From the archives: Sensational season 1967/68 – March

Rot-Weiss Essen provide the opposition on 3 March 1968. With a four-point lead and the certainty of being in good shape, the Werkself run onto the pitch full of concentration but in relaxed mood in front of 25,000 spectators at a packed Georg Melches Stadium. RWE are on top in the first and last minutes of this dramatic match. Essen take the lead on five minutes. However, led by the very impressive Klaus Görtz, Bayer 04 go on the attack. The midfielder directs his teammates brilliantly and, again and again, strides through the middle, often rounding three or four opponents before testing the Essen keeper Fred Bockholt with long-range efforts. Helmut Richert deservedly levels at 1-1 on 53 minutes when he converts a cross from the right by Helmut Brücken. The Werkself are on fire after that. Again and again, they threaten the Essen defence and make the most of their outstanding fitness. Bayer 04 produce a champion performance – but end up losing 2-1 due to a last-minute header.

A week later the Rot-Weiß team from Oberhausen visit the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The team in second really turn the heat on the Werkself from the first minute. Bayer 04 look nervous in front of 10,000 spectators. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen deservedly take the lead on 43 minutes. The Werkself have more of the game in the second half and Bayer 04 fans celebrate the equaliser scored by Gunter Haarmann on 76 minutes. Time for a victory and the Oberhausen goal is besieged. Then comes a setback on 85 minutes: A counter-attack ends with the Rot-Weiß team again taking the lead. After that the Werkself only managed to hit the bar with a shot from Klaus Görtz. Within a week both top matches are lost 2-1 late on and Bayer 04 are now second to Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. A few days later in the rearranged match against Preußen Münster, on a Wednesday, Bayer 04 have the opportunity to regain top spot in the table with a victory. However, the Westphalian side take the lead in the first half. Fredi Hennecken levels just after the restart but there are no more goals. The usually so reliable striker Hennecken misses a penalty.

Four days later there is an away game at Hamborn 07. Bayer 04 are able to win this important match with great effort with the only goal of the game score by Fredi Hennecken and thereby prevent dropping out of the top group. After a somewhat fortunate goalless draw at Victoria Köln in front of over 10,000 spectators – with the Werkself arriving just a few minutes before the start of the game at the Cologne cycling track because the team bus had a breakdown on the way to the game so the players had to continue the journey using several taxis. The picture at the top of the table after a win for Rot-Weiss Essen in Lünen and a defeat for Oberhausen at Arminia Bielefeld is as follows:

1. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen 39:15
2. Bayer 04 Leverkusen 39:15
3. Rot-Weiss Essen 39:15
4. DSC Arminia Bielefeld 35:17
5. VfL Bochum 1848 35:19

On 31 March 1968, fourth placed Arminia Bielefeld visit Leverkusen. Arminia look for their last chance to take one of the coveted top two spots that qualify for the play-off games for promotion to the Bundesliga. In an evenly balanced game, the Werkself take an early lead in front of 13,000 spectators at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium with a goal from Helmut Richert. The ball is in the back of the Bielefeld net after just two minutes. And when Fredi Hennecken doubles their lead just after half-time, the relief in Leverkusen can be felt right up to the top floor at the Bayer tower block. After matchday 28, the battle between five teams as drops to fight out between three. As Bochum also lose against Schwarz-Weiß Essen. As a result of Rot-Weiss Essen dropping a point in Marl-Hüls, Rot-Weiß Oberhausen and Bayer 04 are again level on points at the top of the table in the Regional League West.

TV highlights of games in March 1968