MOVING ON

I've been at this for 9 years now, and finally time, energy and the fact that I don't get to see the mighty Yeltz much nowadays means I've decided to more or less stop doing Yeltzland any more.

The main reason for the site coming into existance was to make sure Yeltz fans had somewhere where they could find out information about what was going on, and somewhere to voice their own opinions. We now have the excellent official web site for the news part, and to replace Yeltz Talk I've set up a new forum at http://www.fansfocus.com/forum/postlist.php/Board/Halesowen_town where we can carry on sharing information etc.

I've really enjoyed working on the site, and have always really appreciated the support and kind words I've had from every one - including Nigel Pitt, Ron Moseley and all of the people who put in so much time to keep the club going.

The site probably won't disappear all together. Fantasy Island will continue mainly because I think we all enjoy it, and I may keep my results and table up to date because I'm a nerd and I enjoy it :-)

Also please note I'm not giving up on supporting the club in any way whatsoever. I'll probably post more on the new forum than I did here (although I'll have to stop putting sarky comments in red I suppose!), and I'll still be getting to as many games as I can.

I'll hopefully see lots of you in a couple of weeks at the Kiddy friendly (Frank's sort of 40th weekend), and if not sometime in the new season.

SLIGHTLY BETTER

Chippenham 0 Yeltz 0

It's finally all over. Having nothing to play for at the end of the season has been a strange experience - we've been challenging for promotion or relegartion for the last few years - and has been very dull.

We finished the season with a decent 0-0 draw at Chips and Ham. I think we had the better of a pretty non-descript game, with their keeper making a few decent saves. Thanks as usual to Dave for his excellent match reports - and well done for winning Fantasy Island!

How to sum up the season? We finished higher than last season with 6 points left, and we lost as many against the top 5 (two games) as we did against the bottom 4. Most worrying is the fall in average attendance in the league from 462 down to 355, and if you listen to the posts on Yeltz Talk (always a dangerous thing to do) people are putting this down to the perceived poor quality of play. Whether this is true is debatable, but we scored 10 goals less this season than in the previous two seasons. Howard's 9 goals in the league was a big disappointment after the hope we had in him before the season started.

Still, there is always next season! We've shown lots of promise at times but we need to be more consistent and obviously score more goals. We're at least good enough to get into the play-offs in this league and let's hope we can achieve that next year.

I'll be making a few changes to Yeltzland over the summer. It's been going in it's present form for 9 seasons now, and we're due for a refit. Now we have the excellent official site the need for various parts of the site has diminished, and I'm getting sick of having to take responsibilty on whether the latest idiotic comment should be allowed on the forum. What do I know? The changes will be in place by the start of next season, so expect a little disruption over the summer.

Have a jolly summer - let's hope for a decent World Cup to get us through the long sunny evenings - and on to the excitement of a new season!

Match Report from DJ

Chippenham Town: Perrin; Winter, W. Thorne, G. Thorne, Day (McEntegart 36), Harvey, Kirk, Jefferies, Gilroy (Adams 76), Rawlins, Stanley. Unused Subs: Herring, Badman, Griffin

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Pierpoint, Haywood, Preston, Knight, Skidmore (Cooper 87), N. Smith (Myers 80), Francis, Forinton (C. Smith 85), Amos, Forsdick. Unused Subs: Thompson, Johnson

Referee: C. Williams (Cheltenham) Attendance: 610 Booked: None

Halesowen signed off their mixed season with creditable draw at play-off placed Chippenham.

Remarkably, the result meant that Halesowen did not concede a single goal away at any of the top five promotion candidates and no side completed the double over the Yeltz during the season.

But a lack of goals and too many draws proved to be Halesowen's downfall throughout the season and this was displayed again at Hardenhuish Park where the visitors failed to capitalise on their superiority

Both goalkeepers were on top form and made splendid saves to keep the first half goal-less. The hosts went close in the 7th minute when Ben Kirk headed back a Nick Stanley corner for Gary Thorne to scoop over the bar from just ten yards. Steve Winter's 14th minute free-kick drifted past the post and Stanley volleyed over the bar two minutes later.

