NEARLY, BUT NOT ENOUGH (AGAIN)

Yeltz 2 Welling 2

A fighting performance, but the mighty Yeltz dropped another 2 crucial points in an increasing desperate relegation battle.

A first-half Lloydy goal put us into a lead we held until the 78th minute, and despite Pie-arce scoring an excellent goal from a tight angle with only 6 minutes left, we once again threw a lead and important points away. With other teams winning again (Fisher, Tamworth - for no bonus points what's the connection between those two?) we're still in last place , now 5 points from the safety zone.

This week's transfer news (a very regular feature now): Nick Carter , a 19 year old left midfielder has signed from Tamworth.

Next Saturday sees the start of a very difficult set of games as we travel down to play Bath City . Thanks to everyone who mailed me with the updated fixture list .

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Quy; Crisp, Comyn, Wood, W. Lloyd, Ford, Carter, Piearce, Bowen, Smith, Hines. Subs: Mason, Sutton, P. Lloyd

Welling: Knight; Bower, Chapman, Hone, Edwards, Budden, Riviere, Rutherford, Rowe, Harland (Glover 69), Dolby. Subs: Saunders, Farley

Booked: Edwards (44), Ford (44), Crisp (48) Referee: S. Tomlinson (Farnham) Attendance: 458

Despite an improved battling performance Halesowen remain bottom of the table and paid dearly for letting Welling equalise twice to claim a draw. The game once again highlights that Halesowen's plight is due to a miserable home record and their continual failure to hold onto winning positions.

The visitors quickly adjusted to the muddy playing surface and Halesowen had an early escape when Zeke Rowe was judged to be offside when he slotted home after a dangerous run by Anthony Riviere in the 23rd minute. But it was Halesowen who took the lead in the 35th minute when Jon Ford held off the Welling defence before laying the ball into the path of new signing Nicky Carter and his low cross was turned into the net by Wayne Lloyd from two yards out.

The high-flying Wings levelled in the 78th minute when Matt Bower struck a dipping shot into the roof of the net from 20 yards out. In an exciting ending, Halesowen regained the lead in the 84th minute through a tremendous individual effort by on-loan Steve Piearce who fought off three defensive challenges before lashing the ball past Glen Knight from an acute angle. However, just three minutes later Halesowen let a vital lead slip again when they failed to clear their lines and then backed off from Riviere who worked through the penalty area to beat Quy.

Halesowen almost grabbed a third in a frantic injury-time goalmouth scramble that saw Andy Comyn and Ford miss close range efforts whilst at the other end Wayne Lloyd made an important last gasp tackle to prevent Rowe winning the game for Welling.

SOMETHING'S GOTTA CHANGE

Folkestone 2 Yeltz 1

Another desperate result, another poor performance and make no bones about it - we are going down.

The game? We took the lead in the first half through a looping header from Ross Collins when unmarked in the box. They were as bad as us, but then unbelievably took the lead from a penalty (following a blatant push) and then a goal almost straight after. We had most of the ball afterwards, but other than some tricky runs from the excellent Costas, we never looked like equalising.

So how are we going to get out of this awful run? Drastic changes are needed. We've go no midfield, no organisation and unbelievably we look even worse than we were under John Chambers. As several of you have pointed out on YeltzTalk , at least two managers have been sacked for having runs as bad as we're on now, and as far as I can see the only thing that might save us from relegation is bringing someone new in as manager who might spark some life into us. Anyway, please feel free to add your thoughts on the subject.

This week's transfer news: Stuart Payne has been released and has gone to Evesham. The Gas Man always worked hard, but you never really fancied him to score. Steve Piearce's loan period is up, but it's still not clear (to me anyway) whether he'll be staying or going back to Hereford.

Next week brings Welling United to The Grove in another crucial game. Come On, Come On!

