Match Report | Barwell (H)

Halesowen fall to a second successive goal less draw for the first time in almost two years

Written by Ben Ditchfield

For the third match in succession the Yeltz failed to snatch a crucial three points as Penn's side fall further behind at the top of the table but on the plus side take one big step closer to qualification for the play-offs.

"I thought we played really well, but just did not score", stated Penn. "We did enough to win the game, and created more chances today than we did in the last two. Barwell's goalie won man of the match, and we just could not get it over the line. It is a good point for us which extends our unbeaten run to 10 games. It was frustrating and just one of those days. I think we score that flash across goal in the last minute 9 times out of 10. We have come a long way this season to be disappointed with a draw against a team like Barwell. We failed to beat them twice last season. Fair play to them for their crucial point."

The Yeltz were in complete domination for the opening 45, but only in chances created and not the scoreline. In the opening six minutes the side squandered three big chances. Jak Hickman on his 12th successive start knocked a ball down the line to Kieren Donnelly. The latter headed down to McKauley Manning, who sprinted towards the area but was greeted by the foot of Tyrell Waite. Ben Cassidy hit a strike just wide, after a poor clearance from Prince Mancinelli. The Barwell man's initial dual win over Tee, was quickly forgotten when he played the ball onto the boot of Cassidy. The defender saw no other option but to shoot, and his effort only just curled wide.

The early pressure continued to flow. Manning was faced up against Waite on the right, and did just enough to deliver a cross. The ball was delivered onto the head of Ryan Wynter, who hit down towards goal. The defender very nearly helped Donnelly knock home the rebound from Liam Castle's clutches. Manning glided past multiple players in the middle and swept a ball over to Tee. He was faced against Ethan Hill in a 1v1 dual, which he came out of second best. 18 minutes on the clock, Hickman's ball went into Donnelly, instead met a Barwell head to give the Yeltz a corner. As usual, Tee stood over the flag on the left, and found Wollacott at the far post. The defender got a lot of the ball, but could only head straight at Castle in the Barwell goal. 

The Yeltz chances continued late on in the half, as the side looked to add to their 14 goals in the final 15 of the first 45. Tee took a third corner of the half, after he initially knocked the ball of Hill to win it. The Yeltz number eights cross found the leap of Butterfield in the centre. But instead of the ball finding the midfielder, it went all the way through to Castle who knew nothing about his point blank save. The biggest chance of the whole match came three minutes before first half stoppage time. Cassidy, who had a fantastic 45, picked a ball down the line to Parker. The latter linked up for a one two with Tee, before a pass to Manning in the area. The forwards shot smacked off the post, across the goal line, and just into Castle's palm before Donnelly could prod home.

Barwell were second best throughout the half, and could only muster two efforts of note. The first came after a Hickman cross which was cleared by Scott McManus. The Canaries countered when Ash Chambers broke past the Yeltz defensive line. The man with six goals in nine appearances squared it across for a tap in, but Hickman was the saviour to put off Waite. For the second, the visitors worked it down the left, before they found top scorer Brady Hickey. The man with 18 league goals was found by Chambers, but hit his shot over the bar.

The second 45 was more sloppy from Penn's side, and as the minutes clocked by the efforts at goal became less and less fruitful. Manning and Donnelly caused an early problem just two minutes in. A corner was won after a Butterfield shot was deflected, which came to nothing initially as Lathanial Rowe-Turner cleared. The side were able to re-work the ball, where Tee decided to cross into the middle. In The Canaries goal in front of The Shed, Castle almost spilt into Donnelly's grasps to gift an opener. A Hill shot for the visitors was blocked out towards Kane Richard on the right. The defender beat Cassidy for pace, and his cross fell to Hickey in the box, who miscued his shot into Platt.

The visitors were let off the hook when a free header for Donnelly in the box was hit over the bar. The chance came from a Tee free kick after a foul from Herve Pepe Ngoma, and sloppy giveaways of set pieces became a theme throughout the second 45. Barwell proceeded to win a free kick after a foul on Hill, half way between the Yeltz box and the centre circle. The Canaries captain Hickey stood over the ball, but Wollacott timed his clearance perfect in the box to backheel the ball away from danger. The phase of play was not over because Tee went 1v1 with Castle after a long ball forward. Under pressure the Barwell keeper timed his run to perfection to clear upfield.

The game turned sloppy around the hour mark. Russ Penn was forced into making changes, which saw Cameron and Mitchell come on, and Cassidy moved over to the right. In need of a goal as they headed into Barwell's leaky period of the game, Penn's side created just two clear cut chances. Mitchell made an instant impact going forward when he kept the ball in to ferry it over to Butterfield who hit wide. The game became slow in the final 10 plus stoppage time, but the Yeltz were still able to almost snatch the points. A free kick on the right was taken quick to catch out the Barwell backline to Cassidy. The defender rifled in a cross where three Yeltz players failed to get a touch in the box to divert the ball into the net. To the frustration of over a thousand in attendance, the game finished all square, as the Yeltz fall to their fourth 0-0 of 2025.

Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman (Reece Mitchell 70'), Ben Cassidy, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (C), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee (Charlie Wragg 85'), Kieren Donnelly, Milan Butterfield (Reece Flanagan 85'), McKauley Manning (Alex Cameron 71')

Unused subs: Jack Birch

Barwell: Liam Caslte (GK), Kane Richards, Herve Pepe Ngoma, Victor Nirennold, Prince Mancinelli, Ash Chambers (Leroy Lita 87'), Brady Hickey (C), Ethan Hill, Tyrell Waite (Deen Master 90+3'), Scott McManus, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner

Unused subs: Ollie Brown-Hill, Greg Kaziboni, Ryan Hayes

Attendance - 1,241

Man of the match - Ryan Wynter