AP Leamington faced what was thought to be ‘a difficult game’ against sixth placed Bromsgrove Rovers in December 1973. ‘Jimmy Knox drafted in former Rugby Town striker Adrian Stewart at centre forward having signed him from Nuneaton Borough the night before the game. The new player was quickly into action with a couple of neat passes and after 10 minutes he helped make a goal for Norman Foster. Bobby Horne put over a low cross and Stewart challenged the goalkeeper to leave Foster with a simple tap in for his 19th goal of the season. Talbot then put Stewart through with a delightful ball and Hooper was forced to make a fine diving save.
Rovers, who were playing in front of new manager Tom
Wainwright for the first time, showed neat touches but their attack lacked bite
and they offered little threat. Most of
the play was centred around the Bromsgrove goal and with more aggression AP
could have stretched their lead. Talbot
was always quick to get in a shot, however, and Hooper was kept busy.
Foster rammed home his second goal within a minute of the
re-start, beating Hooper to Lee’s cross.
Soon afterwards he should have completed his hat-trick but made a hash
of meeting Stewart’s centre. Stewart
then got up well to head against a post, as AP continued to press forward. Bobby Horne was rewarded for an unselfish
game with the final goal. Bromsgrove
were a bitter disappointment. The
wonder of it was that Brakes only managed three goals, but it was a comfortable
stroll for stylish AP Leamington who now have their sights on promotion from
Division 1 North.’
AP Leamington boss Jimmy Knox took ‘his full squad of 18
players to Bletchley for another joust against a club in the top half of the
Division 1 table. There are no injury
problems. Leamington made most of the
early running but they found the Bletchley defence in good form. Adrian Stewart managed to squeeze in a shot
after three minutes but he fired the ball well wide of the Bletchley goal. Leamington forced three corners in the first
ten minutes and from the third Norman Foster sent a fierce header flashing wide
of the post.
Bletchley hit back
immediately with Jeff Weeks nodding the ball down into a crowded
goalmouth. Bobby Horne came back to cut
out the threat. Mike Bailey, making his
final appearance for Bletchley before moving to Wales broke though on the left
and crossed but Weeks’ header fell safely into the hands of goalkeeper Dave
Garrett. The first worthwhile effort
came after 15 minutes when Lines skimmed the top of the Leamington bar with a
tremendous shot from 25 yards.
Bletchley opened the
scoring in the second half when Doug Griffin deflected a cross from Lines into
his own net. Leamington fought hard to
get back into the game but some desperate defensive work by Bletchley kept them
at bay.
Brakes were back on level terms after 11 minutes when Foster
slipped the ball past Weeks and Bletchley defender Graham Wear helped it over
the line in an attempt to clear.
Goalkeeper Dennis Wells robbed Leamington of a win with a brilliant
penalty save after Adrian Stewart was floored In the box. Wells came to Bletchley’s rescue by pushing
John Brady’s fiercely hit spot kick over the bar.’
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