MATCH REPORT FROM THE BROMSGROVE MESSENGER
Played at Halesowen on Saturday, before 300 spectators. The home team were first to press, and after Batty had grazed the bar, Williams kicked behind. With a good opening Summers gave Savage a splendid chance to open the score, but he shot weakly into Baptists hands. Corbett made a pretty run and centre, presenting Henn with a capital opening, but he shot yards over the bar. Batty missed by a few inches with a fast drive. Baker put in a good run and centre, from which Nock registered what proved to be the only goal of the match. The home team pressed hard for some time, and had it not been for Hobday they would certainly have had the lead. Savage worked through well and looked like scoring, but Bache robbed him in the nick of time. Batty and Corbett worked through well, but the latter shot weakly behind. Baptist made a good save from Savage, while Summers mis-kicked with a splendid opening. Hobday brought off two splendid saves from Williams and Sharpe. Half-time: Bromsgrove 1, Halesowen 0.
On resuming, the home team pressed hard, and came very near to scoring. Hobday making some splendid saves. Nock hit the upright after good work by Baker. Sharp miskicked with only the goalkeeper to beat. Williams worked through well, but Barrett cleared in pretty fashion. Result: Bromsgrove 1. Halesowen 0.
Halesowen - Baptist; Bache, W. Grumbley; Danks, Gilbert, J. Grumbley; Williams, Henn, Sharp, Batty, and Corbett.
Bromsgrove - Hobday; Penny, Barrett; Bowker, Stiles, Michael; Fryer, Summers, Nock, Savage, and Baker.
"THE SPECTATOR" OPINION COLUMN
Bromsgrove Rovers brought somewhat of a surprise packet home with them from Halesowen, where they were successful in their first encounter with the Club of that name by a goal to nil. The visitors made one or two alterations in the team. Hobday was tried in goal in the place of Winsper, Bowker returned to the half-back line, and the forwards included Summers and Nock, the last named being in the centre. Nock hails from Birmingham, and Summers is a local player. In one respect it may be said that the same was as even as the score indicates, and in aother it may be said with equal confidence that the play was very one-sided. This appears at first a bit Irish, but as a matter of fact the Rovers had much the better of the exchanges in the first half, and Halesowen claimed most of the game in the second.
Bromsgrove certainly owe their victory to the defence, for the second half consisted for the most part of a bombardment of the Rovers goal, and had it not been for the good defence of Hobday, Barrett, and Penny, the goals against the visitors would have been numerous. The defence are to be congratulated upon their capital display, but the same cannot be said of the forwards, where Baker was in easy first among an otherwise rather mediocre lot. Nock and Summers did fairly. In the halves Michael was again the best of the trio, and was a glutton for work.
The victory improves the Club's appearance in the table, and should give encouragement to the eleven in the match at home to-day against Bournbrook.
On Wednesday night Mr. James Powell (the Chairman of the Rovers Committee) presented to the Rovers Reserve players of last season the medals won by them in the Worcester Junior Cup and the Bromsgrove League competitions. |