Leiston

[andy]

Boothe for Okafor

[andy]

2-1

[andy]

2 mins of 6 extra left

[andy]

Ft

[andy]

Very satisfying. First half totally the better team, looked sharp, quick going forward and solid throughout. Thought after the second goal early in the second half the game went quiet which probably suited us a couple of players took some knocks. Hope Miracle is ok, looked like cramp? Very impressed with his workrate and he's not shy to take on a shot. Wynter looked outstanding and I'm glad to see we're continuing playing Holmes in the centre, much more involved. All in all great start lads.

[juanillo]

Very satisfying. First half totally the better team, looked sharp, quick going forward and solid throughout. Thought after the second goal early in the second half the game went quiet which probably suited us a couple of players took some knocks. Hope Miracle is ok, looked like cramp? Very impressed with his workrate and he's not shy to take on a shot. Wynter looked outstanding and I'm glad to see we're continuing playing Holmes in the centre, much more involved. All in all great start lads.

I agree with all of this. Okafor and Wynter were the best of the new players, but the others acquitted themselves quite well for an opener.

The midfield looked as if it may have more pace and vigour than last season although obviously one game is not enough to assess yet.

We looked comfortable at 2-0, but became a bit disjointed with the subs, when Leiston finally posed some threat.

However, the display was a good sign against a team that finished third last season, although I know they have lost their prolific scorer.

[andy]

Defo agree about the subs. Very often over the last few seasons we have gone right off the boil after making early substitutions. Hopefully we will only start making them when necessary or when the sub can give us something we are lacking at the time.

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Saturday, 5th August 2023

Halesowen Town 2 Leiston 1

Marvellous Miracle Okafor struck a brace to give Halesowen an impressive opening day victory against highly-rated Leiston, writes DJ.

Yeltz Manager Paul Smith summed up Halesowen’s successful return to Step 3 football. “We were very good for 94 minutes in a dominant performance and I was pleased with the work-rate. There were lots of good performances, we have a young, fit side and I thought Todd Parker was first class. Today was a tough test, but the defence marshalled itself and goalkeeper Dan Platt was hardly touched. It’s just one game but it bodes well.”

Leiston last visited the Grove in March, 2019 and finished third last season, so presented a potentially stern test on Halesowen’s return to the Southern League Premier Central.

Parker soon earned a sixth minute corner for the Yeltz in a competitive opening on a wet, slippery surface but Leiston showed their credentials as Josh Hawker blocked for a 9th minute corner and Ryan Wynter cleared Wyatt Hill’s cross two minutes later.

Okafor burst through and turned the last defender after 13 minutes but his goalbound shot was blocked and Jak Hickman could only blaze the rebound over the bar. Dangerous Okafor was blocked again on the turn after being supplied by Jack Holmes in the 20th minute.

The Yeltz made visiting goalkeeper Sam Donkin look vulnerable and Okafor just failed to force the ball home in the 24th minute after Donkin initially failed to gather. In yet another good move Josh Ezewele’s cross was turned away for a 28th minute corner following a neat passage of play and Hawker charged down a clearance from Joe Marsden to earn a corner.

Halesowen took a 36th minute lead when Wynter challenged Donkin to Hickman’s corner and OKAFOR smashed the ball home from eight yards out. On the stroke of half-time, Holmes was then set free on goal but Chris Casement made a great saving tackle.

Okafor doubled Halesowen’s lead just two minutes after the interval when Casement’s short back-pass put fans’ favourite OKAFOR free to slot past goalkeeper Donkin with a tremendously cool finish to claim his second goal of the game. The Yeltz went close again in the 51st minute but Holmes’ effort from the right was deflected into Donkin’s arms.

Halesowen defended well when needed and looked comfortable into the latter stages, taking the sting out of Leiston’s game, although home goalkeeper Platt saved low down from Spencer Keller after 65 minutes and Jamar Loza struck a low 74th minute shot past Platt’s post. McKauley Manning then curled over the bar at the end of a neat 79th minute Halesowen move across the park.

Leiston pulled a goal in the fourth minute of added time when Marsden slotted the ball through for former Norwich City professional LOZA to beat Platt.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt (c); Josh Ezewele, Reece Mitchell, Josh Hawker (Caine Elliott 60), Ryan Wynter, Kieran Morris, Jak Hickman (George Cater 75), Todd Parker, Miracle Okafor (Ryan Boothe 81), Jack Holmes, McKauley Manning. Subs Not Used: Luke Redfern, Jac Redhead.

Leiston: Sam Donkin; Wyatt Hill (Jake Spooner 88), Seb Dunbar (c), Ollie Saunders, Chris Casement (Eddie Jackson 90), Ross Crane, Zach Dronfield (Ryan Jarvis 75), Jamar Loza, Joe Marsden, Spencer Keller, Rossi Jarvis. Sub Not Used: Adam Bailey-Dennis.

Referee: Andrew Sheppard Attendance: 819
Booked: Crane (22), Holmes (63), Mitchell (73)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by The Big Pet Store: Miracle Okafor
Non-League Paper Man of the Match: Miracle Okafor

[Rich]

Very satisfying. First half totally the better team, looked sharp, quick going forward and solid throughout. Thought after the second goal early in the second half the game went quiet which probably suited us a couple of players took some knocks. Hope Miracle is ok, looked like cramp? Very impressed with his workrate and he's not shy to take on a shot. Wynter looked outstanding and I'm glad to see we're continuing playing Holmes in the centre, much more involved. All in all great start lads.

Also agree with this.
Was very impressed with Parker who was my MOM and Mitchell looke dgood also.
We looked a good unit and a couple of moves were top quality.
Really looking forward to this season and you can tell its a big step up from last seasons standards but on todays showing we can hold our own at this level.

[Scribbler]

Great start to the season… most important thing was to win the game and secure three points…. Mission accomplished… with some nice passages of football and some good performances, noticeably miracle and Parker who were outstanding….. Still need to manage games and see them out, game was comfortable at 2-0 , seemed to take our foot of the gas pedal, invited them back into the game, and at the end could have ended up a draw…. Can’t let that happen again…
Early doors, but substitutes did affect the flow of the team and we weren’t as effective going forward…. Miracle was fantastic today , not only his goals, but work rate, skill levels and getting stuck in and being strong on the ball…. We’ll struggle up front if he’s injured, or out for a period of time….
Not to be negative, just a point, too many crosses came in early when no one is in the box !! From good positions, quick breaks, one on one’s…… have a run at the fullback, hold the ball up or just lay it backwards…. Just don’t give it ,unchallenged to their keeper….
Bit disappointed by the attendance today… thought it might have been well over 1000 even though it was an absolute shocker, weather wise…. Still onwards and hopefully upwards, if we can win another two in August and maybe a draw… happy days…