Player of the season Simon Forsdick then went in search of goals and his 20th minute shot was deflected just wide. A minute later Stuart Pierpoint found Forsdick and he composed himself before unleashing a goal-bound 20-yard shot but goalkeeper Steve Perrin made a splendid save to tip the ball away for a corner. Matt Rawlins flashed a 25th minute header wide of Halesowen's post and ten minutes later Forsdick shot over the bar again.

A minute before the interval Dean Coleman made a superb fingertip save to claw away substitute Matthew McEntegart's header following Winter's free-kick.

Halesowen went on to control the second period but found goalkeeper Perrin in excellent form. On 50 minutes James Francis broke down the left but his five yard shot was blocked by Perrin. Nick Amos headed on for Nick Smith in the 56th minute but Perrin collected his deflected shot and after 65 minutes Perrin punched away Amos' header from Nick Smith's corner.

Perrin produced another tremendous breathtaking save to deny Howard Forinton's 66th minute header from a Dave Haywood corner.

The stalemate meant the Bluebirds faced the long Bank Holiday Monday trip to face King's Lynn in the play-off semi-final.

NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN

WSC Final 2L Yeltz 1 Moor Green 1

I think I can safely say we lost it in the first leg. In front of 189 brave souls the mighty Yeltz drew 1-1 against Moor Green in the second leg of the WSC Final to lose 5-2 on aggregate. Oh well.

So down to Chippenham on Saturday for the last game of the season. Let's hope for a rousing send off to get our hopes up for next season - and it would be very nice to beat our old rivals Chippenham! I'll be there so I hope to see many of you at the traditional last away game festivities.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Pierpoint, Haywood (Thompson 80), Preston, Myers, Cooper, N. Smith, C. Smith, Skidmore (Teraud 87), Amos, Humphries (Forsdick 59). Unused Subs: Bowater, Johnson.

Moor Green: Timms; Scott, Midworth (Penny 62), Collins, Sanders, Bridgwater, Morrison (Faulds 81), Middleton, English, McPhee, Nurse. Unused Subs: Trainer, Petty, Anderson.

Referee: D. Hines (Worcester) Attendance: 189 Booked: Collins (41) Sponsors' HTFC Man of the Match: Nick Amos

Moor Green became worthy winners of the Worcestershire Senior Cup after never seeming in danger of losing their large first leg lead.

Halesowen's depleted squad were left with a mountain to climb and young reserve team player Aaron Humphries made an unexpected debut after player of the season Simon Forsdick was delayed by traffic in their bid to retain the trophy.

The hosts had little to offer in the opening half although Ian Cooper hit a speculative shot well over the bar in the 16th minute and Martin Myers struck wide of the post seven minutes later.

A fourth minute back-header from Chris Nurse flashed wide for Moor Green from David Bridgwater's corner and on 29 minutes Gary McPhee blasted well wide down the left. Seconds before the interval Darren Middleton then struck high over bar.

Moor Green took the lead in the 56th minute when Philip Midworth's left wing cross was headed home powerfully from close range by NURSE. A 30-yard free-kick from David Bridgwater then bounced just over the Halesowen bar in the 65th minute and Chris Smith struck the Moor Green side-netting on 72 minutes.

The Yeltz levelled the score on the night in the 73rd minute when Dave Haywood's free-kick from inside his own half was headed on by Myers for Nick SMITH to bundle past Ashley Timms from the right. A minute from full-time Forsdick's snapshot was beaten away by Timms but it was Moor Green who stepped up to receive the Senior Cup Trophy from the Worcestershire FA in front of the Harry Rudge stand.

NEARLY DONE

Yeltz 1 Bedford 1

Yes I know it's been a while since I updated the site, but I've been away and to be honest I'm not sure how interested anyone's been for a while.

The final games of the season are upon us, and having nothing to play for for a few games now we've just been going through the motions. Yesterday we drew against play-off bound Bedford 1-1 with Howard scoring our goal.

