Match Preview | Stourbridge (H)
Halesowen face off in a crucial No9 Derby at both ends of the table this weekend with a sell out crowd
Head to Head
This will be the 29th meeting between the two sides in the 21st century. The Yeltz have a sweet record of no defeats in the last five league games against Stourbridge, and just three defeats in the last 15 league games dating back to 2011. This will be the first No9 Derby for AJ George, and the first in a Yeltz shirt for Jason Cowley. The last meeting saw the Yeltz come away with a 3-1 win at The WMG. On the cusp of the 30 minute, we took the lead through a counter, as Jak Hickman thread a ball through to Fin Holmes. The Yeltz number 19 shrugged off the defender, rounded Charlie Price, and slotted the ball into an open net. We were soon in dream land, as five minutes later, a Hickman cross on the right was headed into the net by Jim Kellermann. One swiftly became two for the Yeltz number 16, who four minutes after his first, headed in his second, and who else put the cross into the box, but Hickman. Jai Verma got a goal back on 57 minutes, but the Yeltz held on in the November fog to get victory over the line.
Russ Penn’s Thoughts
“It’s time for the big one. This is the game we all look out for at the start of the season. The fixture holds great history, and it’s one that brings the two towns together in more ways than one. We were disappointed with the result last Saturday, not so much the performance, but definitely the result. I think we did enough to get something from the game, but before that we scored 10 goals in two games so it’s mixed feelings heading into today. We had a tough old week with two games in three days and then a long trip to Bishop’s Stortford on a difficult pitch, so the rest was needed for the past week and hopefully it does us the world of good.
“Our home form since I came in has been amazing, I don’t think we have lost many at all in the last two years. I think it’s the catalyst to where we are as a football club, and that is because we have fantastic fans, a great surface to play on, and the lads really step their game up playing in such a good environment at The Grove. The firing power we have up top has got us through many games this season. I think the game last weekend was one of the very few where we failed to score, and it never seems to happen here. It’s a good record to have going into this game, and the big games we have at home after this one. But if we have an off day, it shows we need more as a team, and to not always rely on someone like your Jason Cowley, Fin Holmes, and Tyrone Barnett’s of this world. We and they felt the disappointment of drawing a blank at Stortford last weekend, but if there is any game you want to bounce back from a poor result, it’s at home against your biggest rivals.
“Our record against Stourbridge is very good, we haven’t lost to them since I came in, and even in the two league games when Paul Smith was here, the club got the two wins against them. The record books show that we are the side on the rise, but Stourbridge are a team fighting for their lives, and who got a good win at Alvechurch in the week. We are fighting to get promoted. It’s a game that is hard to predict. I expect a big dog fight from them. There are a couple of mine and the club’s old players there at the moment, who will want to prove their qualities. It’s just got all you want in a derby, whether it is, West Brom v Wolves or Birmingham v Villa, Halesowen v Stourbridge is right up there in the West Midlands derbies, and to have sold out the home crowd a week before the game, it just shows how big the game is. Getting 3,000 like we have for the last two no9 derbies at home shows you how big this club is. Today the lads will feel like league players with the atmosphere, and if that can’t motivate you in football, then the sport isn’t for you. The 22 players on the pitch should need no motivating and want to win the game, and get the bragging rights, because that is what I like as a manager.
“This is just the first game of a big month, with two midweek matches in there which will make it very congested especially with how massive the matches are, so we will have to manage the squad wisely and make sure we get the best out of everyone. Every team we play this month have something to play for and we are included in that. There are 18 points up for grabs this month, but we take one game at a time, and that starts today in a game we want to the fans to remember.”
Russ on Jordan Ponticelli’s Return
“Jordan hasn’t come in to be a bit part player, he has come in to prove himself. He had a really tough time at Tamworth, and he is really determined to get out there show his quality and score goals. He wants to be a Halesowen Town player, and that is the biggest thing I can say. Let’s hope he hits the ground running come Saturday.”