Match Report from DJ

Folkestone Invicta: Wietecha; Morris (Dryden 49), Ponsford, Larkin, Daniels, Virgo, Hogg, Chambers (Ross 55), Lawrence, Dent, S. Smith (Ayling 85)

Halesowen Town: Quy; Crisp, Hines (Bowen 67), Wood, Lloyd, Comyn, Collins (Mason 27), Xiourouppa, Piearce, N. Smith, Ford. Sub: Sutton

Booked: Xiourouppa (56) Referee: K. Knight (Hove) Attendance: 384

The lights are rapidly going out on Halesowen's 11 year reign in the Premier League following this latest reversal at the hands of fellow strugglers Folkestone. The Yeltz are now without a win in ten games, having suffered six straight defeats.

The visitors started brightly but Ross Collins waited too long to shoot when in the clear in the 2nd minute and could only earn a corner. Steve Lawrence committed a blatant foul by bundling both the ball and Andy Quy over the line in the 3rd minute and the goal was disallowed. Quy then saved an 8th minute effort from Lawrence after Phil Wood had slipped on the heavy pitch. For Halesowen, Les Hines worked through the Invicta defence in the 11th minute but his final shot went high.

Halesowen took the lead in the 17th minute when a Collins header looped into the net from Steve Piearce's cross. Collins then hobbled off injured and without his presence Halesowen failed to build on their lead against poor opposition despite some tricky wing play from Michael Mason. Seven minutes into first-half injury time Richard Ponsford curled a 20 yard freekick just wide for the home side.

When Folkestone key players Andy Morris and Paul Chambers withdrew early in second half through injury, the visitors looked to be heading for a vital victory. However, as so often this season, Halesowen then pressed the self-destruct button and found themselves behind within the space of a minute. Andy Comyn pushed James Dryden in the box in the 62nd minute and Richard Ponsford gladly converted from the penalty spot. Almost immediately Dryden put Invicta ahead when he collected Nicky Dent's right wing cross and turned the ball into the corner of Andy Quy's net from 15 yards out. Despite late Yeltz pressure, Folkestone were in no mood to relinquish their lead and should have added to their goal tally on the break in injury time but Dent chose to fire at Andy Quy rather than passing across goal to the unmarked substitute Jeff Ross.

OFF AGAIN

Crawley P Yeltz P

Another good result - postponed has been about the best we can do recently. It's going to mean a long midweek trip later in the season, but we're bound to be in better form by then :-)

More squad changes I'm afraid - Stuart Corns couldn't get to training because of travel/work stuff and the poor bloke has joined Atherstone. Also, Craig Mansell "is still working away from home and cannot train mid-week" which is the official version of why he left that everyone's sticking to.

The site - specifically Yeltztalk and Fantasy Island - has been experiencing a few problems recently , but I think the hosting company have finally sorted things out. I can only apologise for this - if you have any problems can you mail me directly and I'll get on to them again.

Next Saturday, weather permitting, we're travelling most of the way to France to meet Folkestone Invicta in yet another crucial bottom of the table clash. Isn't this fun?

WE ARE DEFINITELY GOING DOWN

Yeltz 0 Ilkeston 1

It's getting so desperate that I've having to make predictions of doom like that above - hoping that as my predictive powers are so bad (check out my score in Fantasy island if you're not convinced) it'll save us.

This was another awful loss, going down to a goal just before half-time. That's only 4 points from the last 8 games, we're now in 20th place and unless things start changing soon we really do have no chance of staying up.

Next week brings a trip to Crawley , who are currently in 5th place but have only won one in the last seven. Well you never know :-)

INTO THE BOTTOM FOUR :-(

A crucial game - and after coming from behind to lead 2-1 we ended up with nothing.

With for a month, we travelled slightly more hopefully than in recent weeks, but were deservedly 1-0 down at half-time. We then finally started to play a bit of football and - a shot from the edge of the box and an excellent header when left unmarked. Unfortunately we couldn't hold on; they equalised not long afterwards and then got a sickening winner from a free-kick in the 94th minute.

