OFF AGAIN

Yeltz P Weston P

Bad weather again, and our game was called off because of a waterlogged pitch. With Brendan away perhaps it's not too bad these games being cancelled, and he's back next Saturday but too late to get to Clevedon according to the Halesowen News (!). Seeing as we've played more than most, I don't think any potential backlog is going to hurt us.

Once again Chippenham could only draw 1-1 at home in their rearranged game at home to Sutton Coldfield, so they're still a point behind having played a game more. It's completely in our hands now.

Next week is an important game down at Clevedon. They've only got an outside chance of catching us, but a win for us would completely put them out of it. Come on!

TWO GOOD RESULTS

WSC Yeltz 1 Evesham 0

As we continued our epic march through the Worcestershire Senior Cup, much more importantly we stayed on top of the table when Chips and Ham could only draw in their game in hand against our friends in Gloucester.

Our game was won by another Jason Burnham penalty and continues our excellent run of late. However, we've got two very important league games coming up - first Weston come to The Grove on Saturday, and then the week after we travel to Clevedon in another promotion showdown. It's all getting very exciting.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Crawford, Hines, Newell, Burnham, G. Smith, Skidmore (L. Collins 60), Jones, Ross (Phillips 73), Hall (Spencer 79). Subs: N. Smith, Garvey

Evesham United: Steadman; Parmenter, Wolsey, Clark, Pendleton, Cunnington (Lutz 68), Mullen, McCartan, Taylor, Brown, Preedy. Subs: Maybury, Benjamin, Staley, Pratt

Referee: D. Hine (Worcester) Attendance: 201 Booked: Taylor (30), Wolsey (53), Preedy (83), L. Collins (86) Sent Off: Wolsey (62)

Halesowen progressed to the Worcs. Senior Cup semi-final where they will meet Moor Green.

In front of a sparse crowd, Matty Hall produced a 2nd minute run and shot which was clawed away by goalkeeper Darren Steadman in a much-changed Halesowen line-up. Tim Clarke returned the gesture by turning away Russell Parmenter's 20-yard shot in the 9th minute. Lee Ross hit over form close range in the 10th minute and Matty Hall sent in two off-the mark shots from good positions as the Yeltz pushed a tough Evesham line-up.

Evesham had an opportunity to take a 38th minute lead but Scott Mullen slotted wide after Steve Taylor had headed down. In the 42nd minute Gary Smith played a neat 1-2, but inexplicably hit wide when all alone on the penalty spot. The winner came in the last minute of the first half when Mullen tripped Les Hines and Jason BURNHAM despatched his sixth penalty of the season into the centre of goal.

The Yeltz created more openings in the second half, but could not add to the goal tally. Hines whipped in a 53rd minute free-kick which was gathered well by Steadman with Burnham about to pounce. Evesham were reduced to ten men in the 62nd minute when Mark Wolsey was dismissed for retaliation against Andy Jones. Matty Hall wasted a 70th minute opportunity to increase the lead when he elected to go alone instead of passing across goal to the three unmarked forwards after Lee Ross had set him clear.

Steadman then kept Evesham in the game with a string of fine saves. Kelvin Phillips, son of manager Brendan, almost rounded Steadman with his first touch of the ball in the 74th minute, but Steadman dived to take the ball. Steadman then saved a fierce Colwell shot with his feet following a fine surging run by the fullback and produced a fine reflex stop from a Jones header a minute later. In the last meaningful chance, Hines cracked the Evesham crossbar from 20 yards out in the 78th minute.

VERY VERY WET

Yeltz P Cirencester P

The whole country's been hit by some awful weather over the last few days, so it was no surprise that the game against Cirencester was called off early Saturday morning because of a waterlogged pitch. As all the other games were off as well, obviously there's been no effect to the table.

Everyone was saddened by hearing of the death of Brendan's father this week. He's had to go to Jamaica for a couple of weeks to sort things out leaving team affairs in the hands of Mark Taylor, Neil Smith and Tim Clarke.

