Match Report | AFC Telford United (H)

Halesowen battle to a deserved point against a 14 unbeaten AFC Telford United

Written by Ben Ditchfield

The Yeltz came from behind to dominate a second 45 period that saw Penn's side score inside two mintues as the two sides share the points to extend their respective unbeaten runs and put pressure on Kettering Town in second.

The Bucks took the lead inside 20 minutes, and it was no surprise, as Wilkins side had scored more times than anyone else this season in the first 45. A free kick for the visitors was given after Conor Tee's poor clearance fell to Ellis Brown. Telford worked the ball into the box slow. The decisive pass from the left and into the middle by Brown was tapped in by Dylan Allen-Hadley for his second Bucks goal. The Yeltz carried on their late first half momentum into the early parts of the second 45. Kieren Donnelly, just two minutes in managed to head in a cross from the right, which was helped into the net thanks to the left post.

"Today was a great advert for the league," stated Russ Penn. "We had two teams going at it for 90 minutes plus stoppage time, and the crowd made it for me. I think we deserved to get the win, but we never looked like losing, and have gone 12 unbeaten. I thought we started the second half brilliantly, and Telford had an off day. It was a proper game, with tackles flying in, and a lot of duals in the middle of the pitch. The whole team was fantastic. In the first half we were behind, and down in the game which meant we lacked control. We gained it in the second 45, and the centre halves, subs and the boys up top more than deserved a point. We want fo finish as high as possible, and go to a Stamford side who need a win next week. We will have a large travelling support, and will look to come back to The Grove a week on Wednesday."

A presentation was made before kick-off for Dan Platt, who today overtook Phil Coldicott for the most Yeltz appearances as a goalkeeper, with 336. The Yeltz keeper during the game was largely a spectator, as his side started the opening stages of the 4th v 3rd clash on the front foot, but neither side asserted complete dominance. A Donnelly glide down the right saw him get past two, before he found Todd Parker in the middle. The midfielder has no foreseeable options, and instead his shot fell into the palms of Brandon Hall. Telford's first flurry forward had to wait almost 10 minutes. A burst forward from Brown almost caused issues after he received the ball from Jahdahn Fridye-Harper. The Telford number 10, Brown, found the run of Allen-Hadley, but the pass was heavy and Platt got there in the nick of time to clear.

Just before the Telford opener arose, the two sides shared a chance a piece. A loose pass from Josh Smile flew over to Matt Stenson, but the referee blew for a foul just past the centre circle. The resulting free kick was delivered into the box by Tee, but he could only find the head of Jordan Cranston. A Jordan Piggott interception, against his old side, set Telford on an attack almost instantly. The ball winded up over to the left hand side where Cranston tried to find Stenson. The cross was just too high for the number 9 with 31 goals in 33, but it went on through to Brown who hit wide.

The full Yeltz domince started to shine through after the 20 minute opener. A ball in the box from Ben Cassidy was sliced out by the tall presence of Ollie Cawthorne for a corner. The cross was delivered in by Tee to Milan Butterfield, who rose the highest, but instead it deflected off Wollacott and out for a goal kick. The half way point of the first 45 saw a huge let off for Telford number one Hall. The Bucks keeper miscued a clearance in his own penalty area, which allowed Manning to collect the ball. A huge interception and foot in by Cawthorne sparred the blushes for his keeper, and earnt the away side a throw-in. A brilliant piece of play from Smile continued the Yeltz momentum, after he won the ball back in the middle and passed out to Tee on the left. The latter returned the favour to his midfielder, and Smile's cross went towards Manning at the back post, but the flag was raised.

The bright period for Penn's side continued late on into the first 45. A piece of pressure applied by Tee forced Piggott into giving away a corner. The ball was hit short to Manning, and he lost out to Remi Walker who failed to keep the ball in play. The second corner was fired towards the centre this time, and dropped out to Smile, whose shot was greeted by a crucial block. The referee's watch ticked into the final five minutes, when the Yeltz worked the ball from the middle of the park and over to the left. A central run from Tee was spotted by Butterfield, whose early shot up against Luke Rowe went over the bar. The best chance of the half was the last for the Yeltz. A ball was played into Parker in a central position inside the six yard box, but Cranston stuck out a toe to save an almost certain leveller. The corner that came from the block was taken by Tee, but cleared away by the big leap of James Armson.

The Donnelly strike at the start of the second period was the first chance of many in the final 45 plus stoppage time. A sprint down the right from Cassidy, saw the Yeltz defender win a corner off Allen-Hadley. The cross was hit low by Tee, and cleared out for a second corner by Piggott. The second attempt by Tee was again hit low, but bounced up on top of Hall, who managed to claim the ball under pressure. A move down the right saw Manning lay a ball off for Cassidy. The Yeltz number two was faced up against Allen-Hadley again in a 1v1 dual, which he won, and cut inside to hit the ball over the bar. The lack of tempo on Telford's side forced Kevin Wilkin into two chances after the hour mark. The two newcomers onto the pitch, Harry Hawkins and former Yeltz forward Rhys Hilton, changed the game slightly in the visitors favour for a few minutes. The Bucks even found the back of the net with Stenson just after the 70 minute mark, but the flag was raised for an offside.

The 1,756 Yeltz fans at The Grove spotted a clear game plan with 15 to go for the away side, as Wilkins' side looked more than happy with a point a piece. The away sides attitude made it difficult for Penn's side, and even with the introduction of all five from the bench, shots at goal were at a premium late on. The best chance of the late stage fell to Telford, and Byron Moore just two minutes after he came off the bench. The forward was found inside the area, but lacked composure in his finish as the ball flew four feet over the bar. The point keeps Penn's side fourth in the table, and even though the chance of winning the league has gone, a home play-off tie is still a possibility. The Yeltz next head over to a Stamford side who were well beaten by five goals to nil today, but know finishing any higher in the table is out of their hands.

Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Ben Cassidy, Reece Mitchell, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (C), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker (Jack Birch 90+4'), Conor Tee (Charlie Wragg 89'), Kieren Donnelly (Alex Cameron 83'), Milan Butterfield (Reece Flanagan 87'), McKauley Manning (Jak Hickman 87')

Unused subs: None

Telford: Brandon Hall (GK), Jahdahn Fridye-Harper, Jordan Cranston, Jordan Piggott, Ollie Crawthorne, Dylan Allen-Hadley (Byron Moore 89'), Luke Rowe (C), James Armson, Matt Stenson (Sam Whittall 90+4'), Ellis Brown (Harry Hawkins 68'), Remi Walker (Rhys Hilton 68')

Unused subs: Ellis Myles

Attendance - 2,374