Match Report | Royston Town (H)
Halesowen produce a late show as super sub Barnett takes the Yeltz into the top 3
Match Report
The Yeltz went behind inside the opening 10 minutes, the 12th goal we have conceded at home in the first 45 this season in the league. The Crows took the lead through midfielder Tom Avgoustidis’ 2nd goal of the season. The 20 year old latched onto a pass from Joe Iaciofano to slot past Platt. For the eighth game in a row dating back to early November, the Yeltz failed to score in the opening 45.
Instead Jason Cowley brought Russ Penn’s side level just seven minutes from the restart. In search of late drama, the Yeltz scored their 15th goal this league season after the 76th minute, as Ty Barnett, seven minutes after coming on, flicked a header from a Rob Evans long throw into the bottom left.
The Yeltz were lucky to not go behind inside the opening three minutes, and would have done if not for a top save from Dan Platt. A battle down the right saw Kian Harness win a dual with McKauley Manning, before he found the run of Tom Avgoustidis. The latter’s cross was won by the Yeltz, but the ball fell out to Adam Murray, who caught the ball well and forced our number one to tip the ball over.
The Crows opener followed five minutes later, and deservedly so, even that early into the game. The Yeltz struggled to make any inroads in the opening quarter, but did cause trouble from a set piece on 16 minutes. A free kick just past the centre circle on the left was delivered in by Manning, and Louis Chadwick’s missed punch allowed a Ryan Wollacott to flick towards an open goal, but a man in yellow was on the line to clear.
Just after the 20 minute mark, the visitors came very close to a second. Top scorer, Joe Iaciofano raced forward, before having a shot blocked by Milan Butterfield. The loose ball was picked up by Will St Clair-Burton in the box, who had a second effort blocked. The remainder of the half saw the Yeltz grow into the game, but continue to fail in their pursuit of giving Chadwick a test.
A 27th minute corner was awarded after superb work down the right from Ben Cassidy to beat Avgoustidis for pace. Kyle Finn’s delivery was flicked away in the middle by Murray for a second corner. This one was taken by Jim Kellermann, short to Fin Holmes, who crossed to Wollacott at the back post, but the defender failed to test the Crows keeper.
Five minutes later, a Rob Evans long throw found Jim Kellermann, who helped it on into the box. A shot from Josh Smile from outside the area was then blocked. The final opportunity of the half fell to the visitors, as St Clair-Burton found a pass through to Harvey Beckett in the box. The latter under pressure from the Yeltz defense played the ball backwards to defender James Brighton, whose shot flew way over the bar.
It was much better from the Yeltz after the half-time break. The first shot on target for us came a minute from the restart, as Holmes brought the ball into the box and found Finn. The latter returned the ball to Holmes, whose shot at an angle from close range was saved. Four minutes later, Holmes played the ball from the left to Butterfield in the centre. The midfielder had green grass to run into, and decided to go for a pop, which went just over.
A minute later, a cross from half-time substitute Jak Hickman down the left found Manning. The cross from the right to the middle missed Jason Cowley, but found its way to Holmes. The latter cut inside, and had a shot blocked off the line by Murray. The Yeltz equaliser came seconds later, and rather quickly given how long it had taken us in previous home games to get back on level terms.
The minutes after the goal breathed new life into Penn’s side. A 58th minute Hickman floated ball forward was headed out for a corner by Murray. The delivery from Hickman was knocked on by Wollacott to Cowley, who forced Chadwick to tip the ball over the bar. We continued to pile on the pressure after the hour mark.
On 62 minutes, Cassidy beat Avgoustidis for pace down the right, and on the by-line dug a cross out which Cowley met, but his header spun over. Two minutes later, we flew back forward, and down the right through Manning. The Yeltz winger moved further up the pitch from the first 45, played a one-two with Cowley which saw the latter’s cross headed out for a corner by Murray. Hickman’s delivery reached Evans at the back post, who headed wide.
The last 15 minute minutes plus stoppage time was fraught with Yeltz pressure. Brilliant work down the right from Manning won the Yeltz a free kick on 79 minutes close to the by-line. Hickman’s delivery was floated towards the back post, but headed wide by Cowley. In the 94th minute the Yeltz won a free kick after Manning was brought down by substitute Konstantin Ivanov. The free kick was taken on by Evans, but went just wide of the right post.
Our winner followed just three minutes later, and in the last minute of the allotted seven added on. The Crows had one last chance to pile the ball forward after the restart from the goal, but we held firm to get our third win in a row in the league over the line. The Yeltz for the first time this season move up to into the top 3 in the table, and with games in hand on sides below are sitting pretty with 17 league games left to play.
Attendance: 1,397
Yeltz Man of the Match: Jason Cowley
Teams
Yeltz XI: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Josh Smile (C), Ryan Wollacott (Alex Gudger 90’), Jason Cowley, Kyle Finn, McKauley Manning, Milan Butterfield, Jim Kellermann (Jak Hickman 46’), Rob Evans, Fin Holmes (Ty Barnett 90’)
Unused Subs: Todd Parker & Reece Mitchell
Royston XI: Louis Chadwick (GK), Ollie Stephenson, James Brighton, Will St Clair-Burton, Adam Murray, Joe Iaciofano (Konstantin Ivanov 73’), Harvey Beckett, Kian Harness, Anton Matthews (Brad Smith 82’), Jordon Frederick, Tom Avgoustidis
Unused Subs: Sisanda Maguranyanga, Luke Warner-Eley & Franco Ciuffa