Weather permitting, we've got Evesham at home on Tuesday in the Worcester Senior Cup replay, before a game of real consequence at home to Weston in a very important promotion game. Come on!

WE WIN AGAIN!

Gloucester 0 Yeltz 2

That's eight wins out of nine now in the league. It's making Fantasy Island a bit easy, but I'm sure (I think) they'll be no complaints from anyone as the mighty Yeltz continue our push for promotion.

Goals from Skiddy and Lee Ross meant a exciting victory against old and not always friendly rivals Gloucester. According to Chas, the first one was our 500th away goal in the Southern League which I'm sure caused extra special celebrations at the match. With Weston losing and Solihull drawing we've pulled even further ahead at the top of the table , with both ourselves and Chippenham in very good positions.

Chas also suggested the new vote - who's the greatest Yeltz keeper ever? The voting on The Best Yeltz XI ever Danny's McDonnell is a big favorite but we'll see if opinion has changed now he's left.

Next Saturday brings Cirencester to The Grove in what I reckon is their first visit - although as you've probably gathered I'm no expert on this sort of thing.

Match Report from DJ

Gloucester City: Bath; Steadman, Marshall, Griffiths, Prince (Howard 85), McCluskey, Burns, Jenkins, Bayliss, L. Smith, Cook (Webb 56). Sub: Archer

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Burnham, N. Smith, L. Collins, Skidmore, Spencer, Ross (G. Smith 80), May, Taylor, Hines. Subs: Newell, Gray

Referee: M. Gooding (Bristol) Attendance: 476 Booked: Cook (54), Ross (61), Skidmore (68)

A solid Halesowen performance ended Gloucester's eight-game unbeaten run and they were set on their way by a superb Stuart Skidmore strike to notch Halesowen's 500th away goal in their Southern League history.

Halesowen started strongly with Les Hines stabbing wide in the 5th minute and Gloucester goalkeeper collecting a deflected shot from Stuart Skidmore five minutes later. But Will Steadman headed wide with the goal at his mercy for Gloucester from a Lee Smith cross in the 11th minute and a poor throw-out by Halesowen goalkeeper Tim Clarke saw Steadman drive a shot just inches high from 20 yards out.

The league leaders took a 20th minute lead when Lee Ross headed on for Andy Spencer to lay the ball off for SKIDMORE to hit a screaming volley into the roof of the net from 15 yards.

Gloucester then enjoyed a good spell of pressure before but Lee Smith saw his 30th minute shot blocked by the Halesowen defence from Darren McCluskey's free-kick. The Tigers came within an ace of equalising through Gary Marshall in the 33rd minute, but Clarke did well to smother his shot on the goal-line. Just before half-time a fierce cross from Hines was met by Spencer but he blazed over from three yards out and Gloucester goalkeeper Matt Bath produced a fine double save to deny Jason Burnham's 15-yard shot before turning Spencer's follow-up for a corner.

The Tigers worked hard for an equaliser in a tough second half but Halesowen were equal to the battle and were superior in their neat approach play. Leroy May set up Lee Ross to blast wide in the 46th minute and a minute later a cross from Steadman went straight across the face of Clarke's goal at the other end. The in-form May then hit just wide after 58 minutes.

The Yeltz went two goals up when Hines curled in a 74th minute free-kick which was headed behind and from the resulting corner Hines hit a cross to find playmaker Mark Taylor and he rolled the ball across goal for ROSS to poke home.

Gloucester should have scored a consolation goal when Luke Prince crossed from the left in the 84th minute but Marshall hit over the bar when well placed. Halesowen substitute Gary Smith saw his close-range 89th minute strike from May's cross disallowed for offside.

WHATEVER

BSC Yeltz 0 Birmingham City 3

The mighty Yeltz were beaten 3-0 by a surprisingly experienced Blues side in a match used by Brendan to give a few players a run out who haven't been regulars recently. It's always nice to win, but as I always say these Senior Cups are completely inconsequential so it doesn't matter one bit at all. Full details in the match reports .

