Match Preview | Barwell (H)

Halesowen welcome a much changed Barwell for the first home game of the season

Written by Ben Ditchfield

For the first time since the 19th of April, Southern League Premier Division Central football returns to The Grove, as we welcome a revolutionised Barwell in the first of 21 home games in the league this season.

Head to Head

This will be the 15th all time meeting between the two sides, but the Yeltz have only won four of those contests. In fact we have won just one of our last seven dating back to August 2017 against the Canaries. The only win coming last year in the 5-0 away win. Hopefully I have jinxed it with this next stat, but only three of the previous 14 meetings have featured more than two goals. The last time we scored more than once at home against the Canaries was New Year’s Day of 2015, and we have played them six times at The Grove since. The most recent meeting continued that trend and came in our penultimate home game of last season, where 17th placed Barwell arrived to the 3rd placed in the table Yeltz. In a game that Russ Penn remarked “I thought we played well and did everything other than score”, the Yeltz completely dominated the contest particularly in the first half. Six key efforts from Ryan Wollacott, ex Yeltz man Ryan Wynter, and two shots from Ben Cassidy and McKauley Manning, one of which hit the post from the latter went begging in the first 45 alone. In the second half, we were a bit more sloppy but continued to put the visitors on the back foot. Former Yeltz man Kieren Donnelly almost benefited from a keeper howler, while he also hit a free header over the bar. In stoppage time, a Cassidy cross went straight along the goal line where three Yeltz players failed to turn the ball home which meant the goal somehow finished goalless. It was just not our day in April, but hopefully this Tuesday night will be different.


Russ Penn’s Thoughts

I thought all subs on Saturday made a great impact and I was delighted with the reaction at half time. The squad we have put together is competitive and we have competition for places all over the park. I still think we are 1 or 2 short of where we want to be. Harry Burns, Jim Kellermann and Richard Gregory are the latest additions. They all bring their own qualities and I’m looking forward to working with them all. Moving on to Barwell. A Jimmy Ginnelly’s side are always difficult to play against. They do their due diligence and always pose a threat. But at home we must take the game to them and anyone who comes to The Grove. We had a fantastic home record last season and we’re looking to continue that from Tuesday night.


Oppostition Preview

New Arrivals

Barwell have made the joint most new signings this summer, alongside Redditch United and Statford Town. Despite this, one of their new arrivals has already left after just two months, defender Fin Shorrock who signed from Coleshill Town. 19 year old goalkeeper Finn Osborn has signed as their new first choice between the sticks, and he has signed from step 5 Atherstone Town where he kept 11 clean sheets last season. The Canaries have signed five defenders, fullbacks Will Grewal Pollard from step 4 Gresley Rovers, Kornell McDonald from step 3 Ilkeston Town, and Drew Kear from step 4 Hinckley LRFC. While centre halves Rashann Frances and Sidik Atcha have also joined the club. In the middle of the park, Amarvir Sandhu signs from Harborough Town, Callum Chettle from Spalding United, former Yeltz man Isaac Adegoke from Sporting Khalsa, and Charlie Dowd from Bedworth United, the last two from step 4 sides. The attack has had a refresh too, 37 year old Lindon Meikle, 24 year old Hilton Arthur, and former Kettering man Tyree Wilson have been brought in as new wingers. While up top a combined 38 goals have been brought in, with Jevin Seaton having arrived after scoring 23 goals last season across steps 5 & 4, and Zayn Hakeem having signed after he scored 15 goals last season for step 4 Anstey Nomads.

Summer Departures

Aside from Shorrock’s swift departure from Barwell. The Canaries have only let go of five players, but all of them are influential figures. The big one, Brady Hickey, who scored 18 goals and was the only Barwell player to feature in every league game last season. The latter leaves for Harborough Town, while midfielder Deen Master who featured 40 times in the league last season has departed for Quorn, Ryan Hayes 13 times last season whose left for Stratford Town, and Herve Pepe Ngoma 37 times whose left for Stamford. Ollie Brown-Hill, the final departure, who featured 40 times last season has left for step 4 Rushden & Diamonds.

Players to Watch

Well, it is fair to say we will not see many Barwell players on Tuesday night who featured for the club last season. In their game against St Ives Town on Saturday, where they came from 2-0 down to win 3-2, only four players who played Prince Mancinelli, Tyrell Waite, Kane Richards, and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, were at the club last season. In goal the Canaries had new signing Finn Osborn, Kornell McDonald and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner at fullback, and a centre half partnership of Sidik Atcha and Will Grewal Pollard at centre half. The midfield included Prince Mancinelli, Callum Chettle, and player of the match Charlie Dowd. While the attack shaped up with Tyrell Waite, Zayn Hakeem, and Kane Richards. Expect changes from that side though for this Tuesday, Lindon Meikle and Tyree Wilson may make their full debuts out wide, Amarvir Sandhu may come into the middle of the pitch, who knows, they have so many options. Not to mention five of their other new signings couldn’t even make the squad last weekend, Frances, Arthur, Seaton, Kear, and Adegoke. The side who were by many predicted for relegation are already on the board with a win, with the goals on Saturday all coming from debutants Sidik Atcha, Zayn Hakeem, and Tyree Wilson.

Statistical Insight

Halesowen

• Only AFC Telford United (41), Spalding United (35), and Bromsgrove Sporting (32) scored more first half goals last season than the Yeltz’s 30.

• Only Stratford Town (21), Banbury United (22), and Alvechurch (23) conceded fewer second half goals last season than the Yeltz’s 24.

• Only Spalding United (19) and AFC Telford United (17) scored more goals in the 15 minute period before half-time in the league last season than the Yeltz’s 15.

• Only AFC Telford United (23), Spalding United (21), and Bedford Town (19) won more points from losing positions in the league last season than the Yeltz’s 18.

Barwell

• Only St Ives Town Town kept fewer clean sheets last season (5) than Barwell’s six and Bishop’s Stortford kept fewer away clean sheets (2) than Barwell’s three.

• Only Redditch United (18) out of this season’s Southern Premier Central lineup have won fewer points in 2025 so far than Barwell’s six’s 20.

• Only Bedford Town, Harborough Town, and Stamford AFC (4) conceded fewer goals in the opening 15 minutes of league games last season than Barwell’s five. Demonstrating their good start to matches.

• No other side in the league last season scored fewer goals than Barwell’s six in the 15 minute spell plus added time period before half-time.