Steve Pie-arce back on loan unbelievably took the lead through two excellent John Ford goals

Desperately looking for something good to say, I suppose Pie-arce looked pretty sharp with very little service and (pronunciation to be determined) made a promising debut. However the bad news is we've and really are in dire straits (a pun may be added here if/when I cheer up a bit).

new signing Costas Xiourouppa slipped back into the relegation zone

Next Saturday, it's now been confirmed we're back at "Fortress Grove" for the rearranged game .

at home to Ilkeston

INTO THE BOTTOM FOUR -(

Tamworth 3 Yeltz 2

A crucial game - and after coming from behind to lead 2-1 we ended up with nothing.

With Steve Pie-arce back on loan for a month, we travelled slightly more hopefully than in recent weeks, but were deservedly 1-0 down at half-time. We then finally started to play a bit of football and unbelievably took the lead through two excellent John Ford goals - a shot from the edge of the box and an excellent header when left unmarked. Unfortunately we couldn't hold on; they equalised not long afterwards and then got a sickening winner from a free-kick in the 94th minute.

Desperately looking for something good to say, I suppose Pie-arce looked pretty sharp with very little service and new signing Costas Xiourouppa (pronunciation to be determined) made a promising debut. However the bad news is we've slipped back into the relegation zone and really are in dire straits (a pun may be added here if/when I cheer up a bit).

Next Saturday, it's now been confirmed we're back at "Fortress Grove" for the rearranged game at home to Ilkeston .

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Quy; Corns (Xiourouppa 38), Hines, Owen (Ford 55), Lloyd, Collins, Cartwright, Piearce, Bowen (Sutton 72), Smith, Crisp

Referee: D. Adcock (Long Eaton) Attendance: 602

With both teams enduring a troubled season, this crunch meeting promised a repeat of the recent history of dramatic games and goals between the two sides at the Lamb. The game was given added spice with Halesowen enthused by the return of Yeltz-hero and goal-ace Steve Piearce from Hereford Utd and Tamworth's Caretaker Manager Caretaker Manager Tim Steele taking charge for his first game following the insensitively timed dismissal of Paul Hendrie so soon after his brutal street attack.

However, a forgettable first half of little creativity or tactical awareness revealed why both teams are surprise strugglers at the foot of the Dr Martens Premier this season and the game was only brought to life when Tamworth took the lead in the 22nd minute with right fullback Rob Warner lashing home a cross from David Foy from 15 yards.

Stuart Corns picked up an early injury and after signalling to the bench for several minutes was finally replaced by the splendidly named new capture Costas Xiourouppa from Bolton Wanderers who went on to reveal some neat first touches. Tamworth then almost wrapped up the game when a speculative shot caught out Andy Quy but rebounded off his right-hand upright. Despite a frail looking Tamworth defence, it was nearly halftime before the potentially potent strike force of Sam Bowen and Piearce combined with Piearce sending over a right-wing cross for Bowen to head into the side netting from an acute angle.

A sizzling second half began with Quy making an excellent point blank save in front of goal, before Halesowen staged a remarkable fight back. The injured Jason Owen was replaced by Jon Ford who was only on the field for a few moments before scoring two goals within four minutes. In the 61st minute Ford collected the ball on the edge of the penalty area and his 20 yard shot beat Darren Acton to creep into the corner of the net. With renewed self belief Halesowen went ahead when Xiourouppa cleverly took two defenders out of the game before laying off the ball, allowing the resulting cross to be powerfully headed home by Ford.

However as the strong contingent of travelling fans found their voice and contemplated the prospect of opening up some daylight between themselves and Tamworth in the league table, Halesowen once again lacked the resilience to hold onto a vital lead and conceded another two late goals in this must-win game. In the 76th minute, the ball was lost cheaply on the right wing, and ex-Stourbridge forward Christie McKenzie whipped over a cross for Mark Hallam to equalise from close range. Kicking down the slope, the goal inspired Tamworth who pressed forward and were awarded a late freekick on the edge of the penalty area which Foy cracked home for the winner with 94 minutes showing on the stopwatch.

