Match Report | Royston Town (A)
Halesowen succumb to a late draw to go five winless on the road
Match Report
The Yeltz in the unusual combination of a black away strip (Charcoal or whatever it is) and white home shorts due to Royston’s black and white kit combo, took the lead just 10 minutes before the half-time interval. A pass forward was missed by Crows captain Adam Murray, which allowed Jim Kellermann to pounce and find Fin Holmes. The 19 year old arrival from Solihull Moors got a shot away, which was saved by Jamie Head, before the rebound fell to Cowley who tapped home. Royston pushed for a leveller, and eventually found one late in the contest through a rocket of a strike on the edge of the area by Josh Boorn.
Royston had a good portion of possession in the opening stages, but it was the Yeltz who crafted the early opportunities. A kick forward from Crows keeper Head was won aerially by Todd Parker, who found Kellermann. The Yeltz number 16 played a ball through to Cowley, whose attempted lob of Head failed. Just after the 10 minute mark, Kellermann found Holmes, who used the overlap of Reece Mitchell on the left to win a corner off Anton Matthews. The delivery from Jak Hickman was headed on by Kellermann at the back post to Holmes, whose strike was blocked. Shortly before a curler from Kyle Finn was saved in the same phase of play.
Royston’s early opportunities were just as clear cut as our’s and tested Russ Penn’s sides defensive alertness to the max. A corner from Matthews was cleared by Mitchell before the following delivery went in towards Kian Harness, who ghosted in at the back post and headed wide. An overlap of Locke was then found by Boorn on the right of the attacking third just before the quarter hour mark. The latter crossed into the middle, where Hickman cleared shortly before a shot from Beckett was blocked.
The Crows best chance of the half came 17 minutes into the first period. A bright move through the middle saw Jack Thomas find Beckett. The Royston number 8 spotted Locke in space, found him, and the latter forced Platt into a terrific save to his right from a low driven right footed strike. The Royston number 6, Locke, found himself involved for large periods in the opening 45 in particular. The centre half who can also play through the midfield, received a pass from Boorn half way through the first half, to get away a second strike in six minutes. The shot was well saved again to Platt’s right, before a corner followed which taken by Boorn, was headed clear by Mitchell. Two minutes later, Locke proceeded to sweep a ball forward to Harness, who was stopped from getting his head to the ball by the alert Yeltz keeper.
Just past the half hour mark, and within touching distance of the Yeltz opener, Finn went on a dazzling 30 yard sprint. The Yeltz number 10 went from the half way line and towards the penalty area, making his way past Beckett and Thomas, before the latter brought him down. The free kick taken by Hickman was headed away in the box. The Yeltz opener followed five minutes later, and two minutes later, the Yeltz won a free kick in a dangerous area.
A Cowley ball to Parker centrally saw the latter fouled on the verge of the box. The Hickman free kick was blocked by the wall, before a resulting strike was, again, blocked. The Yeltz should have added a second two minutes before first half stoppage time, of which three were added. A Mitchell and Holmes one two, saw the latter plat the former in down the left. The Yeltz defender got a low cross into Cowley in the middle, who fired a shot wide, shortly before the offside flag was raised.
The chances came quick and fast in the opening stages of the second 45. A cross from Boorn saw a Beckett shot cleared off the line by Hickman, shortly before a Cowley flick from a Mitchell cross straight up the other end went into Head’s gloves. A minute later, new Yeltz loan signing Stan Straw headed a cross clear to set Holmes on the run and counter. The younger burst forward and played an outside of the boot through pass to Cowley. The latter was tackled by Matthews on route to goal, but the ball was given straight to Kellermann, whose shot was blocked.
Smack bang on the hour mark, a huge goal line clearance prevented an early second 45 equaliser. Crows captain Murray outmuscled Finn just inside the Royston half, and flicked a pass down the line to Harness. The latter’s pace saw him burst pass Straw down the left, venture into the box, but have his shot blocked by Gudger. Three minutes later, Russ Penn dug into his subs bench, and brought McKauley Manning and Rahis Nabi on for Kyle Finn and Jim Kellermann. Just to spice things up a bit.
The Yeltz chances in the second half to put it blunt, were none existent unfortunately, despite the sides efforts, and despite Royston struggling to overly test Platt in the last 30 minutes, they crucially got the ball past him with the last shot of the game. We go five winless on the road, and including cup trips, it’s one win in eight. But to put a silver lining on the current affairs effecting the Yeltz, we have a midweek home derby, and two local-ish and intriguing away days to come in the next 10 days.
Attendance : 425
Teams
Royston XI : Jamie Head (GK), Jack Thomas (Jesse Akubuine 85′), Adam Murray (C), Archie Locke, Joe Iaciofano (Tom Newman 46′), Harvey Beckett (Tom Avgoustidis 72′), Kian Harness, Anton Matthews, Luke Warner-Eley, Jordon Frederick, Josh Boorn
Unused Subs : Reuben Rabstein (GK),
Yeltz XI : Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman, Josh Smile (C), Stan Straw, Alex Gudger, Todd Parker, Jason Cowley, Kyle Finn (McKauley Manning 63′), Jim Kellermann (Rahis Nabi 63′), Fin Holmes (Ben Cassidy 72′), Reece Mitchell
Unused Subs : Martin Riley