For Sunderland manager Alan Brown, the decision to stick with Nic Sharkey up front paid off, even after a costly mid-season signing. Defender Andy Kerr, alongside Cec Irwin, was called down from Sunderland to join a team that impressed at Swansea two days before. Colin Nelson held his spot at right-back, keeping the lineup consistent despite a hectic schedule of three games in seven days.
Heading into this match, Sunderland sat second in Division Two with 50 points. Stoke City led with 51 points but had played one fewer game. Chelsea and Huddersfield were tied for third and fourth on 48 points, with Huddersfield hosting lower-table Portsmouth later that evening. A win for Huddersfield coupled with a Sunderland loss would leapfrog them into second place.
Chelsea were idle on this day, and after facing Sunderland at Roker Park the following Saturday, they would host Portsmouth in what looked like a promotion decider. The race at the top was incredibly tight.
Sunderland (Photo by Barratts/PA Images via Getty Images) | PA Images via Getty Images” />
Sunderland arrived at Kenilworth Road unbeaten in four games, with two wins and two draws. Striker Johnny Crossan was in red-hot form, netting six goals in his previous three appearances.
Luton Town, fighting to avoid relegation alongside Charlton and Walsall, desperately needed a win to keep their survival hopes alive until the final day. Young forward Ron Davies, a Welsh talent with exceptional heading ability, led the Hatters’ attack. He would later become Division One’s top scorer for Southampton from 1966 to 1968, having bagged 21 goals in 32 games for Luton that season despite their eventual drop.
A crowd of over 16,000 packed Kenilworth Road, joined by Chelsea manager Tommy Docherty and his squad. Sunderland’s physical resolve was tested early, as Luton targeted Montgomery, Sharkey, Herd, and Anderson with aggressive challenges within the first five minutes. This roughhouse approach had rattled Sunderland in past encounters, but Alan Brown’s side had evolved into a disciplined, gritty unit that refused to be intimidated.
Sunderland’s defense, led by the outstanding Hurley and McNab, kept Luton’s forwards at bay, limiting them to occasional long-range efforts. Stan Anderson, arguably the man of the match, linked defense and attack with clever passes despite absorbing some harsh treatment from the Hatters.
The front five of Sharkey, Crossan, Mulhall, and company were eager to break through. Sunderland caused chaos from corners and free kicks, often targeting Hurley at the back post. Although no goals came early, the breakthrough felt inevitable.
It arrived in the 21st minute, but not from where fans or Luton’s defense expected. A corner kick saw Hurley race to the back post, dragging defenders with him. Winger Jimmy Davison, spotting the commotion, played a short ball to Nic Sharkey, who unleashed a ferocious header from 12 yards. Luton goalkeeper Baynham got a hand to it, but the ball still bulged the net.
Sunderland continued to dominate, playing sharp, fast football despite Luton’s desperate defending. At halftime, Alan Brown might have wished for a second goal, given his team’s overwhelming control.
Luton came out with renewed purpose in the second half, but within 30 seconds of the restart, they were two goals down. From the kick-off, Anderson lofted a dangerous ball down the center. Sharkey, defying his height, challenged half-back Kelly, and the ball deflected awkwardly to Luton full-back Daniel. His clearance fell to George Mulhall, who glided a shot goalwards that caught Baynham off guard, bouncing underneath him as he dived.
Sunderland’s third goal arrived six minutes before the final whistle, a cheeky finish that capped their deserved performance. With the ball upfield, half-back Kelly bent down to tie his bootlace. Sharkey, lurking with intent, was spotted by Anderson, who pinged a 40-yard pass into the space between Kelly and the goalkeeper. Sharkey pounced, blasting a right-footed shot past Baynham to seal a comprehensive victory.
The watching Chelsea squad and manager had just seen a very different Sunderland side to the one they beat at Stamford Bridge in September. They left Kenilworth Road wondering how to stop the Black Cats in front of a full house at Roker Park.
This result lifted Sunderland to first place. Huddersfield’s 3-1 home defeat to Portsmouth left a three-team race for two promotion spots between Stoke, Chelsea, and Sunderland heading into the final weekend.
Argus, writing in the Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail, noted: “Sunderland are not there yet. They need at least one point out of Chelsea on Saturday to make sure. But the manner in which they stormed to a clear-cut triumph over Luton Town at Kenilworth Road last night… offers the assurance that they are in the right frame of mind.”
Everything was to play for the following Saturday at a packed Roker Park against Tommy Docherty’s Chelsea.
Division Two
Date – 13 May 1963
Venue – Kenilworth Road
Attendance – 16,419
Luton 0 – 3 Sunderland
Goal scorers – Sharkey 21′, 84′; Mulhall 46′