Match Report | Stamford (A)

Halesowen to make a trip to Telford after a 2-2 thriller at Stamford on the final day

Written by Ben Ditchfield

The Yeltz failed to score a late winner to elevate themselves into third and a home play-off tie, but instead played out a brilliant 2-2 draw at The Zeeco in Lincolnshire as Russ Penn's side extend their unbeaten run to 13 ahead of one of the biggest games in the club's history.

The hosts took the lead after just two minutes through James Blunden. Stamford earnt a corner on the right, after George Hobbins and Jon Challinor worked the ball to Joao Varela. The initial cross from the corner was saved, but the ball fell to Blunden to score his 8th of the campaign. Stamford had conceded just three goals in the first 15 before today, but the Yeltz found an equaliser just 10 minutes after the opener. A free kick was delivered into the box by Reece Flanagan, after Wynter dealt with Challinor at the opposite end. The ball was placed in the centre just outside the Stamford box, and Conor Tee with the help of a hand from Tom Jackson found the net.

The highly intense opening 15 minutes continued, as Stamford re-took the lead through Charlie Marzano. It was defenders first goal of the season, but he took it beautifully. Marzano got on the outside of Mitchell on the left hand side of the Yeltz half, and almost took the net off with the finish. Penn's side had to wait a lot longer for their second equaliser, but it eventually came to mark Jamie Willets' first for the club. The ball was worked down the left by Flanagan and Mitchell to Cameron who showed his stregnth to win a corner. The set piece on the far left was whipped in by Flanagan, and sat up nicely at the back post for Willets, who made no mistake from close range.

"I thought it was a brilliant game of football today, and one you come to expect and this stage of the season with both sides fighting for something," said Yeltz boss Penn. "Just like against Telford, we started slow, but grew into the game. We keep our unbeaten run going, now 13 without defeat. Graham Drury's teams especially here at The Zeeco are very well organised and always a threat. I think they have had a fantastic season, and are very unfortunate to not be in the play-offs. We are, and have a few days to rest up. Donnelly and Todd were rested today, and Wynts came off for a rest because he has played almost every minute this season. We go into Wednesday fully fit, and raring to go to The New Bucks Head and get a result. Who ever is better on the night will be in the final, and we will try our hardest to make sure it is us."

Stamford started the first 45 in electric fashion, and did not just add the two early goals. Graham Drury's side dominated throughout, and the Yeltz were lucky they did not go further behind on multiple occasions. Just after the second goal, Ryan Wynter's clearance fell to Joao Varela. The pacey Stamford forward sprinted towards the edge of the area, but fired over the bar. A huge mix-up between Dan Platt and his two centre halves almost gifted the hosts a third before the half hour mark. A ball was played forward by defender Jordon Cooke, and reached a fair height to cause the Yeltz keeper a lot of issues. The desperate lunge of Platt outside his box allowed Varela an open goal, but Penn's side got enough bodies back as Mitchell cleared.

The hosts pressure did not let up. Tobias Liversidge sent a ball through to Kai Tonge, but Willets got there in the nick of time to hit the ball out for a throw. Stamford failed to make anything of the set piece, as Jak Hickman tackled Tendai Chitiza to win the ball back. The Daniels put the ball in the net a third time, but only for the assistants flag to be raised. A slightly mis-timed run past the Yeltz defense forced the official to raise the flag, before Tonge could round Platt and tap into an open net. A huge block from Wynter very nearly warranted that deserved third Daniels goal. A throw in taken by Bill Bennett was headed away by Willets. The loose ball fell to Marzano, whose goal bound strike was blocked by the Yeltz captain. Stamford kept the ball alive, but Varela's overhit cross allowed Penn's side time to debrief and relax.

