Match Report | Leiston (A)

Halesowen battle hard to earn a crucial point in Suffolk against Leiston

Written by Ben Ditchfield

Match Report
The Yeltz were rocked early on by a 13th minute own goal from the unfortunate Jak Hickman. The defender was helplessly forced to turn the ball in his own net, after new man Joao Rangel, signed from Lowestoft Town, squared the ball across the box. Russ Penn’s side found a late first half equaliser through McKauley Manning, after a terrific cross from Hickman and header across the goal from Cowley.

A half-time substitution saw Walsall loanee Charlie Wragg arrive onto the pitch for his 18th league appearance in a Yeltz shirt. The teenager gave us the lead 10 minutes after his arrival into the game, after Hickman got around the back of the defense and squared across for Wragg to smash into the top right from a tight angle. We had to withstand a lot of Leiston pressure in the closing stages, and eventually their pressure paid. A left footed cross from fullback Seb Dunbar went straight towards the star man Joao Rangel, who added to his early assist to slam home the equaliser. A point a piece the reward for a topsy turvy game.

The Yeltz started the contest in typical fashion for a side who had travelled almost 200 miles to even get to the match. The midfielder Willie Clemons, signed from step 4 Felixstowe & Walton this summer, manoeuvred his way past Jamie Willets to win a corner with just four minutes on the clock. The central delivery from Fraser Alexander went straight into the palms of the grateful Dan Platt between the sticks for Penn’s team.

A second corner of the game for the hosts followed just five minutes later. We again failed to win the first ball, and instead it allowed Jack Manly, who featured here and there for the hosts last season, to find the first shot of the match. The Yeltz reacted well after the opener. A Hickman cross flew into the palms of Billy Johnson, shortly before a Cowley shot deflected off Kyle Callan-McFadden.

A much needed drinks break took place half way through the first period, which temporarily failed to breathe new life into us. Leiston could and perhaps should have taken the lead on the half hour mark. A ball forward from Adam Mills found Manly, who forced a superb reaction from Platt, before Ben Cassidy cleared the danger. The Manning equaliser was the last action of the half, and a fjrst 45 we were lucky to escape from on level terms.

Russ Penn’s half-time talk worked wonders, as a new Yeltz side returned from the break to spin the game’s momentum on its axis. A pass from the superb Milan Butterfield split the hosts defense to find Wragg. The substitute found Kyle Finn, whose shot went out for a corner, before the resulting delivery found its way to Wragg and back to the former who lost possession. An annoying ending to a great team move, but something we gained confidence from to take the lead six minutes later.

What was Leiston’s reaction? To make a double substitution. The young 18 year old striker Ronnie Blois, and midfielder Jude Frostick who both signed in the summer arrived into the contest with 20 minutes to go. The game transitioned in this period, as after Wragg forced two fine stops in two minutes from Johnson, our hosts took control.

A crucial stop from Platt, which came from Leiston’s first shot of the second 45 through Mills, soon saw the ball turned into the net through Rangel’s equaliser. Russ Penn’s reaction was to make a double substitution himself, and it was the two who arrived during the week who came on, Jim Kellermann and Harry Burns. The two debutants were quickly involved. Burns played in Wragg down the left to find Kellermann, whose pass to Finn forced a straightforward stop from Johnson.

The end of the 90 belonged to the Blues of Leiston playing in last season’s home kit for one last time. The teenager Blois switched the play over to Rangel, who slammed the ball off the post, before Mills’ rebound shot was blocked superbly by Hickman. The game entered the four minutes of stoppage time, and in the penultimate minute we were very nearly undone for a third time. Summer recruit and 83rd minute substitute Billy Walsh had the game in his hands, but hit his shot wide of the post. A crazy game, almost decided in the most dramatic of ways.

Leiston XI : Billy Johnson (GK), Wyatt Hill, Seb Dunbar (C), Kyle Callan-McFadden, Eddie Jackson, Joao Rangel, Fraser Alexander, Ryan Jarvis (Jude Frostick 70’), Jack Manly (Ronnie Blois 65’), Adam Mills, Willie Clemons (Billy Walsh 83’)

Unused Subs : Ben Batho, Ben Fowkes

Yeltz XI : Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman, Ben Cassidy (Reece Mitchell 86’), Josh Smile (Jim Kellermann 83’), Alex Gudger, Todd Parker (Charlie Wragg 46’), Jason Cowley (Harry Burns 83’), Kyle Finn, McKauley Manning, Milan Butterfield, Jamie Willets (C)

Unused Subs : Ryan Wollacott

Russ Penn Post Match

“I’m slighted disappointed about today’s results, because I thought we were excellent in the second half, and the same towards the end in the first half. A point is a fair result for the two sides though. First game of the season and you look at the scores around the league, and it’s chaos. We take a point back home with us, and concentrate on Tuesday where we hopefully we start better than we did today. In the first half hour I thought we looked lethargic and had no energy in our play. They (Leiston) were all over us, so I gave the lads credit for sticking in, and keeping it to just 1-0, which allowed us to go in level at half-time.

“We should have gone on to win the game, but we didn’t, because we switched off from time to time which does happen. We are overall happy with the point particularly against a tough side like we came up against today and will all season, because every side needs to be shown respect. It’s a tough league. We have no right to say we can come to Leiston and win outright.

“We aren’t favourites to win the league. Our expectations are through the roof, but I can handle that. We just need to take every game at a time. We had five new faces in the squad today, which just prove that it will take time for us to properly gell together. The support from our fans today was excellent. I didn’t expect so many travelling supporters considering the weather and journey, so it was fantastic to see them all. We will have a right go this season, and give them something to cheer about sooner .”