Match Preview | Banbury United (H)
Halesowen return to The Grove as we welcome Banbury United in a 6th vs 9th play-off battle
Head to Head
There have been 30 meetings between the two sides since the start of the 1980’s. We have a 62% win ratio in the fixture, and went on an incredible run of no defeats in 13 matches spanning from 1986 to 2005 against the Purtians, including a seven game winning run. The Yeltz then only managed one win in eight from late 2005 to late 2008, but in the last seven meetings, we’ve won six. In fact, we have won our last four meetings without conceding a single goal.
The last meeting came in our 3-0 win back in October at The Spencer Stadium. The Yeltz looked hungry early on, and the opener came just after the 10th minute as Jak Hickman’s low cross was met by Jason Cowley, whose shot came off Jack Harding and fell to Alex Gudger for a two yard tap in. It was a stunning opening 45, which saw a second and third added inside seven minutes after the half hour mark. Our second of the game came from a Hickman cross down the right to Cowley who slotted down the middle. The third through Holmes’ first goal for the Yeltz as a Hickman cross found Kyle Finn, who knocked the ball down to Holmes who placed the ball into the top left.
Russ Penn’s Thoughts
“We come into this game after two successive wins. My record here at home has always been good. We are always backed by a good crowd and the pitch is always top notch. We go into this game with confidence at The Grove. Our goalscoring prowess has really impressed me in recent months. We are starting to create a number of outlets up front with the additions of Ty Barnett and Fin Holmes since the end of the September/October period. We always look like scoring, and even in a game like last weekend at Redditch where we lose, we can still create plenty of efforts at goal. We go into today’s game with three strikers on form, and along with the assist makers and wide men I think we always look like a threat, a delight for me. There does become a balance with that, and it is to keep the ball out at the other end of the pitch. Our poor starts to games are very noticeable, whether it is just a mentality or individual errors. I don’t want to it be a monkey on our backs, but the stats regarding our poor first 15, 20, 30 minutes to games don’t lie. It is something we need to fix, and other teams will look to threaten. It’s not something you can work on, it is a mindset that you need to negate, but when we do start games well, like at St Ives, there is only one winner because of the way we can finish matches.”
“Our opponents this weekend are a good team, who are on form in recent weeks with four straight wins, like we had. It’s only been two years since they came down from the National North. They had a new manager last year, and another for this season (Kelvin Langmead) who has played at a very good level. I knew when we went there it was a much needed win and big result, and they are proving now why it was. Langmead has got his men up to speed after a tough opening three or four months of the season. He has brought his own players in, and now I and others can see why they are doing so well and are just two or three wins off the play-offs. We are lucky to have the most prolific striker in the league, something Banbury have struggled to find it recent seasons. This just means we must do our homework on teams like Banbury a bit more vigorously. They are very good from set pieces, one of the teams in the league with the most output in that area. They have Connor Ferguson, a very talented player who operates on the right and can cut onto his left. Chris Wreh is a striker who maybe hasn’t yet got the goal tally he would like, but has played levels above step 3 in his career. I tried to sign him a few years ago at Kiddie, and remember how much of a player he was then and still is now. He played his first game for them against us in October, but now he is fitter, and more up to speed with the club, there is no doubt he will be a much bigger threat against us today. We have had some very difficult games this season, and I think this game today will be up there with the toughest. They are an all-round team, and can get goals anywhere on the pitch.”
RUSS ON TY BARNETT’S FORM
“Ty has been fantastic, amazing on and off the pitch. He has shown some of the lads how to live and breathe football. He has been a professional footballer all his life, and is 40 years old now, my age, and for him to still be training Tuesday, Thursday and playing twice a week is a testament to how fit and professional he is, and how big an impact he could have on the final three months of the season.”
RUSS ON TODD PARKER’S FITNESS
“Todd missed the game last weekend because he was having his tonsils removed. He struggled really badly over the last 18 months with it, so bad it is affecting his breathing, so we made the decision as a club to get it sorted. Hopefully we won’t miss him too long, but he won’t be available for selection today unfortunately, but fingers crossed will get the good news afterwards so he can return as quickly as possible.”
RUSS ON AJ GEORGE’S AVAILABILTY
“AJ is up to speed now, and I think it is just up to me whether I play him now. He is a forward player and we are doing well in that department, but all sorts can happen in the last 15 league games. We need a strong bench, game changers to come on and help us keep up with the fixtures, but I don’t think we’ve had to worry about that for most the season. AJ has been training with the group, and has had his games at Stafford Rangers down at step 4, so I’m happy with how things are going with him. If he continues to train well, then he has all the chance to be a starter in the coming weeks, but we are on a good run of form at the moment and consistent with our team selection. He knows he is coming into a competitive group, but if he proves in training and on the pitch why he deserves to start, then he’ll be given the opportunities, and more of them.”
Opposition Preview
Jack Harding – Goalkeeper
The 33 year old signed in the summer of 2015 and has made over 400 appearances for the club. The Banbury shot-stopping legend featured in all 42 league games for the Puritans last season, where kept the most clean sheets in the division with 18, and this season has featured in all 28 league games.
Josh Flanagan – Right Back
The 22 year old signed last summer from step 4 Barton Rovers. The right sided defender featured in 32 league games for Barton last season. Since his arrival at Banbury, the former Northampton Town academy man has featured in 22 league games, all but two of which starts.
