Tues 8th March 1969 Hutchinson Proves a Winner

Back to the days when most league football results were only announced on the late news bulletins, before teletext, live score updates , satellite TV or internet streaming.

Chelsea won 2-1 at Nottingham Forest, like most away matches of the time I've never seen the goals or any highlights so rely on the match report from Nigel Clarke;

Ian Hutchinson scored another goal last night to confirm that he is one of the most exciting discoveries of the season. Indeed for 45 minutes he threatened to beat Forest on his own and would not have been flattered by a hat-trick.

Early on Hutchinson skimmed the bar with a rasping drive after streaking 50 yards and shrugging off Bobby McKinlay and Terry Hennessey, who tugged and pulled at his shirt.

Then after causing Forest continual trouble with his persistence and speed he set up Chelsea's first goal in the 22nd minute. After Alan Birchenall had put him clear on the right Hutchinson cut the ball back from the byline for Birchenall to score. Six minutes later came his own goal, running onto a clever cross from John Hollins to head firmly past goalkeeper Alan Hill.

Seconds later he stunned Forest again by taking a cross from John Boyle and hitting a post. He need only to have followed up to touch in the rebound.

With the luxury of a two goal lead Chelsea could afford to take off the pressure and in the second half Forest came at the with renewed vigour and camped in the Chelsea half for long periods. But the well organised and disciplined defence held out until the 74th minute when Barry Lyons hit a volley that Peter Bonetti knocked onto a post but it rebounded against him and went into the net