Two games left: On Tuesday we play the second-leg of the Worcester Senior Final, trying to pull back a 4-1 deficit against Moor Green. Then on Saturday we travel to Chips and Ham to bring to a close the season. We can still finish above the 9th place we finished in last year which would be an achievemnt of sorts, even though we've not really been in contention anywhere near as much (which I guess it's why it feels worse)

Fozzy was deservedly named Player Of The Season yesterday, so many congratulations go to him on some excellent performances throughout the year.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Pierpoint, Haywood, Preston, Knight, Skidmore (Cooper 76), N. Smith, Francis (Myers 88), Forinton, Amos, Forsdick. Unused Subs: C. Smith, Thompson, Johnson.

Bedford Town: Rigby; Childs, Hoyte, Lawley, Howarth, Bonner (Ford 88), Williams, Stupple, Dillon (Draycott 67), Howe, Rydeheard (James 67). Unused Subs: None

Referee: S. J. Rushden (Stoke-on-Trent) Attendance: 355 Booked: Pierpoint (44), Skidmore (53), Rydeheard (53), Dillon (63). Sponsors' Man of the Match: Nick Smith NLP Man of the Match: Nick Amos

Simon Forsdick was named as the Halesowen Town Player of the Season 2005-06 prior to the kick-off but the final home league game of the season ended with another draw against a Bedford outfit who had already confirmed their play-off place.

Bedford's young reserve goalkeeper Jordan Rigby had an uneasy afternoon and was fortunate to escape in the 4th minute when the ball bounced off Forsdick in the six-yard box into his arms.

Halesowen goalkeeper Dean Coleman then saved low down after Rene Howe teased his way through the home defence in the 6th minute and a minute later saved well from the same player with Niki Preston tidying up the loose ball. Gary Knight's 14th minute header caught Coleman on the wrong foot but he recovered to make a good reflex save.

Preston's 15th minute header was cleared off the line by Bedford's Matt Childs before a display of over-zealous stewarding saw Keith Carradine attempt to run off with the match-ball.

The Yeltz took the lead on the half-hour when Howard FORINTON was first to the ball to head deftly over hesitant Rigby into the net for his 15th goal of the season. But the Eagles equalised just four minutes later when Coleman failed to claim a cross from Carl Williams and HOWE's effort just crossed the line despite Dave Haywood's attempt to clear. Just before the interval Chris Dillon blazed over the Halesowen bar and at the other end Rigby escaped again after losing a right-wing cross.

Halesowen enjoyed the better of play at the start of the second-half with James Francis surging forward in the 47th minute only to be fouled on the edge of the penalty area. Haywood's resulting free-kick rebounded to Forinton, but Rigby made a fine save to smother the ball on the line in a crowd of players. Rigby dropped another corner from Nick Smith in the 53rd minute but on the hour Rigby collected when Forsdick headed on a Nick Smith's free-kick.

Coleman made a super reflex save to deny substitute Ian Draycott's 69th minute shot on the turn in his first touch but the game petered out in the latter stages with Draycott firing wide again in injury time.

ALL OVER

Aylesbury 2 Yeltz 1

Mathematically not quite, but after this latest disappointing defeat even I've given up hope. 10 points behind Bedford with only 5 games left means we're not going to catch them even if we beat them in our game in a couple of weeks. Very disappointing.

By all accounts we started well at Aylesbury and took a deserving lead through Mr. Myers, but then couldn't build on the lead, let them back into it and ended up losing to a relegation threatened team. Unfortunately, that's been the story in too many games this year.

Next game is on Saturday at home to Northwood, where let's hope we can get revenge for the way they nicked the points off us down at their place earlier in the season.

Match Report from DJ

Aylesbury United: Kirk; Powles, Joyce (Gordon 17), Gould, Hayward, Kilmartin, Ming (Hassan 83), Butler, Gutzmore, Pringle, Jackson. Unused Subs: O'Grady, Goss, Stamp

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Johnson, Thompson (Haywood 83), Preston, Knight, Cooper, Cowley (N. Smith 57), Francis, Forinton, Myers, Forsdick. Unused Subs: C. Smith, Pierpoint, Skidmore

Referee: S. Chittenden Attendance: 287 Booked: Knight (43)

Halesowen's play-off hopes ended after throwing away a comfortable first half lead at relegation-haunted Aylesbury.

The cash-strapped hosts had lost their previous four games and their crisis deepened when unpaid manager Neil Trebble failed to show up in a week that had already seen the departure of coach Andy Theodosiou and first-team assistant Nicky Ironton.