Ominously, with half the league programme now complete, Halesowen have only won four games and would seem to require ten more victories to ensure safety in what is arguably a more difficult second part of the season. Individually, Halesowen would seem to have enough talent and experience in the current squad for the task ahead but it's not happening for them as a team at present and it's time for everyone to pull together and understand their own role in the arduous but mouth-watering task ahead.

UNDER THE WEATHER

Yeltz P-P Ilkeston; Moor Green P-P Yeltz

The bad weather meant a pretty miserable year was brought to a miserable end with two postponements. A quick nose around Anorak Corner and I came up with the following stats - our record in the year 2000 was: To put this into perspective, compare this to last year's final table and I reckon we'd need a win in the 42nd match not to get relegated . Hmmm.

Saturday brings the start of a long run of away games (although with our home form the way it is this might be a good thing) with a crucial relegation battle at Tamworth - weather permitting of course.

P.S. Now the holidays are over normal service should be resumed on the site. Apologies for the lack of updates over the last few days, but not a lot happened really.

MORE XMAS STUFFING

Yeltz 1 Worcester 3

Another bitterly disappointing loss - this time against local rivals Worcester. We were 2-0 down early on, were never really in it and Bowen's late goal was no consolation at all. More details in the match reports .

On Saturday (30th) we finish off a very disappointing year with a game at home to Ilkeston , and then on New Year's Day we visit Moor Green .

As I'm on holiday until after the New Year, the site might not be updated as regularly as usual , but I'll do my best to keep things reasonably recent. Anyhoo, have a jolly Xmas and New Year, and let's hope 2001 brings us better results that 2000 did. :-)

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Quy; Crisp (Payne 78), Ford, Wood, Comyn (J.Owen 15), Collins, Cartwright (Sutton 45), Corns, Bowen, Smith, Hines

Worcester City: McDonnell; Davies, Bradley, Tucker, Heeley, Carty, Wyatt (Tranter 72), Weir, M. Owen, Woods (Burrow 82), Reed. Sub: Scheppel

Booked: Corns (65) Referee: M. Edwards (Swandlincote) Attendance: 743

Halesowen slumped into deep relegation trouble as they were unable to recover from giving injured-ravaged neighbours Worcester an early two-goal advantage.

Worcester stunned the home crowd with an opening goal in the 3rd minute when Michael Wyatt collected a short pass from former long-term Yeltz servant Andy Bradley and curled a shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area.

Home defender Andy Comyn limped off the field in the 15th minute and seconds later Worcester took full advantage when Wyatt put Mark Owen clear on goal and he was brought down by Andy Quy with the home defence caught napping. Leading marksman Owen then stepped up to make no mistake from the penalty spot.

Halesowen started the second half in more determined fashion but found no way through the Worcester rearguard and their possession continually broke down in the final third of the pitch. Another ex-Yeltz favourite Danny McDonnell raced off his goal line to beat Peter Sutton to the ball in the 55th minute and then thwarted Ross Collins by clawing away his shot two minutes later.

Ten minutes from time Worcester substitute Carl Tranter produced a super finish from Mark Owen to make the points safe. However, the home side eventually claimed an 87th minute consolation when the ex-Worcester maverick striker Sam Bowen slotted home from close range after a cross from Les Hines had caught out the visiting defence.

STUFFED

Cambridge 3 Yeltz 0

Our long(ish) unbeaten run in the league came to an abrupt end with a 3-0 drubbing at Cambridge . A goal just before half-time, and two just after from the confusingly named Cambridge meant we've now slipped to a depressing 18th place in the table. Not a very Merry Xmas :-(

Boxing Day brings local rivals Worcester City to The Grove (3pm kickoff I believe) and then next Saturday (30th) we finish off a very disappointing year with a game at home to Ilkeston .

As I'm on holiday until after the New Year, the site might not be updated as regularly as usual , but I'll do my best to keep things reasonably recent. Anyhoo, have a jolly Xmas and New Year, and let's hope 2001 brings us better results that 2000 did. :-)

Match Report from DJ

Cambridge City: Davies; Wooding, Skelly, Randall, Girling, Wenlock (Wilkin 60 (Salmons 75)), Nightingale, Tovey (Browne 77), Bramble, Cambridge, Wilde.

