ANOTHER CUP OUT OF THE WAY
DMC Bilston 1 Yeltz 0
13 November 2001
We're certainly getting through them. Another chance to roll out the 'Let's concentrate on the league' rubbish as we went out of the League Cup to a last minute Bilston winner. We always seem to do badly in this competition, so who cares really?
If you haven't been following the discussion on YeltzTalk , there's been a lot of talk of setting up a supporters' fund for new signings. Chairman Nigel Pitt has called a meeting for any interested parties to talk about it next Monday (19th) in the clubhouse at 8pm.
Saturday brings Mangotsfield to The Grove in the league. Come On!
Match Report from DJ
Bilston Town: Boswell; Leeding, Hillman, Stone, Benton, Baddams (Bastable 81), Naylor, Jackson, Habbershaw (Lee 69), Rollason, Smith. Sub: Walters.
Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Crawford, Knight, L. Collins, Skidmore, Spencer, Jones (Giddings 59), R. Collins (Hall 45), Carter, Hines. Sub: Burnham.
Referee: A. McIlravey (Redditch) Attendance: 207 Booked: None
Halesowen bowed out of the Dr Martens Cup at the first hurdle with a disappointing last minute defeat at financially troubled Bilston.
Manager Brendan Phillips elected to use several fringe squad players and Ross Collins went close for the Yeltz in the first minute when he burst forward, but the makeshift striker slotted wide of the post. Michael Crawford then drove wide from 20 yards in the 11th minute. Without the influence of Mark Taylor, the Yeltz lost the ball in midfield on several occasions and in the 27th minute it led to Bilston's Mark Habbershaw flashing an effort wide of Tim Clarke's upright. Les Hines delivered a cross of quality on the half-hour to Andy Jones but his header fell just wide of the post. Four minutes later Hines went on a solo run but his shot from 20 yards dipped just over the bar.
The second half continued in a similar pattern with little prospect of a goal although a shot from Hines was whistling into the net until deflected for a corner by Bilston defender Dave Benton in the 55th minute. Alfie Carter then saw his header fly over the bar from substitute Matty Hall's cross and a 67th minute throw-in from Hines was headed on by Kerry Giddings but Carter struck the side-netting. Hall broke clear in the 70th minute but his shot was deflected for a corner by Steve Hillman. Andy Spencer then hit a good chance against the legs of goalkeeper Matthew Boswell in the 86th minute after being set up by Carter.
As an attacking force, Bilston had little to offer until the 89th minute when Tim Clarke made a great save to deny a Leon Jackson header. A minute later Jackson hit the winner from 6 yards out when Clarke's defence failed to clear - at least the Yeltz faithful were spared 30 minutes of extra-time on a bitter Bilston night to forget.