We're back in league action with a trip down to Gloucester on Saturday where we've had some "interesting" visits before.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Newall, Crawford, N. Smith, Burnham, Skidmore (Jones 62), Spencer, Gray, G. Smith, Ross, Hines. Subs: R. Collins, Colwell

Birmingham City: Vaesan; Gill (Diamond 73), Capaldi, Woodhouse, M. Johnson, Holdsworth, McCarthy, Randria, A. Johnson (Ward 62), Hughes (Sabathier 66), Fagan

Referee: G. Aston (Wall Heath) Attendance: 532

Halesowen bowed out of the Birmingham Senior Cup and were well beaten by a strong Blues line-up. Craig Fagan set Birmingham on the road to victory by glancing home a left wing cross from Bryan Hughes in the 9th minute. Home youngster Andy Spencer brought a 20th minute save out of Nico Vaesan, but it was Halesowen goalkeeper Tim Clarke who was kept on his toes for most of the evening. Clarke saved a looping header from Jerry Gill in the 22nd minute before tipping over a 20-yard effort from Bryan Hughes on the half-hour.

Lee Ross hit a speculative shot wide from a Clarke clearance after 40 minutes for the Yeltz, but the lively Andy Johnson kept the Halesowen defence busy with John Newall making an impressive home debut. Johnson rounded Clarke early in the second half but the home defence cleared. Clarke then smothered a 50th minute shot from McCarthy and saved from Andy Johnson after he played a clever pass with Hughes a minute later.

Fagan struck again for the visitors on the hour by blasting past Clarke after being set up by McCarthy. A third goal followed in the 66th minute when McCarthy found space in the penalty area to beat Clarke from 10-yards out.

PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF

Yeltz 3 Bilston 0

After what's seemed like ages, the mighty Yeltz continued their promotion run by beating local rivals Bilston 3-0 at The Grove.

Second half goals from Andy Spencer - his 5th in as many league games - Jason Burnham (another pen) and Dennis Bailey , who comes and goes almost as often as Evran Wright Wright Wright, kept us on the top of the table .

With Chippenham beating Clevedon and Weston also winning there's no real change at the top, other than I think there really are only 4 teams in contention for the two promotion spots.

Tuesday brings Blues to The Grove in a B'ham Senior Cup tie. According to the ever reliable Halesowen News Brendan will try and give a few non-regulars a run out, which is completely the right thing to do as all that matters this year (any year?) is the league. Be nice to keep our winning run going all the same. After that, we've got a trip down to Gloucester next Saturday where we've had some "interesting" visits before.

Also there is a meeting for all supporters on Thursday 17th in the Yeltz Bar from 7.30 to 8.45pm - a meet the players evening. Also, it may provide a springboard to launch a proper Supporters Club and produce proper links between the club and supporters.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Burnham, N. Smith, L. Collins, Skidmore, Spencer, Bailey, May, Taylor, Hines. Subs: G. Smith, Gray, Newall

Bilston Town: Bryan; Townsend, Read, Meredith (Walters 68), Stone, Daley, Ball (Bytheway 85), Grosvenor, Bullimore, Blakemore (Craven 76), Coates

Referee: H. Singh (West Bromwich) Attendance: 619 Booked: Ball (64) Sponsors Man of the Match : Lee Collins

Halesowen hit three goals in the final half-hour to break the Steelmen's resistance and eventually notch a comfortable victory.

Spencer should have opened the scoring with the first attack in the 2nd minute when a flowing move ended with Leroy May finding Spencer unmarked eight yards out but, after turning, his shot dribbled agonisingly wide. The influential Mark Taylor then put May free but his effort was cleared for a corner. Bilston were much changed from the team the Yeltz played in Nove mber and started on the back-foot although the ageing Charlie Blakemore saw his 8th minute shot blocked.

