by Ron Johnston
Ronnie Fodge took a deep breath.
The Churchville-Chili senior co-captain then looked at the ball at his feet and glared at Spencerport keeper Dave Kincaid standing at the goal line.
Backing up a couple of steps, Fodge waited for the ref’s signal to take the penalty kick. When he got it, he coolly made his approach, and struck the ball hard with his right foot.
Kincaid was unable to make the save as Fodge’s boot whistled past him like a missile and into the back of the net.
Fodge’s pressure-packed, early fourth-quarter PK conversion was both the equalizer and a spark as it enabled Paul Setter-coached C-C to rally to down the Ron Broadbent-led Rangers, 2-1, in a Class B Section V boys soccer championship match at Brockport State University on Saturday, November 6, 1965.
It was the Saints’ first Section V title in soccer. Earlier, the orange and black booters had claimed the school’s second Monroe County Class B crown.
C-C senior striker Joe Tramontana scored what proved to be the game-winner unassisted about five minutes after Fodge’s goal. Fodge’s score was his team-leading 15th of the season.
Earlier that week on Tuesday, November 2, Churchville-Chili had blanked Nunda, 3-0, in a semifinal at Honeoye Falls. With senior co-cap Denny Rose assisting, Fodge had a first-quarter goal, and Jim Loedel and Tramontana each added a fourth-quarter score to seal the deal. Loedel also got an assist on Tramontana’s net-bender.
Senior goalie Gary Wombwell was credited with his school-record 11th clean sheet of the campaign. (Wombwell would finish his career between the pipes with 19 shutouts, also a school record at the time.)
Spencerport advanced to the Section B final with a semi win against Wayland.
After a scoreless first half in the title tilt at Brockport, Spencerport – which was runner-up to C-C and the only team to defeat the Saints during regular-season play – staked itself to a 1-0 advantage in the third session when Ron Armstrong beat Wombwell with a shot.
But the Saints were not to be denied and got a break in the fourth on a Ranger infraction in the penalty area. On the ensuing PK, Fodge made it 1-1. And, after Tramontana’s goal, C-C – which ended up finishing the fall with a 16-1 overall record – never looked back and celebrated the victory.
Wombwell finished with nine saves in the goal while Kincaid had 13. Offensively, the Saints outshot the Rangers on the pitch, 24-16.
On defense, Churchville-Chili senior midfielder Dick Bareham marked and helped neutralize Spencerport’s Winsor Jenkins’ scoring capabilities. The Ranger standout scored 17 goals in his senior campaign.
After the season, Fodge and Rose each was an All-County honoree while Bareham and midfielder Jimmy Widener were second-teamers.Fast-forward to today, from that 1965 Churchville-Chili championship soccer team, Scott Alexander, Widener, Fodge, Wombwell, Setter, Tramontana, scorekeeper Steve Bush, and manager Kenny Fuller have all passed.
On the runner-up Spencerport side, Broadbent passed three years ago at the age of 86.
Ron Johnston is the author of
One-Game Wonder and a retired newspaper sports editor/reporter.
Key players in the game still living today are: (l-r) Spencerport’s Dave Kincaid and Winsor Jenkins and Churchville-Chili’s Dennis Rose and Dick Bareham.
Provided Photos
