Match Report | Bromsgrove Sporting (A)
Halesowen secure a rare away win as the Yeltz move up three places in the league with win in Bromsgrove
Match Report
The Yeltz opened the scoring quick, 13 minutes to be bang on. A chipped pass from Jim Kellermann landed at the feet of Jason Cowley, who cut inside and curled an effort towards goal. The shot was saved by Rory Brown, but only as far as Jordan Ponticelli, who composed himself and scored into the bottom left. We doubled the advantage just three minutes later, as Todd Parker found Cowley, who whipped a stunning strike into the top left.
The Yeltz started the contest on the back foot initially, as one of Bromsgrove’s only efforts in the whole half came just three minutes in. A cross from former Worcester City man Niall Flint was headed away by Milan Butterfield in the centre of the Yeltz box, but only as far as young midfielder George Wynne, whose shot flew way over the bar. Our first move forward followed on 10 minutes, as a Rob Evans long throw was headed behind by Aaron Roberts up against Ryan Wollacott. The delivery from Jim Kellermann floated towards Jason Cowley at the back post, but the referee blew his whistle for a foul.
The goal three minutes later came from our first shot of the entire game, but as soon as the swift second followed, it was one way traffic. Bromsgrove gaffer Tim Flowers bemoaned their ‘miles off it first half’, and this allowed the Yeltz to play their stuff more comfortably. Just before the Yeltz second Kian Ryley found Theo Robinson, who shot well wide, before smack bang on 30 minutes, it was a huge save from Brown to deny a third. The Rouslers made an error on the edge of the box, which allowed Ben Cassidy to find Cowley down the left. The latter shot low at an angle, but Brown got down quick enough to protect his near post.
The hosts had their own efforts at goal after the half hour mark, but failed to make Dan Platt test his reflexes and shot stopping. A 33rd minute free kick occurred after Mitch Roberts wrestled with Ryley down the right flank. The delivery from Flint was direct and central, but landed straight into the gloves of Platt. As the game entered into two minutes of additional time at the end of the first 45, a Roberts error allowed Robinson to curl an effort wide, before substitute Luke Benbow passed out to Robinson who found Flint, whose cross down the right could only find Platt.
The home side had to come out in front of their biggest crowd of the home league season, and they certainly gave the Yeltz one or two things to think about. A 49th minute corner came, after a throw in found Benbow, whose flick into the middle was knocked out by Roberts. The delivery from Kyle Belmonte was aimed towards Rouslers captain Roberts, but the ball flicked off his head at the back post for goal kick. Four minutes later, a Benbow effort from just inside the Yeltz half flew at Platt, before a Todd Parker shot at the other end dragged into Brown’s palms.
Just before the hour mark, the intensity increased from the hosts. Ryley found Flint in space down the left, who swung another one of his crosses into the box, this one headed away by Rob Evans in the middle. The loose ball reached 35 year old Robinson, whose cross floated over everyone. Just after Ponticelli hit the side netting on 68 minutes, the subs flowed in. Former Alvechurch & Stourbridge striker Shay Willock & old Yeltz midfielder Billy Shaw came on in successive minutes to freshen up the hosts, while Kyle Finn & Fin Holmes came on for us.
The subs worked for Flowers side, and almost dragged them back into the game into the last 10 minutes. A Jack Newell pass to Jack Kelly down the right, saw the fullback whip a cross into the box. The ball landed perfectly on the head of sub Willock in the centre, whose header clipped the post. Four minutes later, the biggest chance arrived. The ball reached Belmonte on the edge of the box, who fizzed a low driven effort to Platt’s left post, and forced the Yeltz keeper to claw away a powerful effort. What. A. Save.
In all, the Rouslers purple patch came just a bit too late, and the Yeltz breezed through the last five minutes of normal time, and the swift four minutes of additional time at the end of the 90. The win is massive. We have just two wins in seven on the road since our 4-0 thrashing in our first away game of 2026 at St Ives Town. A much needed away victory, and with results going our way, we are 4th, and with Redditch United & Kettering Town’s game in hand coming against each other. Three wins in our last trio of games will be enough. Can it be done?
Attendance: 1,641
Bromsgrove Sporting XI: Rory Brown (GK), Niall Flint, Jack Kelly, Aaron Roberts (C), Kyle Belmonte, George Wynne, Nile Timson, Jack Newell, Theo Robinson (Shay Willock 74′), Luke Softley (Luke Benbow 42′), Kian Ryley (Billy Shaw 75′)
Unused Subs: Charlie Trustram & Jordan Lyden
Yeltz XI: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Josh Smile (C), Ryan Wollacott, Mitch Roberts (Reece Mitchell 87′), Todd Parker, Jason Cowley (Ty Barnett 90′), Milan Butterfield, Jim Kellermann (Kyle Finn 71′), Jordan Ponticelli (Fin Holmes 82′), Rob Evans
Unused Subs: McKauley Manning