Russ on Alex Gudger’s Departure
“We are always looking for additions, whether in the defense, midfield or attack. I just want to thank Alex for his services to the football club, he was great whenever selected, and wore his heart on his sleeve. Sometimes things just don’t work out, and I know Alex wanted to get more minutes and be more part of the team, which is something we couldn’t promise. He has had a massive contribution to where we are in the league with a game in hand and 10 fixtures to go. I wish him well. We are always looking for new players, if there is someone out there we think can benefit the football club then we will go for it. There are always talks going on and players highlighted, but that is just to make us better for the remaining league games.”
Russ on Jak Hickman’s Injury
“Jak strained his calf last weekend, what grade that is we don’t know, and we will have to key an eye on in the coming weeks. It dosen’t seem serious, and hopefully if he can’t make this weekend, he will back for Stratford, but you can’t rush these things. You have to go off how the player feels and how he reacts to the training sessions.”
Opposition Preview
Charlie Price – Goalkeeper
The 32 year old signed in the summer from Bromsgrove Sporting. The shotstopper in his third spell with the club, featured in all 42 league games for the Rouslers last season, and this season has started 28 of Stourbridge’s 32 league games. He is currently on a 27 appearance streak in the league.
Brad Bood – Left Back
The 22 year old signed in the summer from recently relegated step 2 side Rushall Olympic. The young full back made 15 National League North appearances for the Walsall based side last season. This season, Bood has featured in all but two of the Glassboys league games, and all but to of those have been in the starting XI.
Ash Carter – Centre Back
The 30 year old signed in January from St Ives Town. The former Wolves academy man featured for step 4 Walsall Wood at the start of last season, before moving to Bromsgrove where he made 31 league appearances. The former Yeltz man, who spent just under a year at the club from 2020 to 2021, featured 11 times in the league for Bromsgrove at the start of the current campaign, before making the one league appearance at St Ives. Since his arrival at Stourbridge, Carter has made seven league appearances, all but two of which starts.
Harvey Portman – Centre Back
The 22 year old signed in the summer of 23 from Stratford Town. The centre half featured in 16 league games for the Glassboys last season. This season, Portman has made 12 league appearances in an injury hit campaign, all but two of which starts.
Hayden Reeves – Centre Back
The 24 year old signed in October from Worcester City. The former Glassboys youth player featured in all but two of Worcester’s games in their promotion campaign last season, and made 8 league appearances for them earlier this season. Since arriving in Amblecote, Reeves has made 18 league appearances, all of which starts.
Jenson Sumanll – Centre Back
The 20 year old signed in the summer from Peterborough United’s academy. The young defender made six league appearances at Stamford last season. This season, Sumnall has scored seven league goals and made 26 league appearances, 23 of which in the XI.
Aksum White – Right Back
The 25 year old signed in November from Kettering Town. The right sided defender made 39 league appearances for Bromsgrove last season. This season, White made four for Bromsgrove & 6 for Kettering, before joining the Glassboys where he has made 11 league appearances, eight of which in the XI. White, however, hasn’t featured for the side since 17th Jan.
Tom Solanke – Defensive Midfielder
The 24 year old joined in the summer from Stratford. The former West Brom academy player featured for Stourbridge from Dec 2021 to Feb 2022, and featured 33 times in the league for Stratford last season. This season, Solanke has made 28 league appearances, all but one of which starts. Solanke has featured in the club’s last 12 league games.
Liam Brazier – Central Midfielder
The 19 year old signed last month on loan from League One side Port Vale. The midfielder scored once in 18 league appearances on loan at fellow step 3 side Warrington Town earlier this season. Since his arrival at Stourbridge, Brazier has featured in all four of their league games, starting all but one.
Tom Edge – Central Midfielder
The 27 year old signed in January from Bromsgrove. The midfielder made eight league appearances at the start of last season for step 4 Boldmere St Michaels, before moving to Bromsgrove where scored once in 22 league games. Since his arrival at Stourbridge, he has scored four goals in five league games, all of which starts, and all four goals coming in one game, vs Quorn on the 14th Jan. The midfielder has missed the last three games for the Glassboys after a red card against Stamford, but will be back for the derby.
Jack Fletcher – Central Midfielder
The 20 year old signed in October from step 3 Rushall. The man who came through the Glassboys academy featured for Rushall, Sporting Khalsa and Tividale before arriving back at Stourbridge. The young midfielder has made 21 league appearances, all but two of which starts.
