AP Leamington were involved in a two leg Southern League cup tie with Kidderminster Harriers at the end of August 1973. At the Windmill Ground ‘Twin strikers Norman Foster and Trevor Hubbard shared the goals to give AP a deserve 2-0 advantage from the first leg of this cracking Southern League Cup tie. And Kidderminster will need to show a startling improvement in Monday’s second leg if they are to retain any interest in this competition. AP, unbeaten in four matches, took time to settle against an uncompromising defence which tackled quickly and offered few opportunities.
But once Foster had
put them in front after 26 minutes there was only one side in it as the
Leamington outfit turned up the heat to threaten a runaway victory. Foster, who is looking a very fine player
this season, took his goal with remarkable coolness. Hubbard’s persistence prompted the chance and
the lanky striker made no mistake with a crushing angled drive which left
Hingley clutching at thin air.
The home side really got their game together in the second
half and Kidderminster were fortunate to see snap efforts from Foster and Micky
Ross smack against the bar and bounce to safety. But there was no preventing Hubbard’s goal
after 52 minutes after the centre forward turned and rifled a low shot past
Hingley from 20 yards. And the season’s
largest crowd of 420 were almost treated to two more goals in the last 15 minutes
as first Foster and then Bobby Hart saw shots well saved by the gallant
Hingley.’
In the return fixture ‘Kidderminster outplayed AP in the
first period and raced to a deserved 3-0 lead.
During the first half AP’s attacks were limited but on one occasion they
went close when a shot from Goodfellow crashed against the bar. After the break, Kidderminster went off the
boil and AP wasted no time in accepting their chances to hit back. They made it 3-1 in the 76th
minute when Foster found enough time to fire the ball past keeper Hingley
following a corner. Then, just when it
looked as if the clubs would have to fight it out in a replay, Leamington made
it 3-2 in the last minute to give them an aggregate 4-3 victory.’
In the league AP continued their early season form with a
2-1 victory over Witney Town who had joined the league ‘after huge successes in
the Hellenic League. Witney were the
first to attack but were generally subdued by the taller Leamington defenders.
In the sixth minute
the visitors nearly took the lead when Hubbard drifted in from the left and
fired a first time shot against an upward. Leamington were producing all the
better ideas, and it was hardly surprising when Foster headed them into the
lead in the 17th minute.
Horne was given far too much room on the right wing and his cross gave
Foster plenty of space and time in which to score. And it was Foster who assured Leamington full
points when he netted in the second half.’
