on Pilgrims' progress against Magpies

SUNDAY'S pairing of Dorchester Town and Plymouth Argyle in the first round of the FA Cup sees the clubs meet in official action for the first time in Dorset.

There has been one previous competitive meeting between the sides in 1957, in the midst of a bright period for a club who joined the Western League in 1947.

Having won promotion in 1950, Dorchester took the league title in 1954/55 and added extra silverware by lifting the Dorset Senior Cup.

The club have a certain pedigree in the FA Cup – and long before their former player Graham Roberts played in two finals for Tottenham Hotspur.

The season that brought them to Home Park was the fourth in succession Dorchester had qualified for the first round proper.

In 1954, a win against Bedford Town earned them a second round meeting with York City.

Although it ended in a 5-2 defeat, a crowd of 5,500 had crammed into Dorchester's old Avenue ground and witnessed a York team who went on a great run.

Although in Division Three North at the time, York became giant-killers after beating Spurs en route to a semi-final defeat against Newcastle United.

The following two seasons, there were defeats against Third Division South sides Norwich City and Queen's Park Rangers.

To the 1957.58 campaign and once again the Magpies were in the draw for round one.

This time they were drawn against Wycombe Wanderers, then plying their trade in the Isthmian League.

A five-goal thriller ensued, but Dorchester won the home tie 3-2 to set up a trip to Home Park.

The Pilgrims, who were managed by Jack Rowley, were just above halfway in the Division Three South table when the two sides locked horns.

Argyle's first round meeting in mid-November with Watford at Home Park had been a goal-fest.

Scoring his second goal for Argyle was Jimmy Gauld, a new acquisition from Everton.

His effort wrapped up a handsome 6-2 win after local hero Peter Anderson scored the opener.

That was followed by a double-strike by Bernard Barnes, a forward who was only given four league games, but made the most of a rare call-up to the first team.

Prolific scorer Wilf Carter also scored twice in a season where he bagged a more than impressive 32 goals.

For the second round clash with Dorchester, club officials announced admission prices would be at the same level for league games.

Every effort was made to oblige supporters making telephone enquiries for tickets to be collected on the day of the match.

Those fans had been asked to collect their tickets at least 20 minutes before kick-off as there had been recent instances of reserved tickets not being collected.

Fans from the Dorset club snapped up their allocation of 600 tickets in a total attendance of 18,305.

The game heralded a new era at Home Park, with the introduction of ball boys following a club appeal for young volunteers.

After a large response, nine boys were chosen, eight of whom would work on a rota basis at each first team game.

They were to see a striker at the peak of his form.

Carter ensured Argyle would not be making headlines for all the wrong reasons against the non-league side.

The man whom Rowley had signed from West Bromwich Albion scored the only FA Cup hat-trick of his career, and one of 10 in his Argyle career.

Harry Penk, possibly the shortest winger in the history of the club, opened the scoring.

Gauld, enjoying a new lease of life since signing for the Pilgrims, completed the success as Argyle ran out 5-2 winners.

Barker and Stroud, with a penalty, put an air of respectability to the score for the Magpies, who will be hoping to continue their good current home form on Sunday.

The reward for Argyle was a third round home fixture and an all-ticket match against Newcastle United.

Such was the demand for tickets against the 1955 FA Cup winners, nine agencies were set up around the city, as well as being sold at Home Park.

Grandstand tickets sold out as soon as they were made available. Terrace tickets were priced at two shillings (half price for boys) and two shillings and nine pence for the 'covered end'.

With a team containing names such as Ronnie Simpson, Jimmy Scoular, Bob Stokoe and George Eastham, it was one of the biggest clubs Argyle could have drawn.

In total, 38,129 tickets were sold, but they failed to witness a shock.

Although Carter was again sharp in front of goal, Newcastle's class prevailed and the Geordies strolled to a 6-1 win.

Argyle finished the season in third place in Division Three South, two points behind champions Brighton and Hove Albion.

Agonisingly, Brentford in second pipped Argyle to promotion on goal difference.