Match Report | Bromsgrove Sporting (H)
Halesowen score three in nine minutes to complete a turnaround against Bromsgrove for a first home win in four.
Match Report
The visitors took the lead just three minutes into the game. It was the 9th goal the Yeltz have conceded in the first 15 minutes of league games this season, more than any other side in the division. A Billy Shaw ball across the six yard box was cleared out by Alex Gudger, before the corner taken by Shaw hit Aaron Roberts at the back post and fell to Tyrone Lewthwaite for his second goal in as many matches for his new club.
The Yeltz, as so often this season, failed to make inroads in the first half, and instead required another second 45 fightback. The equaliser came just after the hour mark, and it did feel like it was coming. A run and cross from Ben Cassidy down the left found Kyle Finn from a matter of yards out for a simple tap-in.
It took Russ Penn’s side a little over five minutes to completely turn the game on its head by getting a second. A long ball forward from Josh Smile found Fin Holmes down the left up against Roberts. The Yeltz teenager ran over half of the pitch, before moving towards the by-line to slam the ball at an angle past Rory Brown, and the club he spent 17 league games on loan at last season. Three minutes later, we wrapped it up with a third, as a Holmes cross was knocked in by Ryan Wollacott for his first goal since February.
The visitors opener was quite literally the first highlight of the game, and in all honesty, the game took a long while to get going. A 9th minute shot on the edge of the box from Kyle Finn was the only chance we could muster together until after the half hour mark.
In-between the 20+ minute dull period, goalscorer Tyrone Lewthwaite broke down the left, and Evans had to make a vital interception to stop the former’s cross from finding Charlie Pavey in the middle. The corner which proceeded was delivered by Billy Shaw, and was hooked into the box on the opposite side by Jack Newell back to Shaw, who hit a wild shot over Dan Platt’s crossbar.
The game livened up after the hour mark, and as such did the Yeltz momentum, even if Rory Brown remained a spectator. A Milan Butterfield drive forward on 36 minutes helped the Yeltz forward, before the ball via a block found McKauley Manning. The latter thanks to the urgent cries from the crowd found Fin Holmes down the left, who cut inside, shot at goal, and almost assisted Jason Cowley, who came diving in for a header.
As the game ventured into first half stoppage time, of which just the one minute was added, we pushed hard. A pass from Butterfield to Holmes down the right saw the latter beat Ethan Young for pace, before he hit a cross into the middle, challenged by the slide of Cassidy and Finn, but hit wide by the latter. The second minute of added time saw an Alex Gudger shot from a corner, blocked on route to goal by Luke Softley.
The Yeltz carried the late first half pressure into the second, but yet again failed to test Brown in the Sporting net. A ball from Butterfield to Holmes just after 50 minutes on the edge of the box, saw a switch of play out to Manning on the left. The wide man whipped a cross to the back post, where Finn missed from five yards out to hit wide.
In the two minutes before, and after our equaliser through Finn, Cowley had two efforts at goal he rued to go back level at the top of league’s goalscoring charts. A Manning sprint past Josh Ezewele saw the Yeltz number 9 volley over, shortly before he hit the post.
Our second and third goals were the highlight before a pretty drab final 20 minutes from the away side’s persuasion, as we looked in full control to bring the three points over the line. A 73rd minute ball forward from Smile found Cowley who with the side of his foot controlled the ball, before he hit a wild effort wide of Brown’s right post.
Just a matter of minutes later, a promising Brad Stretton run through the middle saw the young wide man find Lewthwaite, whose dangerous cross into the middle was cleared by Gudger ahead of the inrushing Shaw. The visitors last hope at a comeback came a minute before second half stoppage time, as a Jack Kelly cross came too quickly to Lewthwaite yards out from goal, who failed to make a clean connection.
Attendance: 1,563
Yeltz Man of the Match: Fin Holmes
Teams
Yeltz XI: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy (Jak Hickman 87′), Josh Smile (C), Ryan Wollacott, Alex Gudger, Jason Cowley, Kyle Finn (Reece Mitchell 90+1′), McKauley Manning (Todd Parker 79′), Milan Butterfield, Rob Evans, Fin Holmes
Unused Subs: Charlie Wragg, Ty Barnett
Bromsgrove XI: Rory Brown (GK), Josh Ezewele, Jack Kelly, Ethan Young, Aaron Roberts (C), Billy Shaw, Tyrone Lewthwaite, Charlie Pavey (Brad Stretton 69′) , Jack Newell (Theo Robinson 79′), Luke Softley, Jordan Lyden (George Wynne 63′)
Unused Subs: Koby Arthur, Gustavo Sanches