Unofficial Halesowen Town FC Forum

That was an excellent result, btw. Doesn't matter how it came about, but what a win.

AwayDayYeltz wrote: ↑

15 Jan 2022, 17:27

That was an excellent result, btw. Doesn't matter how it came about, but what a win.

I agree. But should we really have to be clinging on so regularly? We were magnificent 1st half but once we give teams that chink of light we struggle to contain them, top or bottom teams alike. Agree with the MOTM award to Manning, great performance. To be fair the whole side put a shift in and the hard work paid off in the end. Well done lads!

Another attendance over 900 made the atmosphere feel like it was back in the 80/90s. I never thought we would see those days again, very pleased to be wrong!

Like a good proper game from years gone by.
Full bloodied challenges going in and both teams showing full commitment.

First half performance was superb and seemed like second half was just get through with 11 men.

Loved the Gaffers reaction at the final whistle, shows how big a game that was or us.

Well played lads

Overall an excellent performance. Thought it was the right call re Whitehouse. Having a good crop of youngsters is all well and good, but I felt there was a touch of whitewashing about his performance at Sutton (Nat Kelly bailed him out in the first half when he could easily have given a goal away) and overall, it was probably the right thing to do to get someone experienced, who for what it’s worth, I didn’t think put a foot wrong (perhaps could have done better for the second goal though).

Thought both their goals were questionable- first was definitely offside (that linesman was a joke) while there was a clear pull in the build up to the second. Ultimately made little difference though.

Finally, how good is Nat Kelly? Was clear MOTM for me. Don’t think it’s a coincidence our improvement has coincided with his arrival- he’s been an absolute rock.

Right, now for the small matter of Yaxley and then we can turn our thoughts to Ilkeston Town III and their smug tw*t of an owner!

If there was ever a game of two halves.... this was it... cruising at 3-0 , should be good enough to put the game to bed...second half they got back into it and may have snatched a draw, didn't deserve it but the fact that they were in that position is a bit worrying...... with a 3-0 lead the game needs to be managed, keeping possession and making the opposition run around trying to regain it...... instead every time we had possession we banged a long ball forward and ninety percent of the time lost possession and invited them to attack!!!! Which they did..... what's going on with little jack ? Thought he might have come on just to hold onto the ball..... he's a very good player and should walk into that team..... what's going on there ? Needs sorting out and get him back playing as he was...... MOM today, imo was Hawker.... great shift.... well done to all, great result, just need to see these games out better..... great support again

I agree Hawker was great today, for me we still lack mobility up top. Evo superb again. Great 1st half , the game was dead at HT, fair play to them 2nd half they were much better.
3pts next week hopefully and then onto a little game at Ilkeston. Really looking forward to it, should be a very very good Yeltz following

No disrespect to Jack, but I feel the physicality of today's game would not have suited him.

BartleyYeltz wrote: ↑

15 Jan 2022, 20:32

3pts next week hopefully and then onto a little game at Ilkeston. Really looking forward to it, should be a very very good Yeltz following

Let's forget Ilkeston for the moment. Next big test is Yaxley. Drew today and lost last time out to Chasetown but prior to that had 5 wins on the bounce. Appears they are a team that has improved somewhat since our first meeting. Need to win that as much as the Ilson game.

Northern Premier League Midlands – Saturday, 15th January 2022

Halesowen Town 3 Stamford AFC 2

Second-placed Halesowen reeled off a fifth straight victory after taking a three goal lead at the interval and finally overcoming fifth-placed Stamford in a feisty five-goal thriller, writes DJ.

Paul Smith admitted he was “a proud Halesowen manager after a tough but good game of football. We were brilliant in the first half in a complete performance with great desire and work-rate. It was a deserved win, although tense towards the end.”

At the start of a game of high intensity, Richard Gregory put two early half-chances just wide - firstly from Simeon Cobourne’s first-minute ball in to the near post and then when stretching to meet McKauley Manning’s ball from the right in the 3rd minute.

But the Yeltz soon took control with two goals within a four minute spell. COBOURNE danced and wriggled down the left wing to the by-line and managed to beat goalkeeper Daniel Haystead from an acute angle after six minutes. GREGORY then doubled the lead with his superb 9th minute volley beating Haystead from 20 yards out.

New home goalkeeper signing Andrew Wycherley tipped Jake Duffy’s fierce 11th minute free-kick over the bar and Wycherley did well to grab the resulting corner with confidence. As the fast and furious pace continued, Rob Evans made an outstanding 13th minute tackle in the penalty area when Tendai Chitza was ready to pull the trigger at the end of a good move from the Daniels.

As the action continued, Gregory’s header was cleared off the Stamford line and home defender Nat Kelly did well to clear for a Stamford corner in the 26th minute.

The game became increasingly ill-tempered as the first half progressed but Halesowen had the better of the tough battle and made it 3-0 in the 43rd minute when MANNING curled the ball across goalkeeper Haystead into the corner of the net.

At the start of the second period Kelly made another terrific block to deny Harry Vince on the edge of the penalty area before the Daniels pulled a goal back in the 56th minute when James HICKS slid home past Wycherley after Jack Duffy flicked on with a header. Visiting captain Michael Armstrong flashed a 58th minute shot wide and Cobourne blasted wide at the other end three minutes later. As the game entered its final stages, Stamford goalkeeper beat the ball away from Cobourne’s shot from the left and Cobourne then fired a 77th minute low shot just wide.

Stamford made it a nervous final few minutes for the Yeltz by reducing the arrears further with a cheeky second goal in the 87th minute when substitute Rodrigo GONCALVES diverted a ball from the right into the corner of the net with a clever back-heel flick.

Halesowen Town: Andrew Wycherley; Rob Evans, Lewis Wright, Josh Hawker, Paul McCone (c), Nat Kelly, Chris Lait (Joe Palmer 65), McKauley Manning, Simeon Cobourne, Richard Gregory (Richard Smith 68), Kyle Finn (Ahmed Ali 78). Subs Not Used: Toby Scott, Jack Holmes.

Stamford AFC: Danny Haystead; Michael Armstrong (c), Connor Bartle, Harry Vince, Joe Burgess (Jamie Chisholm 73), James Blunden, Tendai Chitiza, Jake Duffy (Rodrigo Goncalves 81), Jack Duffy, James Hicks (Jon Challinor 68), Cosmos Matwasa. Sub Not Used: Michael Frew.

Referee: Jamie Conde Attendance: 934
Booked: Jake Duffy (16), Hawker (35), Jack Duffy (35), Armstrong (73), Finn (75)
‘Tulleys Print’ HTFC Man of the Match, selected by Darren, Will and Eva Burke: McKauley Manning
Non-League Paper Man of the Match: Josh Hawker