Match Report | Redditch United (H)

Conor Tee scores a 94th minute winner as Halesowen record a 2-1 victory over Redditch United

Written by Ben Ditchfield

The Yeltz move just one point behind leaders Kettering Town and four above Telford United, both of whom slipped to draws as Conor Tee lit up The Grove in a game in need of a spark.

The largely untested game for both keepers seemed to be heading to a draw when Conor Tee stepped over a free kick and beautifully placed it past Ollie Taylor in the Redditch goal.

The Yeltz initially opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, as Ryan Wollacott headed home from man of the match Conor Tee's corner. Redditch from kick off instantly equalised after Jack Kelly's cross from the left was stabbed in by this campaigns Red's top scorer Johnny Johnston, less than a minute after the opener.

"We were under really difficult circumstances today, with the wind and everything", said Yeltz boss Russ Penn. "It was a good game, both teams were at it but we knew they would bring that to the game, with the personnel they have and the energy.

"I would have accepted a point, but to win in that style with a bit of quality, is what football is all about. Even though they hit the crossbar through our own mistake, we were the better team in the second half and knocked on the door, we tried to win the game from open play, but in the end it came through a set piece from Conor who was my man of the match today"

Redditch's eventual scorer was through just five minutes into the game after a ball that fell to hit from a deflected shot from former Yeltz man Nick Clayton-Phillips, but the Red's number seven failed to convert and hit over the bar. 

Apart from the two goals, chances were at a premium in the half. The best chance of the final 15 minute period of the first half fell to McKauley Manning. Halesowen's number 11 was played through from midfield following an outrageous pin point ball from Josh Smile that fizzed right through the Redditch back four and fell to Manning who on route to goal left the ball behind him, allowing the visitors to clear.

Five minutes before the half, two efforts in as many minutes saw Manning on the right whip in a cross to the centre of the box, where Tee made contact but failed to beat Taylor. Musa Ceesay against his former club, then hit an audacious effort from 25 yards that dipped straight into the grasp of Redditch's number one.

The Red's suffered the blow of defender Max Ram's injury just before half-time that saw the man who has started more games than anyone else for the Red's subbed off for Brad Burton. Despite this, it was the other end of our opponents 11 that failed to click in the second period, as Halesowen took full advantage of Redditch's lacklustre second half attacking display.

Ceesay, just five minutes into the half almost had a second bite at the cherry to score a goal against his old club. A sliced clearance allowed him to latch onto the ball before being taken down before he could fashion a shot, with muted claims for a penalty kick ignored.

The Yeltz terrorized the Red's backline in a thrilling 10 minute period prior to and just after the hour mark. Kieren Donnelly, also against his old employers, was initially at the heart of the spell, with a mazey run that ended with a last ditch interception and a tangle with George Burroughs that only just allowed the ball to reach the path of Taylor. McKauley Manning then forced the former Stourbridge keeper into an outrageous stop before the ball was cleared off the line from the resulting corner.

A quiet and stingey 20 minute period followed with neither side able to force any goal bound action. Redditch though almost snatched all three points just four minutes from the 90, as a second successive Red's corner saw them re-work the ball back into the box following a clearance, the cross went in towards Platt, who spilt the ball from his grasp and allowed George Burroughs to smash an effort off the bar.

Conor Tee's free kick, four minutes into added time claimed the sides 13th goal in the final 15 minutes of their league games this season, more than anyone else in the divison. The side end a successful year at The Grove that started with a 1-0 derby win over Stourbridge on the 6th of January and 12 calendar year home league wins later ended with a win over Redditch, their first league win over the side after three without one.

Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman, Reece Mitchell, Josh Smile (C), Jamie Willets, Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee, Kieren Donnelly, Musa Ceesay, McKauley Manning (Ben Cassidy 78')

Unused subs: Pa Njie, Nat Kelly, Adi Yussuf, Lewis Solly (GK)

Redditch: Ollie Taylor (GK), George Burroughs, Max Ram (Brad Burton 45+3') , Kyle Rowley (C), Jack Kelly, Kartell Dawkins, George Atwal (Archie Kirton 63'), Ryan Inman, Nick Clayton-Phillips (Jahvan Davidson-Miller 78'), Marvellous Onabirekhanlen, Johnny Johnston

Unused subs: Kobi Brooks (GK), Max Martin

Attendance - 1,259

Man of the match - Conor Tee