The Stamford number three, Bennett, was soon involved a second time, but this time with the ball at his feet. The Daniels defender whipped a cross in from the left, which came off the top of the bar and out for a goal kick. Halesowen were gifted a golden chance to get a late first half equaliser. Five minutes from the 45, Varela hit a ball out for a Yeltz throw in, which turned into a corner. The set play made it's way over to Willets, whose header at goal resulted in a penalty for a handball. The man with the responsibility, Tee, had scored every penalty he had taken for the Yeltz. This time around he smashed the post, despite Tom Jackson's decision to stay down the middle. The first 45 ended with another huge chance for the hosts. The Daniels midfielder Chitiza got around Hickman, and forced a save from Platt before the Yeltz number two cleared the danger.

The second half saw an introduction for Ryan Wollacott, who replaced Wynter. The fresh legs of Wollacott almost worked wonders early on. The central defender held off the presence of Challinor on the right, before hitting a ball upfield, which only just missed McKauley Manning. The Yeltz won a free kick on the right of the Stamford half, as Manning was fouled by Bennett. The set place was disappointing, as the right footed cross from Flanagan could only find the head of Marzano. Just minutes later, it was the hosts turn to win a free kick, after Flanagan fouled Chitiza just past the half way line. The latter received the ball from the set piece taken by Bennett, but Hickman got there first to clear for a throw, before Varela hit over the bar. The defender, Bennett, would proceed to go off clutching his right leg. Russ Penn also dug into his options, as he brought Alex Cameron and Ben Cassidy off the bench.

The hosts had a huge chance to retake the lead straight after Willets' Yeltz equaliser. Stamford won a corner on the left, and the cross that followed found the huge leap of Blunden who forced an important stop from Platt. Graham Drury made a triple substitution just after the hour mark, but it failed to spur his side on as the Yeltz dominated the final 30. A hesitation from Cassidy delayed his cross into the middle, which pinballed around the box. The loose ball found Hickman, whose goal bound shot into the left corner took a crucial block off the left knee of Cooke. A free kick into the middle after a foul on Cassidy by substitute Connor Bartle was awarded straight down the centre of The Daniels half. The free kick duty again fell to the feet of Flanagan, and it was right on the money, as an unmarked Manning in the middle headed over.

The game reached the last 15 with everything still in the balance. A rare Stamford flurry forward saw Chitiza find substitute Lee Shaw on the left. The latter was up against Wollacott, whose brilliant defending along with a Flanagan clearance ended the attack. A run into space from Cassidy after he received a ball from Mitchell, saw the Yeltz substitute pick out fellow sub Cameron. The Yeltz forward was afforded a lot of space, but timed his run a little late, as the flag was raised. 10 minutes from time, Liversidge went close for the hosts. A Chitiza mazey run picked out Liversidge, who played a one-two with Shaw, before he nearly found the bottom left.

The game fizzled out late on, and the only chance of note involved former Stourbridge man Elliott Durrell. The latter raced past Jack Birch in the middle of the Yeltz half, and picked out Tonge on the left of the area. The Stamford striker had plenty of time to deliver a cross, but overhit it out of play. The point for the Yeltz means the side have drawn four of their last five, but extend their unbeaten run to 13. It will be 15 unbeaten v 13 unbeaten on Wednesday, as the Yeltz make the short trip to Shropshire to face AFC Telford United, for the second time in nine days.

Stamford: Tom Jackson (GK), Charlie Marzano (Ben Isaacson 66'), Bill Bennett (Connor Bartle 56'), George Hobbins, Jordon Cooke, James Blunden (C) (Ashton Offler 66'), Tendai Chitiza, Tobias Liversidge, Kai Tonge, Jon Challinor (Lee Shaw 58'), Joao Varela (Elliott Durrell 66')

Unused subs: None

Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman, Reece Mitchell, Josh Smile (Ben Cassidy 58'), Ryan Wynter (C) (Ryan Wollacott 46'), Jamie Willets, Reece Flanagan, Conor Tee (Alex Cameron 58'), Charlie Wragg (Archie Oliver 82'), Milan Butterfield (Jack Birch 82'), McKauley Manning

Unused subs: None

Attendance - 967