From the archives: Sensational season 1967/68 – February

Bayer 04 bombard the opposition goal for over an hour and the keeper Marwig shows what he can do particularly with long-range efforts from the Werkself. Then it finally changes on 67 minutes. Midfielder Helmut Brücken beats three Marl-Hüls players, puts in an accurate cross for Fredi Hennecken and he can choose his corner of the net. The dam is broken: Two minutes later, Günter Haarmann makes it 2-0 from a Klaus Görtz corner. Görtz with the third strike and Helmut Richert with the fourth round off the scoring at 4-0. As the two Rot-Weiß teams from Essen and Oberhausen also win their games, the Kirchberg group maintain a two-point lead.

On 11 February 1968 it's off to Herne to play Westfalia. At the Schloß Strünkede Stadium, the home team fighting relegation, are the underdogs against Bayer 04. And the team with a cross on their chests fulfil their role as favourites. The Werkself deservedly lead 2-0 after 20 minutes with goals from Helmut Richert and Karl-Heinz Brücken. Clearly on top against the opponents, Bayer 04 ease off and the battling Herne team pull a goal back just before half-time. A short and sharp half-time discussion brings the league leaders back to life. Straight after the restart, Richert makes it 3-0 with a shot from the edge of the box. The Herne striker Schubert intercepts a back pass from Helmut Röhrig, beats the keeper Hans Benzler to make it 3-2 with 15 minutes to play giving Westfalia renewed hope. But Bayer 04 are able to see home the victory.

Fifth-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium a week later. Two goals from centre forward Karl-Heinz Brücken in the first half seal a convincing 2-0 win in front of 11,000 spectators. A well organised defence comfortably maintains the advantage in the second half. When a 2-1 defeat for Rot-Weiß Essen at Victoria Köln is announced over the loudspeakers there is great celebration around the ground. The top of the table is as follows:

1. Bayer 04 (22 games) – 35:9 points

2. RW Oberhausen (23 games) – 33:13 points

3. RW Essen (22 games) – 31:13 points

And March brings the big games against the two direct rivals Oberhausen and Essen as well as a rearranged game at home to Preußen Münster. More on that next month.