OFFICIAL CHAMBERS RESIGNS
Weymouth 4 Yeltz 1
02 September 2000
The club has released the following press release:
Halesowen Town FC Official Club Press Statement "Following Saturday's 4-1 defeat at Weymouth John Chambers has resigned. The club have accepted his resignation. Assistant Manager Alan Moore has been put in temporary charge of team affairs."
The Weymouth game was one of the worst from a Halesowen team that many people can remember - our goal was a first half equaliser from Stuart Payne - but then we went down 4-1 to give Weymouth their 1st win of the season, and our 4th defeat out of 5.
We're not bottom of the table as Tamworth don't have any points at all, but it's already looking like we're in for a long, hard relegation struggle.
Tuesday brings old rivals Burton Albion to The Grove in a warm-up for our FA Cup game later in the month. I've decided to concentrate on the cups this season.
Match Report from Dave Johnson
Weymouth: Potter; Cameron, Hale, Hare, Browne, Cross (Funnell 15), Gammon (Spiller 78), Hutchinson (Nicholson 76), Robotham, Underhay, Tilley
Halesowen Town: Quy; Wood, Owen, Comyn, Ford, Cartwright, Collins, Mansell (Dodd 65), Griffiths (Piggott 61), Payne, Hines. Sub: Lloyd
Booked: Wood, Hale, Payne, Collins Referee: B. Baker (Andover) Attendance: 730
John Chambers resigned as manager of Halesowen Town after two years in charge at The Grove following another disturbing defeat against a Weymouth side without a win and suffering from a number of key injuries. Harry Rudge would have called it a "bad day at Black Rock" with another chapter in the history of HTFC about to close and all the pre-season promise finally turning to ashes.
One bright spot was the form of goalkeeper Andy Quy who put in an another excellent display for the Yeltz. The tone of play for the afternoon was set in the 5th minute when Quy saved Martin Underhay's 15 yard drive. Quy went on to make further tremendous first half saves from Underhay and Darren Robotham with the visiting defence unable to close down the Weymouth attack. However, Quy had no chance as Weymouth took the lead in the 31st minute with the unmarked Ian Hutchison powerfully heading Anthony Tilley's corner home from 12 yards.
In truth, apart from some early neat play, Halesowen lacked the organisation or balance to pose a serious threat to Weymouth, registering only one shot on target all afternoon. Ross Collins did well to rob the Weymouth midfield and set up Stuart Payne to easily slot home an equaliser in the 43rd minute.
The brief period of hope for the Yeltz faithful disappeared as Weymouth took second half control and went back in front after five minutes of the restart. Quy saved Matthew Hare's goalbound drive from Anthony Tilley's freekick but the defence failed to clear the danger and Robotham was able to latch onto the rebound.
John Chambers introduced Garry Piggott for Michael Griffiths and Andy Dodd brought short Craig Mansell's return to Weymouth, but the substitutions failed to breathe life into the Yeltz who fell further behind to two late goals. Matthew Gammon played a neat interchange with Robotham in the 72nd minute and Matthew Hale had the easy task of beating the exposed Quy from close range. It was no surprise when Hale added a fourth goal five minutes from time after being set up by Robotham again as Halesowen's heads dropped in despair at their dreadful start to the new season.