Goalkeeper Reece Kirk grabbed Alex Cowley's 1st minute free-kick but Halesowen survived a couple of 2nd minute scares when goalkeeper Dean Coleman missed Tony Joyce's corner and Rob Gould scuffed a dangerous left wing cross in front of goal.

Both goalkeepers then produced excellent saves with Kirk tipping a curling 20-yard shot from Martin Myers over the bar for a corner in the 9th minute and Dean Coleman doing the same with a 22-yard strike from Matthew Butler in the 15th minute.

Home striker Richard Pringle had an off-colour afternoon and should've done better when put clear on the break by Nicholas Jackson after 18 minutes. Six minutes earlier Pringle missed a good chance in front of goal from a deep free-kick. In the 23rd minute Leon Gutzmore helped the home defence by clearing Simon Forsdick's cross from underneath the crossbar after a sustained spell of Yeltz pressure.

Veteran MYERS rolled back the years to give Halesowen a 28th minute lead by heading home Cowley's left-wing free-kick from close range to notch his first goal for the club. Seven minutes before the break Forsdick skipped through several tackles but was eventually crowded out in the home penalty area.

James Francis challenged Kirk in the 48th minute only to see the ball rebound on top of the net and a minute later Pringle wasted yet another chance with a free header from Damon Ming's cross.

But Halesowen once again failed to capitalise on an early lead in a scrappy start to the second half as Aylesbury started their desperate search for points with Coleman blocking from Pringle with his legs on the hour.

JACKSON repeated his levelling strike five weeks earlier at the Grove by equalising in the 69th minute by beating Coleman with a 20-yard half-volley as Halesowen failed to clear a throw-in from the right. Two minutes later Howard Forinton headed just over the bar from Forsdick's cross and in the 74th minute Rob Gould flashed a header just wide from a corner at the other end.

The Ducks finished strongly and Pringle was allowed to run clear on goal after Dan Thompson lost out in the 82nd minute but the out-of-sorts striker shot wide from just 8 yards with only Coleman to beat.

But Halesowen were caught out again in the 89th minute when the ball broke to Pringle in front of goal and GUTZMORE took over to fire home the winner from 8 yards to send Halesowen's six game unbeaten league run out of the window.

CAN WE STILL DO IT?

Yeltz 4 Tiverton 2

We're officially on a good run now, but is it too late? We're up to 6th place , but with 5th being the last play off place and us being 9 points behind Bedford with only 6 games left it's still unlikely. BUT, we have still got to play them and stranger things have happened - 6 wins out of 6 and we could still sneak in. Honest.

We kept our unbeaten run going with a good 4-2 win at The Grove against Tiverton, with all the goals coming in the first half. Junior Francis looks like a good signing, and from all accounts we're playing some decent football again. Come On!

On Saturday we travel to Aylesbury in a game we can definitely win. They've lost their last four games and are looking likely to get relegated, but we couldn't beat them at home a few weeks ago, so who knows really. What a fantastic analysis that was.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Pierpoint, Thompson, Preston, Knight, Cooper (Myers 85), Cowley, Francis, Forinton, Amos (Skidmore 63), Forsdick (N. Smith 66). Unused Subs: C. Smith, Johnson.

Tiverton Town: Ovendale; McConnell, Davies (Kelly 77), Gould (Hambly 5), Croft, Milsom, Ampadu, Bale, Pears (Beddow 75), Holloway, Mudge. Unused Subs: Nogan, Skinner.

Referee: S. Knapp (Bristol) Attendance: 288 Booked: None Sponsors' HTFC Man of the Match: James Francis

Halesowen moved into sixth place in the table by extending their unbeaten league sequence to six games in a six-goal thriller.

All the goals arrived in an exciting first half as Halesowen romped into a 4-2 lead to condemn their Devon visitors to their tenth remain game without a league win.

Tiverton suffered an early blow by losing central defender Tom Gould through injury in the 5th minute. James FRANCIS then put Halesowen ahead after just 7 minutes with a deft flick into the corner of the net with his back to goal to record his first goal for the club in his loan spell.