The Yeltz continued to apply the first half pressure and in the 17th minute Stuart Skidmore had a shot cleared off the line by Quentin Townsend after Dennis Bailey had weaved through the Bilston defence. Taylor then lofted a free-kick from the edge of the area just high and Spencer volleyed wide when Bailey had headed down. After 32 minutes Bailey then laid off a long goalkick from Tim Clarke to Spencer again but the Bilston defence blocked as he charged towards goal. A minute later Bailey headed a Taylor corner just wide and 8 minutes before the break Jason Burnham fired in a 20 yard shot which was well held by goalkeeper Simon Bryan. Man of the match Lee Collins received lengthy treatment to a cut head just before the interval after being caught by Lee Bullimore.

An exciting second half started with Spencer just off target again with a header after both Bailey and May had headed on. The visitors then missed a golden opportunity to snatch the lead in the 51st minute when Clarke failed to gather a Danny Coates corner, but Stuart Grosvenor headed over from just 3 yards out when unmarked.

At the Shed End, Les Hines fired a 20-yard shot onto the top of the net and a delightful 55th minute cross from Taylor was met with a Bailey header, but the ball struck the post and rebounded into safety. Bilston then missed another great chance when Lee Bullimore could only glance a free header wide from another Coates cross.

Halesowen finally broke through on the hour when Taylor played the ball out to Hines on the left wing and his cross was met with a firm downwards header by SPENCER rushing into the box to record his 4th goal in three games. Just two minutes later Hines was brought down in the area by Steve Ball, and after Hines received treatment, BURNHAM stepped up to stroke the penalty home in the 64th minute.

Hard working Bilston never looked likely to stage a recovery although substitute Greg Walters saw a shot drift wide after 73 minutes. With Halesowen seeking more goals, a corner from Hines after 76 minutes saw the ball cleared off the line in a goalmouth scramble. A minute from time, Halesowen hit a third goal in a fine move started in midfield by Taylor setting Hines free on the left to deliver an inch-perfect cross for BAILEY to tap home.

OFF TO A SLOW START

Yeltz P Evesham P

Hasn't been much of a year so far has it? What will hopefully be a very sucessful 2002 has got off to a very slow start with the New Year's Day game against Evesham called off because of the bad weather, and us not now playing until the 12th. Oh well, perhaps it will give our promotion rivals a chance to blow some of their games in hand.

Unfortunately my holiday's are over now, so the site should now be updated a bit more regularly - I hope things we're too bad over the break.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Atherstone 2 Yeltz 5

An excellent way to finish what's been a difficult year. Despite being 2-1 down at one point, we came back in style to clinch an easy victory against old rivals Atherstone to maintain our position on top of the table . Goals from Bailey, two from Spencer, one from Gary Smith and an own goal means we go into 2002 in a very strong position to regain our place in the Premier Division.

Next game is on New Year's Day at The Grove to Evesham, where hopefully we'll continue our excellent run on until the end of the season. Have a very merry New Year!

Match Report from DJ

Atherstone United: Belford; Hart (O'Toole), Beazeley, Barry, Turner (Cammock), Rutherford, Martin, Middleton, Brown, Ejiofor, Doughty. Sub: Genner

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Burnham, N. Smith, L. Collins, Skidmore, Spencer, Bailey, G. Smith, Taylor (Hines 81), R. Collins (Gray 23). Sub: Newall

Referee: P. Martin (Wellingborough) Attendance: 357 Booked: Beazeley (30), Doughty (49), Barry (60)

Halesowen warmed up a freezing Atherstone afternoon with a festive feast of goals despite going behind early in the game. The win kept up the pressure at the top of the table with the Yeltz reaching 50 points.

In the first minute Ross Collins won a corner which Dale Belford lost in the blinding sunlight. Just a minute later, the Yeltz made a perfect start when slack defending let Dennis Bailey turn to crack into the top corner from 20 yards. The Adders levelled five minutes later when Emeka Ejiofor split the defence and put Leon Doughty clear to fire between the legs of Tim Clarke. Poor defending gave the home side a 13th minute lead when Lee Middleton squared across the penalty area from the right for Doughty to hit his second goal home from 5 yards, despite the best efforts of Richard Colwell to clear.

