On This Day (13th Nov 1973): Was This The Promotion Lift Off We Had Been Waiting For?
Yesterday at 01:00 AM
We went into this season as promotion favourites, but it seemed as if every team we played was keen to put one over us and our cup exploits were testing the stamina and capacity of the squad.
Our European adventure had come to an end in the Jose Alvalade Stadium in Lisbon on November 7th and having been involved in a thrilling three game League Cup marathon with Derby County towards the end of October, I was hoping we could turn our attention to our promotion campaign and get some real momentum going.
We had beaten Swindon at Roker Park the previous Saturday by a 4-1 scoreline that included a cracking hat trick by Dennis Tueart, and now we faced Bolton under the lights. I had a good feel about this game as I crested the Fulwell End steps and the "Roker Races" was being belted out by the singers and chanters.
Billy Hughes continued absence with injury led to a bit of speculation about who might play up front, our recent £65,000 signing from Everton Rod Belfitt was the player Bob Stokoe decided would partner Vic Halom.
Dave Watson had been called up to the England squad for the friendly match against Italy at Wembley, but there was some doubt as to whether Alf Ramsey would actually play him and some hope he might be released to play in our game. If not, with David Young also injured, I was hoping a player I had followed through his Youth team days, Mick McGiven would get the nod from Stokoe to play alongside Jackie Ashurst. I felt quite vexed for McGiven, who did not really get a decent opportunity under Stokoe in my opinion. All moot discussion really, as Ramsey did not pick Watson and released him to play for Sunderland. Though I did not know it then, Mick McGiven had sadly already played his last game for us.
Bolton had future Sunderland keeper Barry Siddall in goal, and a centre half I always admired in Paul Jones in a squad that was noted for its hard graft and defensive ability, making them hard to beat.
There was approximately 27,000 fans in Roker Park when this game kicked off, making a great noise as Sunderland picked up where they had left off against Swindon.
In a first half completely dominated by Sunderland, it was hard to judge whether the Trotters had come with the intention of 'parking the bus', or where they quite simply forced back by our relentless offensive play.
Ian Porterfield and Bobby Kerr were at their inspiring best and Dennis Tueart looked like he fancied another hat trick as they led the assault on Bolton's goal. Rod Belfitt and Vic Halom were also very effective as they terrorised the opposition in the air, with numerous crosses creating mayhem. Two big lads up front was not my ideal forward line, but I warmed to this as the half progressed.
It was a testament to Bolton's hard work and organisation that despite the siege, they looked to be heading into half-time without conceding, this despite losing Paul Jones to injury on fifteen minutes. But wait!
On forty-five minutes, Dennis Tueart was fouled again and Bobby Kerr took the kick. He flighted it perfectly to Watson, whose header was partially cleared, but it deflected to Vic Halom who unceremoniously bundled the ball in the back of the net to open the scoring, much to the relief of the crowd who were just starting to wonder if a goal would ever come. It was Halom's tenth goal of the season (he would go on to net twenty-one in total that campaign).
The second half resumed and the pattern of the game continued to see Sunderland doing most of the attacking as they looked to add to their tally.
Bolton did mount a couple of breakaways and Jimmy Montgomery blocked a shot from Gary Jones six yards out, and then followed this up a couple of minutes later saving a very good twenty-five-yard piledriver from substitute Malcolm Darling.
Sunderland though would not be denied and fifteen minutes from the final whistle, Rod Belfitt was flattened in the box to earn a stonewall penalty. Dennis Tueart slotted the spot kick with nonchalant ease, and Roker Park let rip in appreciation.
There was no let up from the Black Cats as the crowd bayed for more. We got our wish on eighty minutes with a superb strike from probably the best player on the night, Ian Porterfield.
Bobby Kerr sent over a wicked corner, that evaded all defenders and landed invitingly at Porterfield's left foot, twenty yards out. Porter' was one of those players who could make the game look easy, and he struck a beautiful left foot shot that gave Siddall no chance as it bulged his net. This was a fine goal and capped off an almost perfect night.
The victory saw us move up five places to ninth in the table on seventeen points. It was congested in the top third, Villa were second on twenty points. This was the first season that three teams would be promoted and I walked back to the bus parked in the harbour, absolutely convinced that we now had lift-off and we would be one of those three teams.
Sadly, it never happened. We never got higher than fifth after this game and finished a disappointing sixth, losing a key game to as dubious a penalty as I have ever seen, at Brunton Park toward the end of the season to Carlise who went on to be promoted to the top division. Unbeknown to most fans there was also some unrest in the squad who perhaps with some justification had felt a pay rise would have been in order. The board were adamant this was not happening blaming Government restrictions in light of the dire economic situation in the country.
Division Two — 13/11/1973 — Roker Park — 26,454
Goalscorers - Halom 45 mins; Tueart (pen) 74 mins; Porterfield 80 mins.
Sunderland - Montgomery; Malone; Bolton; Watson; Ashurst; Horswill; Kerr; Porterfield; Belfitt; Halom; Tueart. Sub - Lathan
Bolton Wanderers - Siddall; Ritson; McAllister; Rimmer; P Jones ( Darling 15 mins); Waldron; Lee; G Jones; Greaves; Olinyk; Nicholson.
