SIX OF THE BEST BUT NOT ENOUGH

As Tottenham have avoided the embarrassment of being beaten by Colchester and Portmouth and Bournemouth are facing up to one another, it is the Fourth round of the FA Cup. As snow and hail fall over the Pennines, some games are in doubt of finishing. In 1961 during a Fourth Round tie on January 28th an abandonment prevented Dennis Law from registering a record personal goal feat.

Playing on a very wet Kenilworth Road, Luton Town were taking on Manchester City on a quagmire. The clouds cleared and the ref gave the game his blessing and so Luton quickly went 2-0 up after 18 minutes. Alec Ashworth scored both.

Dennis Law pulled one back quite quickly and by half time he had tucked away a hat trick. Three more for City's wirey forward came in the second half, between the 51st and 66th minutes. Seconds later, unfortunately for him, Law's record meant nothing, as the referee abandoned the game with rain falling in a torrent and the pitch reduced to a swamp.

Had this game finished, Law would have been the FA Cup leading scorer in the 20th Century. As it was Ian Rush pipped him with 44 goals scored with Liverpool 39, Chester 4 and Newcastle 1.

There were puddles, with water over the boots and it was decided to play the game four days later, on February 1st. The pitch this time was described as a "pudding" but home team Luton adjusted and Alec Ashworth, who had scored two in the first match, opened the scoring for the Hatters. They went 2-0 up again. Law grabbed one back, but Ashworth was having none of that and he made it 3-1.

Luton went on to lose to Barnsley, in the next round, who then lost to losing cup finalists Leicester City, who were beaten by Spurs of course, who did the Double.