With Halesowen attempting to fight back, Lee Collins headed Taylor's corner over the bar and brother Ross shot at Belford before being stretchered off with a badly gashed ankle in the 21st minute. Ejiofor then hit past the post in the 27th minute and Neil Smith saw his header cleared off the line by Adam Hart a minute later. On the half-hour Gary Smith laid off the ball for Bailey, forcing Belford to make a fine save.

Halesowen were back on terms with an easy equaliser in the 33rd minute when Gary Smith rolled the ball from the left for Andy Spencer to calmly place home from 12 yards. Spencer returned the compliment on the stroke of half-time by supplying Gary Smith to hit home from close range and regain Halesowen's lead. Tim Clarke was alert to save from Ejiofor in first half stoppage time as the Adders attacks continued to be direct.

A slip by Neil Smith almost let in Ejiofor after 47 minutes, but Clarke saved the danger. However, the second half started in much quieter fashion from the frantic goal action of the first and it wasn't until 60 minutes that Dennis Bailey had an overhead kick tipped over by Belford. Halesowen then went 4-2 ahead when Adam Hart hit the ball into his own net when attempting to clear Colwell's right wing cross on 66 minutes. Bailey hit the bar two minutes from time from just 8 yards out after Hines had crossed from the left following good play by Gary Smith. In the final minute Andy Spencer burst forward to crack Halesowen's fifth goal into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

BACK AGAIN

Redditch 1 Yeltz 3

The mighty Yeltz got back to winning ways after Saturday's blip, but not after yet another scare. After having much of the play in the first half, we went one down to Redditch before three reasonably late goals clinched an important victory and kept us on top of the league .

As mentioned before, I'm on my holidays so please excuse the slow updates of the site, especially YeltzTalk. Anyway, Saturday takes us to old rivals Atherstone and their delightful ground, and then Evesham come to The Grove on New Year's Day.

Match Report from DJ

Redditch United: Olden; Mitchell, Jackson, Knight, Niblett, Hawkins, Hackett, Harris, Danks, Booth, Colcombe. Subs: Cartwright, Campbell, Lakin

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Burnham, N. Smith, L. Collins, Skidmore (Hall 68), Spencer, Bailey, May, Taylor, R. Collins (Hines 81). Sub: G. Smith

Referee: J. Farries (Oxford) Attendance: 428 Booked: Harris (79), R. Collins (79)

Halesowen returned to winning ways thanks to three late goals at the Valley Stadium after dominating the Boxing Day fixture for longs spells. The opening took on almost pantomime proportions with the referee only passing the frozen pitch playable five minutes before the intended kick-off time when he arrived late for the noon kick-off, expecting a 3pm start.

Halesowen then had the better of the first period with Andy Spencer's 17th minute shot deflected wide for a corner by Nigel Niblett. Lee Collins cut out a dangerous cross from Lee Booth that was heading for fellow striker Paul Danks after 26 minutes. Three minutes later Spencer just failed to connect with a flick-on header from Ross Collins and the returning Dennis Bailey played a clever ball to Leroy May in the 36th minute, but his pass across goal found empty space. Bailey headed Mark Taylor's corner wide after 38 minutes and a minute before half-time Lee Collins headed Jason Burnham's long throw inches past the post.

However it was Redditch who took the lead against the run of play in the 49th minute with their first real chance when Brendan Hackett hit a speculative 25 yard left foot shot into the bottom corner with Halesowen goalkeeper Tim Clarke slow to get down to the ball.

Just when it seemed like their lack of cutting edge would be their downfall again, Lee Collins popped up to head home an equaliser for Halesowen from Burnham's left-wing cross in the 71st minute. From that point on the result was never in doubt and Ross Collins hit a free header wide before Andy Spencer delivered a cross for Leroy May to make a perfectly timed run to head Halesowen's second goal into the top corner on 81 minutes.

