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Halesowen score last gasp winner to earn all three points against a stubborn Spalding United
Written by Ben Ditchfield
The Yeltz scored two goals in the final 15 minutes of the match, that included a 94th minute winner by Kieron Donnelly as the club beat Spalding by two goals to one for the second time in the space of 18 months following on from the win in the infamous play-off final.
The away side just like they did 18 months ago, took the lead early on. But thanks too two second half strikes from Jordan Ponticelli and Kieron Donnelly that both found the bottom left, it inflicted more agony on their opponents at The Grove in yet another sparkling second half display from Russ Penn's side.
"That was probably the best performance since I've been here", stated the Yeltz boss. "From start to finish, we were on it today, we kept knocking on the door, stayed patient throughout, looked fit and worked hard to earn our reward at the end.
"Our shape in excellent at the moment, we look like we can score and it was a joy to watch today proved by the crowd at the end. We do make it hard for ourselves at times but we have a brilliant partnership growing with Jordan and Kieron that is paying off massively at the top of the pitch, but its not just them cause everyone was on it today".
The Yeltz should have opened the scoring inside just 10 minutes. After narrowly escaping an early chance for the visitors which saw Connor Tomlinson fail to connect to a brilliantly executed cross, McKauley Manning rounded Spalding keeper Tony Breeden before the later took the Yeltz number 11 down for an early spot kick.
Jordan Ponticelli stepped up but failed to convert as his shot down the middle allowed Breeden to save with his feet, despite diving towards his right hand post.
The visitors then went up the other end, a free kick was cleared out to Khanya Leshabela who lifted a ball to the back post where Connor Tomlinson was their to meet and side foot home the opener.
Halfway through the half, Reece Mitchell hit an awkward shot from 25 yards out that was only just dealt with by Breeden who parried the ball away from danger. That came just before Spalding almost doubled their lead, yet again Leshabela was in the thick of things, as his whipped shot on the edge of the area was awkwardly tipped just over the bar by Dan Platt.
A huge chance went begging for Russ Penn's side five minutes before the half, from a corner the Yeltz hit Spalding on a 3 v 1 counter led by Conor Tee. He had two to choose from with Manning and Donnelly running alongside, he picked out the latter but with a heavy touch it allowed Breeden to come out and make himself big to make way for a comfortable save.
Spalding hadn't lost in their last 61 matches when leading at the break, their last defeat coming back in March 2019, so the chances of a Yeltz comeback looked less than likely. In particular when the ball was given to the visitors number 9 just five yards out from goal.
Bartosz Cybulski the man with the opportunity, who has scored six goals in five games since joining in September. He somehow failed to connect with the cross that was given to him on a plate from Lewis Hilliard that should have seen the net buldge even with the slightest of touches and surely continue the away sides long standing record.
The debut of Halesowen's newest recruit Nick Clayton-Phillips, brought in after the demise of Walsall Wood on Wednesday almost created the most remarkable of starts for the midfielder. Operating on the right, he cut inside to create an angle and narrowly just hit wide into the side netting a minute after coming on early in the second half.
Spalding held firm for the first half of the second period but the Yeltz soon switched the course of the momentum and just after the 70 minute mark found themselves with a guilt edged opportunity. Jordan Ponticelli picked up the ball and from an angle on the edge of the D, managed to whip a beautiful strike just wide of the post.
The goal seemed to be on its way, and 15 minutes before the 90, Jordan Ponticelli found himself with a another shooting angle, this time more centrally and more accurate, picking out the bottom left hand corner to spark the first part of the Yeltz comeback show.
Kieron Donnelly headed into the gloves of Breeden shortly before the 94th minute winner where Halesowen's number 10 completed this blockbuster of a match. He picked out the same corner of the goal after turning in the box and hitting on the half volley to score his seventh of the league season and earn a fourth win in a row in all competitions for Russ Penn's side.
Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Reece Mitchell, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (C), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee, Kieron Donnelly, Jordan Ponticelli, McKauley Manning (Nick Clayton-Phillips 53')
Unused subs - Musa Ceesay, Nat Kelly, Adi Yussuf, Lewis Solly
Spalding - Tony Breeden (GK), Connor Brown, Nathan Fox, Kieron Dawes (Nathan Stainfield 83'), Sam Cartwright, Glenn Walker (C), Kieron Freeman (Jonathan Ngandu 69'), Khanya Leshabela, Bartosz Cybulski, Lewis Hilliard, Connor Tomlinson (Abduramane Sano Sani 54')
Unused subs - Callum Chettle, Joseph Nyahwema
Man of the match - Reece Mitchell Attendance - 1,035