After 8 minutes Dean Coleman collected a corner from visiting captain Kwame Ampadu but Howard Forinton then forced a 13th minute corner at the other end following a poor clearance from goalkeeper Mark Ovendale.

Home captain Nikki PRESTON made it 2-0 by heading home Alex Cowley's 14th minute corner from close range. But Tivvy pulled a goal back in the 19th minute when Jamie Mudge's effort stuck in the mud and the ball broke to the left for substitute David HAMBLY to fire past Coleman from ten yards. Chris Bale's shot was then collected by Coleman a minute later and on 21 minutes Nick Amos cleared for a corner from under his own crossbar.

FRANCIS hit his second goal of the evening with a fine finish on the turn after being put through on the right of goal by Simon Forsdick in the 24th minute. Plucky Tiverton reduced the arrears again in the 34th minute to make it 3-2 when Darren DAVIES hit a brilliant direct curling shot around the left of the defensive wall from a harshly awarded free-kick on the edge of the area.

But FORINTON restored the two goal advantage seconds before the interval by flicking up the ball with his back to goal from a right-wing throw-in before turning to volley home with an excellent strike.

The second-half was more subdued as Halesowen kept out any attempt by the visitors to get back into the game and a dangerous 49th minute shot from Richard Pears was cleared off the line by Stuart Pierpoint. Forsdick played a great 50-yard cross-field pass for Cowley to drive just wide of the post in the 57th minute and following a string of substitutions Barry McConnell chested a Yeltz corner off the line.

Substitute Tom Beddow screwed past the post after 77 minutes and McConnell shot straight at Coleman after 83 minutes as the visitors faced the long trek back to Devon empty handed.

SLIPPING AWAY

Yeltz 2 Mangotsfield 0 - Rugby 0 Yeltz 0

Unbeaten in 5 league games, but 3 draws and only 2 wins means our outside chance of getting that last play-off spot is just about extinguished. We're now 10 points behind Bedford and even if we win our last 7 games it's not looking likely we'll do it. Still it's good we're putting a good run together.

More worrying was the crowd on Saturday - 216 is the lowest on a Saturday for many many years. I'm not sure why it should drop off so steeply for this game, but hopefully it's a temporary blip. However in reality it's part of the general trend of dissatisfaction with the perceived performance and entertainment value on the pitch - however justified those criticisms are - and is very concerning.

We don't have a game Saturday, so the next game is on Tuesday when Tiverton are the the visitors to The Grove.

ERRATIC

Salisbury 0 Yeltz 1 - Yeltz 1 Cheshunt 1

So we beat league favourites Salisbury away one week and then can't beat lowly Cheshunt at The Grove. What's all that about?

Once again our inconsistency has cost us, and every time we get a little bit of hope it's snatched away - very frustrating! It isn't quite over as we're 10 points behind Bedford in the last playoff spot with a game in hand, but there's no real sign (yet!) we're going to put a decent run together.

We're at home to Mangotsfield on Saturday, another of those teams with an outside chance of going up, so if we are going to make a go of it we must win. What do you reckon?

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Johnson, Haywood, Preston, Knight, Cooper, Cowley, C. Smith (Francis 73), Forinton, Amos, Forsdick (N. Smith 73). Unused Subs: Skidmore, Pierpoint, Teraud.

Cheshunt: Kalli; Wattley, Parry, Gyoury, A. Fenton, Jones, D. Fenton, Obeng, Highton, Samuel, Deane. Unused Subs: Perifimou, Dauti, Dix, Peat

Referee: S. Attwell (Nuneaton) Attendance: 347 Booked: Cowley (41) Sponsors' Man of the Match: Nick Amos

Halesowen had to settle for another home draw despite totally dominating the opening hour with a renewed team spirit. But after failing to secure a vital second goal, Cheshunt mounted a late revival.

Busy visiting goalkeeper Michael Kalli was lucky to escape after juggling Dave Haywood's 7th minute corner but grew in confidence as he punched clear Haywood's 20th minute free-kick with Cheshunt pinned back in their own half. Howard Forinton tried a crafty chip from a 24th minute free-kick on the edge of the penalty area after Nick Amos was fouled, but the ball went high over the bar. Kalli then did well to stop Alex Cowley's low curling shot two minutes later. A 27th minute cross from Chris Smith was then parried away by Kalli but there was no supporting striker to follow up.