Nico Jones – Centre Back
The 24 year old signed in the summer of 24 from then step 4 side Burgess Hill Town. The central defender featured 29 times in the league last season in his first season at Banbury. The former Fulham & Oxford United academy man has featured in 21 league games this season, all of which in the starting XI.
Yaw Ofosu – Centre Back
The 29 year old signed in the summer of 24 from Alvechurch. The central defender featured in all but three of Banbury’s league games last season, but this campaign has only 17 league appearances after being subbed off in his last game back in November.
Alex Worley – Centre Back
The 22 year old signed in September from step 4 Stafford Rangers. The former Stourbridge man featured 14 times at the start of last season for Stratford Town, before moving to Stourbridge in October 2024 and making 14 in the league for the Glassboys in six months. The former Walsall man who had a loan spell at Welsh side Haverfordwest in 2022, featured 13 times in the league for Stafford at the start of this season, before moving to Banbury where he has made 18 league appearances, all of which in the starting XI.
Keegan Bloom – Left Back
The 22 year old signed in the summer from step 4 Harrow Borough. The left sided defender featured in 33 league games last season for the latter where he scored an impressive four goals. This season, Bloom has made 22 league appearances for his new club, all but two of which starts.
Peter Abimbola – Defensive Midfielder
The 21 year old signed in the summer from St Ives Town. The midfielder featured in all but three of the Saints league games last season. The former Northampton Town academy man has featured 22 times in the league for his new club this season, all but two of which starts.
Harrison Bradney – Central Midfielder
The 18 year old signed in December on loan from Oxford United. The young midfielder featured in Oxford’s academy and on loan at Bedford Town last season, where he made three league appearances for the latter. Since his arrival at Banbury, Bradney has made three league appearances, one of which in the XI.
Harley Giles – Central Midfielder
The 24 year old rejoined the Puritans in the summer after a spell in the Procision Oxford Football Academy last season. The midfielder who previously spent December 2023 to March 2024 at the club, has made 11 league appearances this season, just four of which in the XI
Aaron McCreadie – Central Midfielder
The 24 year old signed in the summer from UAE side Al-Qabila The midfielder made 11 National League South appearances for Salisbury at the start of last season, before he spent time at Al-Qabila for three months. The former Oxford United academy man has featured in all but one of Banbury’s league games this season, all but one of which starts.
Alex Prosser – Central Midfielder
The 27 year old signed in October 2024 from Stourbridge. The man who played under Russ Penn at Kidderminster Harriers featured seven times in the league at the start of last season, before making 32 for the Puritans. The former Aston Villa academy man has featured 14 times this season, all of which in the starting XI.
Luke Stokoe – Attacking Midfielder
The 24 year old signed in the summer from Finland Third Division side FC Jazz. The attacking midfielder started last season at step 3 Hendon, before scoring three goals in 12 league appearances for Hitchin Town. This season, Stokoe has scored three times in 24 league appearances for his new club, 18 of which starts.
Connor Ferguson – Right Winger
The 23 year old signed in the summer of 24 from step 4 side Kidlington. The winger scored three goals in 33 league appearances last season for Banbury, but this season has improved even more as there top scorer with nine goals in 24 league appearances, 21 of which starts.
George Ball – Right Winger
The 26 year old joined in the summer of 24 from step 4 Loughborough Dynamo. The winger missed just three league games last season for Banbury, and scored three goals. This season, Ball has scored once and featured 24 times, 14 of which starts.
James Alabi – Striker
The 31 year old signed in the summer from step 2 Welling United. The striker started last season at Eastbourne Borough, where he made four National League South appearances, before moving to Welling and scoring once in seven NL South appearances. This season, Alabi scored twice in 18 league appearances, just six of which starts.
Chris Wreh – Striker
The 29 year old signed on dual registration in October with step 2 Bedford Town. The striker was most successful with Tamworth last season where he scored three goals in 17 National League appearances, but he also made three NL appearances for Maidenhead United & five NL North appearances for Scunthorpe United. This season, Wreh made five NL North appearances across Hereford & Bedford, and since his arrival at Banbury has scored five goals in 18 league appearances, all but one of which in the starting XI.
Joel Anker – Left Winger
The 21 year old signed in the summer from League Two MK Dons. The winger scored twice in 25 league appearances this season for the Puritans, 15 of which starts.
Statistical Insight
Halesowen
- Only Spalding United (41) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 37.
- Only Spalding United (18) have scored more goals in the Southern Premier Central this season after the 76th minute than our 16.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than our 11.
- Only Stamford (21), Barwell & Stourbridge (18), AFC Sudbury (17) & Alvechurch (16) have had more games this season in the Southern Premier Central without a first half goal than our 15.
Banbury
- Only Harborough Town (13) & Real Bedford (14) have conceded fewer second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than Banbury’s 17.
- Only Quorn (10) & Leiston (9) have scored more goals in the first 15 minutes this season in the Southern Premier Central than Banbury’s 8.
- Only AFC Sudbury & Stamford (13) & Stourbridge (12) have conceded more goals in the 15 minute plus stoppage time period before half-time this season in the Southern Premier Central than Banbury’s 10.
- Only Harborough Town (13) & Bishop’s Stortford (11) have scored more goals through defenders this season in the Southern Premier Central than Banbury’s 9.