Halesowen Town: Quy; Corns, Ford, Wood, Lloyd, Collins, Crisp, Payne (Sutton 57), Bowen, Smith (Cartwright 55), Hines. Sub: Hackett

Booked: Corns (41), Bramble (56), Lloyd (58), Wood (67) Referee: M. Scholes (Buckingham) Attendance: 485

Halesowen failed to cope with a heavily sanded pitch and were well beaten with Ian Cambridge causing the damage for his namesake team.

A poor first half came to life on the half-hour when Adam Wilde finished a great run from midfield with a 15 yard shot that was saved by Andy Quy, with Phil Wood clearing for a corner. In a rare moment of danger for the home side Richard Crisp fired into the side netting in the 43rd minute when Stuart Payne's header left goalkeeper Martin Davies stranded out of his goal. However, within a minute Cambridge went ahead when giant striker Tesfaye Bramble turned two Halesowen defenders and crashed the ball into the net off the underside of the crossbar.

Cambridge controlled the second half and it no was surprise when they increased their lead after 55 minutes. Richard Crisp managed to clear a header from Steve Wenlock off his own goal line, but as his defence hesitated to clear, Ian Cambridge was able to convert from close range.

Quy made another fine blocking save from substitute Kevin Wilkin who broke clear in the 63rd minute but could only watch as dangerman Ian Cambridge then rattled the crossbar twice in five minutes with two identical 20 yard shots. Striker Cambridge turned home the third goal in the 70th minute from a left wing cross with the visiting defence torn apart.

In the dying minutes, Neil Cartwight's shot was saved by Davies and a Ross Collins effort was cleared off the line as Halesowen searched for a consolation.

JUST THE LEAGUE LEFT NOW

DMC Yeltz 0 Moor Green 1

We've never done much in the League Cup, and we haven't done much again. A second round defeat against Moor Green means all we've got left to look forward to is a relegation battle. Hurrah!

Saturday brings the start of that struggle with a visit to Cambridge City , followed by games over the holiday period at home to Worcester and Ilkeston , and away to Moor Green .

As I'm on holiday until after the New Year, the site might not be updated as regularly as usual , but I'll do my best to keep things reasonably recent. Anyhoo, have a jolly Xmas and New Year, and let's hope 2001 brings us better results that 2000 did. :-)

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Quy; Corns (Owen 70), Ford (Payne 79), Wood, Lloyd, Collins, R. Crisp, Sutton, Bowen, N. Smith, Hines. Sub: Sumnall

Moor Green: De Bont; Mulholland, Hayde, Pope, M. Smith (Baddams 22), Stanley, Woodley, M. Crisp, Martin (Hall 76), Shepherd (Robinson 76), Petty.

Booked: Stanley (53), Wood (63), Robinson (83) Referee: S. Flanaghan (Wednesfield) Attendance: 234

Halesowen bowed out of their involvement in cup football for the season with another disappointing home result to leave them with just one home victory after 15 attempts.

Peter Sutton was guilty of missing two golden one-on-one situations in the first half when he waited too long before blasting at Moor Green goalkeeper Andy De Bont in the 10th and 24th minute. A good build up by Moor Green's Mark Shepherd then set Jae Martin free but Andy Quy turned his effort around the post and just before the break Mark Crisp could only watch his 15 yard effort rebound off the goalpost into the safe arms of Quy.

Sutton screwed another shot just wide in the 51st minute following clever work by Richard Crisp, Neil Smith and Stuart Corns, who enjoyed an impressive debut game. However, it was Moor Green who grabbed the winning goal in the 63rd minute when Craig Woodley was on hand to turn home a rebound off the post after Shepherd's shot had beaten Quy. Ross Collins headed home a 75th minute freekick from Les Hines but the goal was disallowed for an infringement by Sam Bowen and it was the visitors who almost increased their lead late on when Mark Crisp was denied by Quy's fine reflex save.