Banbury Updates

[andy]

Much improved this half

[andy]

Tee hits underside of bar with an absolute rocket

[andy]

Creating loads of chances now

[andy]

Ft

[stagsman]

It says we scored but league site shows 0 0 at FT.

[KenR]

definitely one nil to us Gordon.

[stagsman]

Cheers. Hopefully making a rare visit to the Grove on 12 April as stags due to play Posh who are at Wembley playing the blues on 13th.

[stagsman]

Must add thanks to the people who post the updates on here. I do not get to many matches but always check on here.
Also thanks to the Yeltztv. Loved the highlights of the no 9 derby.

[Brightgoldenhaze]

Slow start but we were totally dominant at the end. We are so much better with Milan in the team. I can only conclude Banbury have the best defensive record in the league because they are lucky. How we only scored one, I will never know.

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Saturday, 8th March 2025

Halesowen Town 1 Banbury United 0

A solitary goal from leading goalscorer Kieren Donnelly moved Halesowen up to third place in the table after a hard battle against frugal Banbury, writes DJ.

Yeltz manager Russ Penn was “delighted with the result - three clean sheets on the bounce gives a platform.” But Penn also readily admitted “We were dreadful first half. Simon Hollyhead’s teams are well organised and structured, we knew we wouldn’t get many chances, but we had to be better. I thought we were much better in the second half and deserved to win.”

Banbury came to the Grove boasting the weakest attack, yet the best defence in the league by some margin and started brightly with two early right-wing corners within the first five minutes before captain Alex Prosser drove wide after six minutes. George Ball then struck a speculative long range shot over the bar for the Puritans.

But it was a first half of few chances with Halesowen’s only meaningful effort produced in the 24th minute when Donnelly was put through on goal by Milan Butterfield, but Donnelly put his low shot wide of the left-hand upright.

The Puritans went close to breaking the deadlock later in the first half when home goalkeeper Dan Platt made a good 26th minute save with his legs with Ball free on goal and the Yeltz also cleared in front of goal after 43 minutes.

The game opened up in the second half with Halesowen taking full control as Conor Tee’s 54th minute low shot rebounded off the post allowing Tai Fleming to tidy up. The Yeltz then found the 55th minute winner when DONNELLY burst down the left and calmly slotted past goalkeeper Jack Harding after shaking off defenders Yaw Nantwi-Ofosu and Axel Ampedu.

A 57th minute Banbury corner caused confusion but Halesowen’s Donnelly threatened again when he collected Butterfield’s pass and cut in from the left to force a 61st minute diving save from Harding.

Halesowen went close to doubling the lead with a string of late chances. A Tee thunderbolt shot cannoned off the underside of the crossbar from 25 yards after Banbury failed to clear their lines in the 84th minute and Donnelly could only steer the ball over the bar when Tee did well to cross two minutes later. In added time, Harding saved at Tee’s feet and Tee fired another chance at Harding.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Jak Hickman, Ben Cassidy, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (c), Jamie Willets, Todd Parker (Reece Flanagan 66), Conor Tee, Kieren Donnelly (Alex Cameron 87), Kacy Butterfield, McKauley Manning (Charles Wragg 66). Subs Not Used: Ryan Wollacott, Musa Ceesay Ceesay.

Banbury United: Jack Harding; Harry Reilly (Joel Odei-Larbi 66), Axel Ampedu, Alexander Prosser (c) (Edward Rowe 78), Yaw Nantwi-Ofosu, Tai Fleming, George Forsyth, Connor Stanley, Connor Ferguson (Adriel George 66), George Ball, Daniel Jarvis. Subs Not Used: Claudio Franca Dias, Archie Hollyhead.

Referee: Dale Wootton Attendance: 1,046
Booked: Wynter (12), Parker (64)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by Chela Ltd.: Kieren Donnelly