MATCH REPORT FROM THE BROMSGROVE MESSENGER
Played at Bromsgrove on Saturday. Halesowen won the toss, and put the Rovers to face the sun. The visitors early forced a corner, but without result. Two corners to Bromsgrove were similarly ineffective, and a fine centre from Lockley was headed over by Satchwell. The visitors became dangerous, only to send behind. Good play by Jordan and Kent furnished a splendid opening for Satchwell, who headed the wrong side of the post. H. Willetts failed to find the mark with a long shot. The Bromsgrove right wing put in a fine run, but their centre went begging. The Bromsgrove right pair were again prominent, and following on Lockleys centre Best skimmed the bar with a beauty. A penalty was given against Bromsgrove for tripping. White took the kick, and Moore saved. Kent was pulled up for off-side when in a good position. Moore saved splendidly at the expense of a corner from Connop and Williams. Jordan narrowly missed scoring at the other end. A perfect centre from Lockley was headed away. Lockley was responsible for another lovely centre, and Jordan scored with a fast, low shot. Half an hour from the start Halesowen pressed, and Moore was heavily charged when playing the ball, but was able to resume after a short delay. A pass from Best gave Satchwell an opening, but he stumbled when about to shoot. Taylor saved from Kent, and Satchwell headed into the net from a pass by Lockley. Kent and Satchwell failed to improve upon a good centre from Lockley. Half-time: Bromsgrove 2, Halesowen 0.
Bromsgrove had altogether the better of the second half. Within a minute of resuming Satchwell scored for the home team. Satchwell and Kent netted the ball, but were off-side. Miller kicked high over and after a corner to Bromsgrove, Jordan scored, following good preparatory work by Lockley and Kent. Taylor saved well from Lockley. A corner fell to the visitors, and Moore saved at the expense of a corner. A. Nicholls beat the half-back, and tried a shot, which passed just over the bar. Kent went through and added a fifth goal. Halesowen came on, and Burnett headed away. Taylor threw away a long shot from Miller, and just managed to tip over the bar a beauty from A. Nicholls. The visitors custodian dealt with another from A. Nicholls, and the same player landed the ball on the top of the net. After A. Nicholls and Kent had skimmed the bar, Lockley ran in, and, beating the half and the back, scored a nice goal. Miller and Jordan missed by inches. Result: Bromsgrove 6, Halesowen 0.
Bromsgrove - Moore, Slade, Burnett, C. Nicholls, Miller, A. Nicholls; Lockley ; Kent, Satchwell, Jordan, Best.
Halesowen - Taylor; Jones, Winsper; White, J. Willetts, Wood; Williams, Cannop, Deeley, H. Willetts, and Hemming. Referee, Mr. P. Smets, Birmingham.
"THE SPECTATOR" OPINION COLUMN
Rovers met Halesowen on Saturday, and scored a substantial victory by a score of six goals to nil. Halesowen were without B. Keeling, Cooksey, and Danks, with the result that the team was somewhat re-arranged in the back and half-back line. For Bromsgrove a trial was given to Jordan, of Aston Manor, in the place of Ambler, at inside left, and the change proved an advantage to the side. The game was not one of the best, neither side giving an exhibition of good football. The Rovers faced a strong wind during the first half, and it was some time before they called upon the Halesowen defenders in any seriousness, and even then Satchwell let go two good opportunities of commencing the score. Gradually, however, the home side showed the better form, but no score resulted. A penalty was awarded to the visitors for tripping, but Moore saved his charge, and still no scoring was done. The last quarter of an hour of the half, however saw Satchwell open the scoring for Bromsgrove, and Jordan put the side two ahead before the interval.
In the second half the Rovers had by far the greater part of the play, and when Satchwell put through the visitors goal a minute from the restart no doubt existed as to the ultimate result of the game. Three more were added before the close and Bromsgrove quite deserved the win. Moore was badly knocked out by a charge during the first half, but he kept a good goal throughout. Slade was the better of a pair of fairly reliable backs, and among the Halves Miller was again prominent. The forward line showed a marked improvement, the left wing being much strengthened by the inclusion of Jordan; who put plenty of dash into his play and fed Best judiciously. Kent was as likely as ever, but was inclined to wander, while Lockley and Best made two capable outsides, both possessed of a good turn and speed.
The result removes the Rovers just out of the three bottom teams of the Combination, and their keenest competitors for the position are Cradley Heath, whom they have to meet in two matches this month. The Rovers will need all the points they can get to escape the process of election to the League again, with its usual attendant expenses. |