Nathan Hayward – Central Midfielder
The 34 year old, and very familiar face to Yeltz fans, signed in January from Worcester. The midfielder who made 74 appearances for the Yeltz from to 2022 to 2024, made 19 league appearance plus the two play-off games in Worcester’s promotion last season. This season, Hayward scored twice in 22 league appearances at Sixways, before his move to Stourbridge where he has made four league appearances, all of which starts.
Dom Lewis – Central Midfielder
The 23 year old signed in the summer of step 5 Lichfield City. The midfielder featured in every league game for Stourbridge last season, and in the current campaign has scored three league goals and featured in all but three of their league games, and all but two of them have been starts.
Chisom Afoka – Attacking Midfielder
The 22 year old signed in November from Aston Villa. The midfielder has made three league appearances, all off the bench.
Will Etheridge – Attacking Midfielder
The 17 year old signed last month on loan from Walsall. The midfielder is in his first season in senior football, and has scored twice in three league appearances for the Glassboys, all but two of which starts.
Jai Verma – Attacking Midfielder
The 23 year old signed in the summer of 24 from Hednesford Town. The midfielder featured 24 times in the league last season for the Glassboys. The versatile Verma has scored three goals in 28 league appearances this season, 25 of which in the starting XI.
Jack Newall – Striker
The 18 year old signed last month on loan from League One Burton Albion. The young striker scored four goals in six league appearances on loan at step 4 Carlton Town at the start of last season, before moving to Bromsgrove where he scored twice in 16 league appearances. This season, Newall has featured 10 times across league One and the FA Cup for Burton’s first team, and since his arrival at Stourbridge has scored twice in four league appearances, all but one of which starts.
Callum Knowles – Striker
The 22 year old signed last month from step 4 Darlaston Town. The striker scored nine goals in 24 league games for step 5 Whitchurch Alport last season, before making the move to Darlaston where he scored six goals in 25 league appearances this season before his move to Stourbridge where he has made two league appearances, one of which in the XI.
Charlie Pavey – Striker
The 19 year old signed last month on loan from Aston Villa. The young striker scored once in 10 Premier League 2 appearances for Villa’s academy last season. This season, he made three Premier League 2 appearances, before going to Bromsgrove where he scored three goals in 12 league appearances, and then moving to step 2 Hereford and to make one National League North appearance. Since his arrival in Amblecote, Pavey has scored a penalty in two league appearances, one of which in the XI.
Toumani Sidibe – Striker
The 28 year old signed in December from step 3 Rushall. The striker spent last season at the Glassboys, and scored four goals in 10 league appearances, before he suffered a season ending head injury in November 2024. Sidibe joined Rushall in the summer where he scored once in eight league games. Since his return to Stourbridge, he he has scored once in six league appearances, only two of which in the XI.
Zidan Sutherland – Striker
The 23 year old signed on loan from step 3 Hednesford for the remainder of the 25/26 campaign. The striker scored seven goals in 27 league step 4 appearances for Hednesford last season. This season, Sutherland has scored once in 15 league appearances since arriving at Stourbridge, eight of which starts.
Statistical Insight
Halesowen
- Only Spalding United (52) have scored more second half goals this season in the Southern Premier Central than our 40.
- Only Spalding United (20) have scored more goals in the Southern Premier Central this season after the 76th minute than our 18.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded more goals in the first 15 minutes than our 13.
- Only Stourbridge (22), Stamford & Barwell (21), Alvechurch (20) & Sudbury (19) have had more games this season in the Southern Premier Central without a first half goal than our 17.
Stourbridge
- Only AFC Sudbury with 28% (9/32) have a lower scored first percentage this season in the Southern Premier Central than Stourbridge’s 31% (10/32)
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have conceded more first half goals away from home than Stourbridge’s 18.
- Only AFC Sudbury (14) & Stamford (13) have conceded more goals in the 15 minute plus stoppage time period before half-time this season in the Southern Premier Central than Stourbridge’s 12.
- No other side in the Southern Premier Central this season have been losing for more minutes than Stourbridge’s 731.