The Yeltz took a deserved lead after 28 minutes when AMOS rose to head home Haywood's right wing corner from close range.

It took Cheshunt 32 minutes to register their first attack but the visitors then forced four corners before half-time with causing any real danger. However, a minute before the interval home goalkeeper Dean Coleman raced smartly off his line to deny Aaron Samuel on a dangerous Cheshunt break.

Halesowen started the second half on fire and kept up the pressure in search of an elusive second goal, only to be denied by Kalli's heroics. Simon Forsdick's fired at Kalli after 48 minutes and seconds later Coleman collected a Dean Fenton volley low down at the other end.

Forsdick laid the ball off for Forinton on 50 minutes but Kalli produced a fine save and from the resulting corner Amos was unlucky to see his header rebound off the post. Kalli then kept out Forinton's 52nd minute effort from Forsdick's pass after Anthony Fenton completely missed his kick on the tricky playing surface. Forsdick hammered Forinton's 53rd minute lay-off just wide and Forsdick's 62nd minute dipping shot from 25 yards was tipped over the bar by Kalli.

Home goalkeeper Coleman lost the ball under challenge in the 67th minute but Bobby Highton hit the loose ball over the bar from 20 yards. However, the move signalled a dramatic change in fortunes as Cheshunt finished the game strongly and the visitors stunned Halesowen after 73 minutes when Michael DEANE equalised with a fabulous 20-yard curling shot into the top corner beyond Coleman.

With Cheshunt suddenly looking lively and the more likely to score, Deane struck just wide on 80 minutes after a good run and Dean Fenton headed at Coleman with five minutes remaining.

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

Yeltz 1 Aylesbury 1

You could also say it's mediocre. A disappointing draw against a struggling team has left us smack in the middle of the table with little hope of that changing in the short term. An early goal from Dave Haywood set us on our way, but it sounds like it was a pretty desparate game.

Next Saturday we travel to runaway leaders Salisbury which sounds like it's going to be hard, but with our inconsistent form I have a strange feeling we're going to do well. I can't explain it either :-)

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Pierpoint, Haywood, Preston, Pope, Cooper, Cowley, Lamey (C. Smith 80), Forinton, Hadland (Skidmore 80), Forsdick. Unused Subs: Johnson, Knight, Amos

Aylesbury United: Kirk; Schillachi, Page, Gould, Hayward, Butler, Kilmartin (Jackson HT), Powles, Gutzmore, Deane, Bridge (Pringle 77). Unused Subs: Goss, Gordon, Trebble

Referee: C. Williams (Cheltenham) Attendance: 309 Booked: Forinton (22), Hadland (68), Butler (73), Pringle (87) Sponsors' HTFC Man of the Match: Simon Forsdick

Halesowen continued to decline towards mid-table mediocrity with a desperately disappointing draw despite taking an early lead against crisis-club Aylesbury.

The Yeltz made the perfect start in the 3rd minute when woeful defending left defender Dave HAYWOOD unmarked and clear on goal and his shot was just good enough to creep into the corner of the net off goalkeeper Reece Kirk.

Despite the early goal and the fact that Aylesbury are still without a win in 2006, any hopes of a thrashing were soon dashed as Halesowen failed to build on their ideal opening. To their credit, Aylesbury battled away bravely for a well earned point in a scrappy game that offered little entertainment. Kieran Deane struck a 15th minute free-kick straight at home goalkeeper Dean Coleman from 22 yards and two minutes later Mark Bridges sent in another long range effort.

The hosts had a strong claim for a penalty turned down in the 19th minute after the ball struck the arm of a defender. Kirk then made a sensational 31st minute reflex save to keep out a deflected shot from Alex Cowley and Robert Gould was on hand to tidy up.

But as Halesowen began to sit back, the cash-strapped Ducks came back strongly into the game. Sam Page hit an ambitious 39th minute effort over the bar and Kyle Kilmartin screwed just wide from a good position a minute later. Seconds before the break a cross from Deane bounced off Bridge and fell just wide of the post.