Halesowen crafted a classic third goal in the last minute when substitute Matty Hall threaded his way through the Redditch defence before passing wide for Hines to deliver a cross for the exciting youngster Spencer to nod home off the inside of the post.

MERRY XMAS!

Yeltz 0 Chippenham 1

The weather was very Christmassy, but the festivities got off to a depressing start as the mighty Yeltz lost 1-0 to promotion rivals Chippenham at a freezing Grove.

It wasn't much of a game in the difficult conditions, although man of the match must have been the Chippenham keeper who made three or four outstanding saves. We had much the better of the first half, and although the second half was more even we didn't really deserve to lose in my completely unbiased opinion.

We're on holiday here at Yeltzland Towers for a few days, so I'm afraid the site (and especially YeltzTalk ) will get updated even slower than usual . Despite Saturday's result, things are looking a lot brighter than last Xmas. We are still top of what's admittedly quite a poor league, but Brendan's excellent management has brought a wave of optimism not seen for some time now. We are still top of the league and in prime spot to get promoted, so let's not start moaning now.

Have an very Merry Xmas, and let's hope there'll be some happy Christmas jumper wearers at Redditch on Boxing Day.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Clarke; Colwell, Burnham, N. Smith, L. Collins, S. Skidmore (G. Smith 77), Spencer, Hall, May, Taylor, R. Collins (Hines 64). Sub: Newall

Chippenham Town: Weaver; Vickerman, Dicks, Andrews, Rudge, Woods, Brown (Mings 89), Charity, Tweddle, Rawlins, Bent (R. Skidmore 90). Sub: Bright

Referee: S. Bratt (Walsall) Attendance: 912

Halesowen dominated with spells of neat passing play but failed to find the net and paid the price when Chippenham scored the winner on the break.

A bumper crowd saw few early chances as both sides slowly came to terms with a rock hard playing surface. Matty Hall swung in a 10th minute corner which Lee Collins headed over and Andy Spencer headed wide two minutes later when he met Richard Colwell's cross. At the other end Neil Smith cleared from Simon Charity after 20 minutes and Steve Brown swung in a dangerous corner which Tim Clarke temporarily lost.

Chippenham caused confusion with James Bent (11) and Steve Brown (7) swapping shirts from the numbers given on the official teamsheet.

Halesowen gradually gained the upper hand and Ross Collins headed over from Mark Taylor's 22nd minute cross. The Yeltz then enjoyed a purple patch before half-time but were kept at bay by the brilliance of Chippenham goalkeeper Steve Weaver and their own failings in front of goal.

Andy Spencer cleverly flicked the ball past the final defender before volleying high in the 32nd minute and seconds later Stuart Skidmore sent in a screaming 35-yard shot that Weaver saved athletically just under the crossbar. With the visitors pinned back, Leroy May met a 34th minute cross from Jason Burnham but his header was blocked on the line. From the resulting corner May headed against the crossbar and in the ensuing goalmouth scramble Neil Smith blasted well over from 8 yards out. Just before the break Matty Hall hit the side netting after good work from May and Spencer and in a rare counter-attack Chippenham's Matt Rawlins saw his 44th minute shot turned away in a crowded home goalmouth.

Weaver had to be alert two minutes into the second half to claw away a shot from Hall which bounced awkwardly off the frozen pitch as Halesowen continued to press with Chippenham content to play for the draw. Clarke beat away a 54th minute freekick from Grantley Dicks and Hall headed Richard Colwell's cross wide when well placed.

Disaster struck for Halesowen in the 70th minute when the visitors grabbed an unlikely winner after May allowed Nathan Rudge to head back across goal from a wide angle and hitman Rawlins had the simple task of beating Clarke from five yards out. Chippenham held onto their important winner although Weaver had to make a great save to deny substitute Gary Smith who turned in the box after being put through by Hall three minutes from time.