Match Report | St Ives Town (A)

Halesowen record a third goalless draw of the year in the stalemate at St Ives Town

Written by Ben Ditchfield

The Yeltz failed to take advantage of just one side in the top 8 getting a victory as a second successive draw extends the unbeaten streak to nine games but missed opportunities remain on the mind of Penn's side.

In a largely uneventful 90 minutes, Jamie Willets' red card was the main talking point. The Yeltz defender who appeared in his 10th game for the club, brought down the sprint of Benjamin Mensah inside 20 minutes. Being the last man, the referee had no option but to reach into his back pocket for the clubs eighth sending off of the season. Penn proceeded to bring on Ryan Wollacott to patch the crack of the team. And his side managed to withhold a tough 70 minutes for a 12th clean sheet of the season.

"It is a fantastic point, definitely one that we have gained. Just like last week, these were really tough conditions. It was against us first half, and I think we had to defend like 15 corners/throw ins. We were just not able to get the ball down and play with it, and the conditions played it's part in that too. Ryan Wollacott and Ryan Wynter were fantastic today, and they had to be. When you go down to 10 men inside 20 minutes, the players that started and the subs have to stay strong for 70 minutes, which we did. Our chances came in the first half, but we only had moments. Manning's 1v1 and Conor's header which was actually tipped over by the keeper. Overall I am pleased we have continued our unbeaten run to nine games."

An opening 10 minutes of little quality, saw neither side fashion a sensible chance to test either keeper. Just after the period, McKauley Manning stuck wide a huge chance, in the sides first flurry forward of any real authority. Manning managed to receive a ball over the top from Donnelly, to sprint clear and 1v1 with Dan Wilks. As it seemed the left corner of the net would bulge, the Yeltz winger hit the ball inches wide. Manning would then be sacrificed for Wollacott, in the aftermath of the red card.

St Ives bossed the midfield in the first half, and Peter Abimbola was a big factor in their success. He won it in the middle, and searched for the run of Peterborough loanee George Munday. The young striker on the outside of Willets, managed to navigate a tight angle to shoot just wide. The Yeltz succumbed to a huge let off just after the sending off. Mensah was a nuisance all game with his pace and energetic ability to run up and down the wing all match. The defender found Munday, but the fresh legs of Wollacott managed to hit the ball out for a corner. Jernade Meade delivered, and found Munday, whose header spun off the post.

As the late stages of the half loomed. Penn's side finally and for the first time since the Manning effort, force the St Ives backline onto the back foot. A Jak Hickman cross was flicked out for a conrer by Ethan Creary. The Yeltz kept the ball alive around the hosts box, and Todd Parker found Donnelly. The Yeltz top scorer collided with the goalkeeper, which left a huge gap between the sticks. Conor Tee's attempt to exploit the situation almost paid dividends, when his shot trickled onto the bar and over.

St Ives finsihed the half the better of the two. And to little surprise, Munday who has six goals in 11, was at the heart of the play. Amir Hadi, the outlet on the left, did well up against Hickman to execute a cross. The ball found Munday who sniffed around the penalty area, and headed wide from an angle. More Munday blues for Penn's side continued to pin them back. From left to right, it was simple play for the hosts, and Meade's final pass through to the loanee, saw him fail to test Platt. In the third minute of an additional two, Claudio Dias on his first St Ives start since joining from Banbury, found Munday. Drifting from central to the left like he had all half, his shot was meant to be placed towards the back post, but instead went way wide.

Into the second 45. The Cambridge side continued to show up the man advantage, but again fail in their attempts to enter Platt into play. Mensah and Creary linked up down the right, before Reece Flanagan cut out the latters cross. The Yeltz midfielder then fouled Abimbola, which allowed Meade to hit a free kick straight down the throat of Platt. 10 minutes into the second period, the hosts found the net. Saints captain Alex Collard was slightly ahead of Wollacott upon the entrance of Dias' cross, which left the linesman with the decision to raise his flag.

The Ives pressure continued after the hour mark. Second half Yeltz substitute Reece Mitchell was forced to flick away a dangerous cross to give away a throw. Aaron Smith had numerous long throw attempts in the hour prior, but on successive occasions could only find a Yeltz head. Smith was involved a second time but this time with the ball at his feet, after he was found by Meade. The Saints defender sprinted over half the pitch down the left, and his cross almost found the top of the net. But only until Mitchell's second successive decisive defensive header, and this time glanced over the bar.

The Yeltz had just the two chances off note in the second 45. A Tee free-kick was delivered to the back post on the far right. Wynter's angled run saw him reach for the header, which went straight into Wilks' gloves. The St Ives keeper who was largely a spectator, came under real threat when Donnelly attempted to get underneath a high ball. Into four minutes of added time, the push for a winner was on, but the late attempt never came to fruition.

A 0-0 draw was hard fought, and the Yeltz will feel happy of the two battling for separate scenarios this late on in the season. An 86th minute tip over the bar from Platt, put the heart in the mouth of the many Yeltz spectators in the Cambridge sun. The late save meant Penn's side went away happier of the two, for the point in the hosts fight for survival, and the away sides battle for the title. Halesowen's third 0-0 away draw of 2025, and St Ives' first goalless draw at Westwood Road for 99 home games, stretching back go April 2019.

St Ives: Dan Wilks (GK), Benjamin Mensah (Josh Allen 62'), Aaron Smith, Jernade Meade, Alex Collard (C), Will Glennon, Amir Hadi, Ethan Creary, Claudio Dias, Peter Abimbola, George Munday

Unused subs: Jordan Williams, Sidney Pereira, Habib Makanjuola, Johnson Gyamfi

Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman (Jack Birch 77'), Ben Cassidy, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (C), Ryan Wollacott, Reece Flanagan (Reece Mitchell 62'), Conor Tee (Alex Cameron 62'), Kieren Donnelly, Todd Parker, McKauley Manning (Ryan Wollacott 20')

Unused subs: Archie Oliver

Attendance - 399