Halesowen played the second half with the stiff easterly winds behind their backs and in the 51st minute Steve Pope headed just wide. Matthew Butler turned the ball behind his own goal with Kirk saving Niki Preston's header from the resulting corner in the 59th minute and on 63 minutes Scott Hadland played a neat interchange for Cowley to fire at Kirk.

Inevitably, the Ducks levelled the score in the 64th minute when substitute Nicholas JACKSON hit a super 20-yard strike to beat Coleman all ends up. It could have been even worse news for the Yeltz in the 76th minute but Leon Gutzmore blazed a good chance over the bar from 15 yards.

Halesowen had little left in reserve to try to regain the lead although Pope smashed a 79th minute free-kick against a well-marshalled defensive wall and three minutes from time Pope volleyed yards over the bar and into the Stourbridge Road from Haywood's free-kick.

INTO THE FINAL

WSC SF Yeltz 4 Sutton Coldfield 1

The mighty Yeltz progressed into the final of the mighty Worcestershire Senior Cup with a 4-1 thumping of Sutton Coldfield. Two goals from Nathan, one from Howard and a first ever goal for us from the mighty Chris Smith put us through to play either Worcester or Moor Green.

We're back in league action on Saturday when struggling Aylesbury visit The Grove. We're a long way off any chance of promotion, but I reckon 10 wins and 2 draws (the games at Salisbury and Chips'n'Ham) should do it easily. Positive vibes never harmed us, so let's not give up just yet - we can still do it.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Coleman; Pierpoint (Cowley 55), Haywood, Preston, Pope, Skidmore (Johnson 77), N. Smith, Lamey (C. Smith 63), Forinton, Amos, Forsdick. Unused Subs: I. Cooper, Teraud

Sutton Coldfield Town: Belford; Daniels (Hazell 69), Wilson, Ling, A. Cooper, Wolsey, Dodd, Owen, Hebberd (Dawkins 69), Markman (Farrell 88), McGee. Unused Subs: Hood, Keogh

Referee: J. Holbrook (Kidderminster) Attendance: 159 Booked: None Sponsors' Yeltz Man of the Match: Simon Forsdick

Cup holders Halesowen cruised into their third Worcestershire Senior Cup final in the last four years to meet the winners of the Worcester City v Moor Green tie scheduled for Monday, 27th February.

Niki Preston's 4th minute long ball found Nathan Lamey on the right and he prodded just wide of advancing goalkeeper Dale Belford. Home goalkeeper Dean Coleman then hit a 6th minute clearance straight at Liam Hebberd but the ball fell kindly into safety. On 15 minutes Coleman saved from Adam Cooper after the Royals won a corner but Halesowen broke straight up-field with Forinton being denied by Belford racing out of his penalty area. At the other end, Stuart Pierpoint made a superb 19th minute challenge to intercept Damien Markman who was clear on goal. Sutton then won their fifth corner of the evening on the half-hour and two minutes later Owen struck a 20-yard free-kick just past the post.

But the Yeltz killed the game with two goals just before half-time and took the lead after 38 minutes when Howard FORINTON latched onto a long ball before skipping past Belford to slot home. Belford made a fabulous double save in the 43rd minute to keep out Nick Smith's 18-yard shot and denied Nick Smith again as Simon Forsdick turned the ball back across goal. But Nick Smith then selflessly played Pierpoint's cross on for LAMEY to tap home the second Halesowen goal in the 44th minute.

At the start of the second period Belford saved Lamey's header at his post fro Forinton's cross. LAMEY then showed his strength to shrug off a challenge before planting his second goal into the corner of the net from ten yards to make it 3-0 in the 49th minute.

Coleman made a fine save to deny Hebberd in front of goal on the hour but with Halesowen looking for more goals substitute Alex Cowley's drive was touched just past the post by Forinton on the hour. Cowley then set up Nick Smith to strike just wide on the overlap two minutes later.

Daniel McGEE pulled back a consolation goal for the visitors in the 75th minute when his left-wing cross deceived Coleman to drop into the corner of the net.

Forsdick's 84th minute cross was flicked onto the post by substitute Chris Smith but Chris Smith went on to score his first ever Halesowen goal with two minutes remaining when he ran clear to beat Belford after winning a midfield challenge on the final defender.