OK IN THE END
Yeltz 6 Bedworth 3
08 November 2003
In an exciting game at The Grove, the mighty Yeltz came out 6-3 winners against struggling Bedworth, although we left it late to clinch the three points. Hat-tricks from Jason Ashby and Leon Mitchell meant we've climbed to 5th in the table , but it was 3-3 until the 84th minute so it wasn't as easy as it sounds. Full details as usual in Dave's match report.
On Tuesday we're finally getting to play the League Cup First Round tie at Bromsgrove, before bottom-placed Shepshed visit The Grove on Saturday.
Match Report from DJ
Halesowen Town: Lowe; Colwell, Charlton, Grocutt, Jones, Baker, Hollis, Ashby, Mitchell, Steane, Spencer (Skidmore 71). Unused Subs: N. Smith, Hallam, Kavanagh, Small
Bedworth United: Hateley; Blair, Crowley, Hollywood, Richardson, Hood (Massingham HT), Lanns, K. Smith, Cammock, Charley, Stevenson (Hadland HT). Unused Subs: Guiney, White, Lower
Referee: W. Barratt (Cradley) Attendance: 432 Booked: Lanns (76)
Jason Ashby and Leon Mitchell both completed late hat-tricks at the goals-galore Grove in a game Halesowen controlled but almost threw away.
Halesowen poured forward from the start and the writing was on the wall for Bedworth in the 3rd minute when James Richardson headed a dangerous cross from Richard Colwell behind his own goal for a corner. Lewis Baker headed just wide and Ben Steane shot weakly at former Yeltz goalkeeper Gary Hateley in the 5th minute. Andy Spencer was put clear by Simon Hollis in the 15th minute but could only flick the ball into the arms of Hateley and a 19th minute header from Darren Grocutt fell onto the top of the Bedworth net.
The opening Halesowen goal finally arrived in the 35th minute with MITCHELL heading home a Hollis cross after Ashby held up the ball near the goal-line. Two minutes later ASHBY increased the lead by turning home Spencer's cross off the inside of the post.
With more goals looking imminent Hollis hit a spectacular 39th minute volley at Hateley from Mitchell's cross and Baker headed a Steane corner high. On the stroke of half-time Spencer's 20-yard shot drifted wide and Mitchell hit a great chance high over the bar and down the Stourbridge Road from just 8 yards out.
The in-form Hateley produced a fine reflex save to deny Ashby from five yards immediately after the re-start as it seemed the floodgates were about to open. But Bedworth pulled a goal back two minutes after the break when Kevin CHARLEY burst through the Halesowen defence to fire past Matt Lowe from 18 yards in their first real attempt on goal.
ASHBY restored the two-goal advantage three minutes later from the penalty spot after Ben Steane was tugged back in the area. Mitchell then saw his stunning 20-yard shot tipped over for a corner by the busy Hateley in the 54th minute.
The plucky visitors mounted another unlikely comeback to equalise with two further goals in four minutes. Martin Crowley's 58th minute free-kick was turned away by Lowe and Kirk Smith hit the loose ball against the bar leaving CHARLEY to slot home into the empty net. The Yeltz defence was caught napping again when substitute Darren MASSINGHAM headed home through a crowd of players directly from a right wing corner in the 62nd minute.
Just when a draw seemed on the cards Halesowen's potent attack produced three late goals. Hateley rushed out of his area in the 84th minute but was beaten to the ball by the pacy MITCHELL who side-stepped the goalkeeper before curling a superb 20-yard shot into the unprotected net. MITCHELL completed a fine hat-trick in the 88th minute by latching onto a long ball from Hollis before crashing past Hateley. ASHBY completed the party to notch his own hat-trick and 19th goal of the season in the final minute when a deft back-heel from Steane put him clear to stroke home with the Bedworth defence in tatters.