ROVERS CUP HOPES DASHED
---------------------------
CLEAR-CUT WIN FOR HALESOWEN
---------------------------
FORWARDS DISAPOINT AGAIN
---------------------------
Bromsgrove Rovers' last hope of gaining any of the honours of the game this season were shattered at the Grove, Halesowen, on Saturday, when Halesowen knocked then out of the Worcestershire Senior Cup. A promising start by the Greens fizzled out in the second half when Halesowen took command, and the home side might well have substantially increased their lead but for a sterling display by Skitt. A strong wind blowing diagonally across the pitch, helped or hindered each side in turn, and while Rovers took some advantage in the first half to exert the greater pressure, they could not find a way to score nor make more than one worth-while shot. Halesowen led by a "wonder" goal at the interval and after the break the Rovers failed to adjust their tactics to suit the conditions. That coupled with an inferior display by the forwards, left Bromsgrove an obviously well beaten side, to the disappointment of the 200 or so supporters who made the journey from Bromsgrove. In previous cup-ties with Halesowen, the Rovers had won twice (home and away) and lost a Worcestershire Senior Cup-tie there in 1926. Since then they had won seven, lost six and drawn one of 14 Birmingham Combination games at Halesowen.
If enthusiasm could have claimed any tangible reward, then Rovers would have been well on the way to victory in the first 15 minutes. Their forwards were especially energetic from the start, but lacked the guile to make an opening which could be providing a scoring chance. Smith was the best of the marksmen with a shot that Brookes managed to push round the post, and while Cave steered a high ball into the goalkeeper's hands, Williams and Pipe suffered from turned-up toes with obvious results. The Halesowen attack found the going hardagainst a strong wind and Clarke failed to realise on a grand opportunity when he continued to dribble and was robbed, A well placed pass by centre-forward Griffiths brought the youthful Hart into the picture, but he, too cleared the bar with plenty to spare. Headers from Okey and Smith found Brookes alert, and when Hames tried a long distance effort he, too, ballooned the ball. Rovers continued to enjoy an equal share of the exchanges, but after an impressive onslaught by the Halesowen attack, inside-right Dugmore gave then the lead after 26 minutes with a terrific shot from the most acute angle. Skitt thought he had everything under control, but the ball passed between him and the post like the proverbial "greased lightning". Clarke almost added another a minute later with a fast grounder, but Skitt picked the ball off the line in the nick of time. Having got their noses in front, Halesowen continued to pile on the pressure, and when the inside men moved to right and left in order to fool Rovers' defence, Wainwright nipped in to clear a dangerous situation. Rovers hit back through Pipe who first made a solo run, only to be crowded out near goal, and then got in a shot which caused the 'keeper no difficulty. A breif raid on the home right brought a centre from Hart which passed across the face of goal and Stanton shepherded the ball out of the area before setting the forwards on the move. With only a small slice of luck Rovers could have been on level terms at the interval, for it was sheer weight of numbers in the goalmouth which kept out shots from Cave and Smith before Okey put over the top. There was a very worthy effort by the right wing which Smith failed to turn to good account.
With the wind in their favour Halesowen went all out to consolidate their lead, and Skitt was in action on three occasions in quick succession. Meaney caught him out of position, but Williams kicked off the goal-line. After several attempts to clear had been driven back by the wind, Rovers' forwards got to grips with the Halesowen defence, and Cave shot the wrong side of the post. More preesure followed as the home supporters appealed for more goals and when Dugmore responded, Skitt dived to save a low shot. Rovers' defence might have saved themselves had they kept the ball low and found their colleagues with more accurate passes, instead of giving the ball air, and the forward deteriorated through a lack of cohesion. Shots from Dugmore and Coley went dangerously close when the former nipped through following a faulty clearance, and the latter skimmed the angle of the woodwork with Skitt out of position. Griffiths was next to call on Rovers' keeper with a shot which bounced up through his hands and over his head, but with a quick turn he grabbed the ball as it was entering the net. A breif raid by Rovers brought a shot by Okey which Brookes was lucky to keep out, and, when Halesowen replied, Clarke was loth to shoot after cutting in from the wing. The game developed into a one-sided affair with Halesowen doing almost all the attacking, and although Hart got in three good shots, Skitt rose to the occasion. Smith temporarily lost interest in the game when he took the full force of Coley's body on his head as both men fell. He recovered and made an unchallenged run after taking over the leadership from Cave. It was a short-lived offensive, however, for Griffiths returned the compliment with a run which took him over the line and wide of the goal after tricking his way. His next move took him out to the right, and from there he put over a centre which Clarke literally carried through as he dashed into the goal to the surprise of Skitt - and everyone else.
Halesowen : Brookes; Lashford, Carter; Coley, Jones, Payne; Hart, Dugmore, Griffiths, Meaney, Clarke.
Bromsgrove : Skitt; Stanton, Williams; Lowery, Wainwright, Hames; Hamblett, Pipe, Cave, Smith, Okey.
Referee : Mr. W. Johnston-Wilson |