Long Eaton Updates

[Johnny Bud]

5.0 Holmes

[Johnny Bud]

It finished 5.0 but I got so excited by Birmingham scoring in the 96th minute I forgot to do the full time update!!

[andy]

One of those days. Almost perfect from start to finish. Won't be the best opposition we'll play this season and Platty had to earn his corn as well, but we certainly put them to the sword. Surprised by the starting line up, probably having Monday in mind I would imagine but the players that came in will now give Paul a wonderful headache. Cater first half looked superb, but then so did the whole team. Loved the rotation of midfielders supporting Miracle, they simply did not know where they were going to be hit from next. And then to he able to bring on Jack and Mac almost seemed cruel to Long Eaton, who to be fair continued to try and play football the 'right' way. That's probably going to be a major difference in this far superior league to last year and to my
mind is going to make far more entertaining games. Great performance to build on our well decent start.

[GreySquirrel]

Andy , as always spot on. Roll on Monday I’m very positive

[drummyb]

Monday is gonna be intriguing. A couple of years back, Telford would have rolled us over. This year, there doesnt appear to be much between us. Early days I know but really looking forward to it.

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Saturday, 26th August 2023

Halesowen Town 5 Long Eaton United 0

Five-star Halesowen remain unbeaten after Miracle Okafor and Kieren Donnelly both thumped two goals past basement side Long Eaton in a cracking game, writes DJ.

Yeltz Manager Paul Smith explained his thinking for the holiday weekend. “It’s crucial we use the whole squad. We probably haven’t got the points we’ve deserved up to now, but we took our chances today. It’s a good first half of the Bank Holiday weekend as we made six changes from last week and got some minutes into players. We go to Telford on Monday with no fear and if we do perform well, we’re good enough to get something.”

Prior to the kick-off a minute’s applause was observed in remembrance of long-time Yeltz supporter Roy Ditchfield.

The Yeltz grabbed an early goal when a 4th minute free-kick was nodded on by Ryan Wynter for OKAFOR to convert to the right of goalkeeper Ross Durrant with a low shot. Dangerous Okafor then earned the first of three successive Halesowen corners in the 10th minute with Durrant out of his goal.

Long Eaton’s Joseph Nyahwema, signed from the ranks of the Burton Albion academy, broke down the left in the 13th minute but his low cross was cut out by home goalkeeper Dan Platt with Wynter tidying up. Lively Nyahwema burst through again after 15 minutes to curl wide and flashed another shot past the Yeltz post three minutes later.

Nathan Hayward’s goal-bound shot was turned away for yet another home corner after being set up by Okafor on a good 22nd minute break before OKAFOR made it 2-0 in the 26th minute when he rounded goalkeeper Durrant in a one-on-one and slotted home in a composed finish. Donnelly clipped wide after being set up by Okafor after 27 minutes and the Yeltz then forced their sixth corner after just half an hour.

Long Eaton were unlucky in the 32nd minute of their first ever visit to the Grove with Marley Fearon’s shot tipped over the bar following a good move and from the resulting corner a bullet header from centre-half Riece Bertram rattled the post. The visitors continued to look dangerous going forward and Bertram planted another header just wide from a 36th minute corner.

But Halesowen always looked likely to add further goals as George Cater struck the side-netting in the 37th minute and Jak Hickman crossed along goal a minute later.

Halesowen increased their lead to 3-0 in the 43rd minute when Richard Gregory’s legs were clipped in the penalty area. Gregory stepped up to take the resulting penalty and although his spot-kick was saved to Durrant’s right, the ball fell kindly for DONNELLY to slot home the rebound.

The rampant Yeltz almost added further goals before the interval as Okafor pounced on an error allowing Gregory to square along goal with Todd Parker thwarted and Cater’s effort was then saved after more good work by Okafor.

The goals continued to flow as DONNELLY latched onto a cushioned header and smashed Halesowen’s fourth goal into the corner of the net from 15 yards just two minutes after the interval. In further pressure, Long Eaton’s Bertram made a saving tackle when substitute Jack Holmes burst clear in the 67th minute. Two minutes later Platt kept Halesowen’s clean sheet intact by diving to save at the feet of Zayn Hakeem after the striker was put clean through on goal.

HOLMES wrapped up Halesowen’s fine win with a fifth goal in the 75th minute with a deflected shot into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area after substitute McKauley Manning’s cross was only partly cleared.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt (c); Jak Hickman, Reece Mitchell, Todd Parker (McKauley Manning 51), Ryan Wynter, Luke Redfern, Kieren Donnelly, Nathan Hayward, Miracle Okafor (Jack Holmes 59), Richard Gregory (Ryan Boothe 71), George Cater. Subs Not Used: Kieran Morris, Simeon Cobourne.

Long Eaton United: Ross Durrant (c); Callum Cocks, Lucien Mahovo, Ryley Reynolds, Riece Bertram, Edward Cook, Joseph Nyahwema, Marley Fearon (Adam Clark 62), Zayn Hakeem, Cieron Keane (Alans Voskresenskis 46), Cameron Philip (Micah Jebbison 55). Subs Not Used: Keiran Walker, Nathan Whitefield.

Referee: Daniel Smith Attendance: 891
Booked: Donnelly (81)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by Richard Ditchfield & family: Miracle Okafor
Non-League Paper Man of the Match: Miracle Okafor

[juanillo]

That was a difficult one to gauge, as on that showing, Long Eaton will really struggle and were not well organised.

However that was in no small part due to our excellent play as well as the overall improvement in pace within the team.

[drummyb]

I think its fair to say, they'll be the whipping boys based on early form. A bit like Yaxley last year. I just feel sorry for clubs like that tbh.

[andy]

Andy , as always spot on. Roll on Monday I’m very positive

Cheers Kev, thanks for comin'.

[Rich]

As has been said not sure how good we were/ how poor they were but as has been said many a time you can only beat whats in front of you.

Impressed first half with Cater and good to have Hayward back running everywhere, thought him and Parker are an excellent pairing. Not too sure Gregs is a midfielder though. Seemed lost and frustrated at times.
The young lad at Centre back was very composed coming forward but think he may get bullied by bigger more savvy forwards.

Important thing is we have rested some players ahead of a very interesting game tomorrow which should give a better indication of where we are at.

Certainly play off material I reckon and a good season seems to lie ahead.