IN OUR OWN HANDS

Grantham 0 Yeltz 2

16 April 2005

The indomitable Yeltz gained a crucial three points with a vital 2-0 victory at Grantham, and with some other results going our way we can now guarantee a play-off spots by winning our last two games.

It appears it was a pretty convincing victory on Saturday, and it's excellent to see Jason scoring once again. So it's on to Hitchin next week (definitely rearranged) in a very important last away game - or hopefully not! Not sure there are many plans for fancy dress this year, but it's going to be an excellent day out.

Before that we have the distraction of the Worcester Senior Cup Final on Tuesday at The Grove against Studley. It's 1-1 from the first leg, and although it would be great to win something the most important thing is everyone remains fit for the remaining league games.

Match Report from DJ

Grantham Town: Duffy; Wooding, Weale, Sturgess, Julian, Steed, Evans, Francis, White, Matthews (Glover 45), Hallows (F. Smith 45). Unused Subs: Quailey, Sneddon, Fox.

Halesowen Town: Taylor; Skidmore, Haywood (Baker), Preston, Pope, N. Smith, Cowley, Moore, Haarhoff, Amos, Forsdick. Unused Subs: Johnson, Lamey

Referee: C. Jones (Biggleswade) Attendance: 371

Halesowen boosted their play-off hopes by moving into 4th spot in the league with a comfortable victory at the South Kesteven Stadium in Lincolnshire.

Grantham's Tim Wooding blasted a shot wide on 13 minutes but it was the visitors who took a 2-0 first half lead after a good opening 45 minutes.

The opening goal came on 21 minutes when Jimmy Haarhoff worked down the right and sent in a low cross for Jason MOORE to convert his first league goal for five months. Two minutes later Dave Haywood was allowed to advance but shot just wide.

The Yeltz added a second goal on 30 minutes following a mistake by the home goalkeeper. Ayden Duffy beat a Nick Smith shot away and from Haywood's corner Duffy could only parry away Haarhoff's weak shot and leading marksman Steve POPE was on hand to turn the ball home.

Grantham seemed to have found a way back into the game on 53 minutes when Stuart Skidmore was penalised for handling the ball in the area from a throw-in. However, Halesowen escaped when Jason White could only watch his penalty kick being tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Chris Taylor.

On the hour Simon Forsdick's headed just wide from another Haywood corner as Halesowen remained good value for their vital three points.