LOOKING GOOD

Friendly Solihull 0 Yeltz 2

The mighty Yeltz continued their impressive pre-season form with a 2-0 win against last year's bottom team Solihull. Goals from Nathan and Forinton keeps our winning run going, and perhaps even more importantly yet another clean sheet. Full details in Darren's match report .

Only two weeks to go now, and just the one friendly left - next Saturday away to Boldmere.

Match Report from Darren

Halesowen ran out comfortable winners at Damson Parkway against a competitive Solihull Borough side showing many changes from the team relegated from last year's Southern League Premier Division.

Halesowen threatened first on the right in the 8th minute as a cross from Nathan Lamey was headed at keeper Bray to make a good save from Stuart Pierpoint. Pope then headed another Lamey cross, this time from the left, well over on 17 minutes.

Lamey was again involved on 22 minutes as he shot wide after good work with Nick Smith. Solihull rarely threatened the Yeltz goal although they had plenty of possession.

Lamey put over a good ball to Smith, who headed back for Forinton to win a corner on 23 minutes, before Solihull broke on 27 minutes as Egan shot against his own player wide after good work by Wellington on the wing.

Halesowen finally took the lead on 44 minutes when good work in the box allowed NATHAN LAMEY to break free and slot home.

The second half began brightly for the Yeltz, and on 59 minutes, Howard Forinton struck a shot against Bray that was well saved after good work between Forinton and a fit again Strachan.

On 65 minutes, good work on the right by Wellington allowed himself time to put in a deep cross that was well gathered by Town keeper Chris Taylor.

A minute later and HOWARD FORINTON added to his pre-season goal tally when Pope played a deep ball to him from the right and the new signing was able to lift the ball into the net over an advancing Bray.

The rest of the game saw several more replacements for both sides as Halesowen held on comfortably for a fourth consecutive pre-season win and a third clean sheet in those four games.

ANOTHER VICTORY

Friendly Yeltz 1 Nuneaton 0

The mighty Yeltz continued their good run of pre-season results with a 1-0 win at home to Nuneaton. Another goal from new bloke Steve Farmer clinched what sounds like a hard-fought victory in Dave's match report .

Only 3 weeks to go now to the season proper, and our next friendly is at Solihull Borough on Saturday.

I've been reasonably busy on the site - the the full fixture list is now available, and Fantasy Island is open again for a new season. Plus a new vote below. How exciting.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Taylor; Johnson, Haywood, Preston, Pope, Farmer, Smith, Lamey, Amos, Forinton, Cooper. Used Subs: Skidmore, O'Brien, Pierrepoint, Teraud, Forsdick, Harper.

Nuneaton Borough: Acton; Oddy, Holmes, Reeves, Wilkin, Love, Collins, Noon, Frew, Quailey, Staff. Subs: Fitzpatrick, Breward, Blenkinsopp, Murphy, Saunders, Spencer, Poole (GK).

Referee: R. Smith (Halesowen) Attendance: 210

Steve Farmer buried a second-half header to inflict the first pre-season defeat on his former Conference North team-mates.

Roger Ashby's Nuneaton dominated the opening-half, with Halesowen struggling to make any impression in midfield. A neat interchange almost let in David Staff in the 7th minute and two minutes later Staff hit just wide from a 20-yard free-kick. On 18 minutes another free-kick on the edge of Halesowen's penalty area was wasted by Martin Reeves.

Rob Oddy left the field after receiving lengthy treatment to a head injury following an unnecessary challenge by Dave Haywood on the half-hour. Five minutes before the delayed interval Brian Quailey almost met Michael Frew's cross before Frew fired a shot at home goalkeeper Chris Taylor just before the half-time whistle.

The Yeltz enjoyed a much better second-half with Ian Cooper's drive saved low-down by Darren Acton in the 46th minute and after a lull in proceedings, Nathan Lamey blasted wide on the hour.

Former Halesowen midfielder Andy Spencer was introduced as a Nuneaton substitute in the 58th minute after recovering from his lengthy injury and on 67 minutes Taylor raced out of goal to save at the feet of another Nuneaton substitute, Rich Saunders.

A Simon Forsdick cross was headed away for a corner on 70 minutes with Farmer forcing a save from substitute goalkeeper Ryan Poole at his post. FARMER then found himself in space to head home the winning goal in the 72nd minute following a deep cross from Lamey. Lamey was then invited to leave the pitch together with Gary Fitzpatrick by the referee following a touchline skirmish two minutes later.

Nuneaton created their best chance with seven minutes remaining when highly rated 18-year old substitute David Blenkinsopp flashed a header against the crossbar and Spencer stabbed the rebound wide.

FORINTON OFF THE MARK

Friendly Yeltz 4 WBA 3

The mighty Yeltz turned in another four goal performance in beating a reserve Albion side 4-3 last night at The Grove. Coming from behind three times, and Howard Forinton scoring what sounds like an impressive hat-trick, all in all it's another promising pre-season performance.

Next game is on Saturday, again at The Grove, when Nuneaton are the visitors.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: C. Taylor; Johnson, Forsdick, Preston, Pope, Farmer, Cooper, Lamey, Smith, Forinton, O'Brien. Subs: Amos, Teraud, Skidmore, Harper, Haywood, Garvey (GK).

West Bromwich Albion XI: Daniels; Hodgkiss, A. Triallist, Forsyth, Darg, Davies, Smikle, Pringle, Elvins, Nicholson, Humphrey. Subs: Kelleher, Downing, McGovern, McDonald, McQuilkin

Referee: A. Hendley (Sandwell) Attendance: 436

Halesowen came from behind three times to run out narrow winners in a seven-goal thriller against a lively youth and reserve squad representing the Baggies

Albion took the lead after just 28 seconds when last season's leading reserve team goal-scorer Rob ELVINS met a cross from Jared Hodgkiss and his header looped into the net.

Howard Forinton hit a 20-yard drive just wide in the 5th minute but FORINTON then equalised in the 14th minute by unleashing a tremendous 20-yard finish after strike partner Nathan Lamey headed on.

Chris Taylor saved from Elvins in the 16th minute and three minutes later free-kick specialist Rob Davies curled a 20-yard dead-ball kick just around the post. In a 26th minute break, Forinton combined with Lamey again but struck straight at goalkeeper Luke Daniels. Taylor then saved a 32nd minute volley from Brian Smikle and instinctively kept out the follow-up from Davies.

The West Brom youngsters regained the lead on 34 minutes when Stuart NICHOLSON slotted home at the second attempt after his first shot was well blocked by Taylor.

FORINTON levelled for the second time for Halesowen on the stroke on half-time by staying on-side from a long ball and lobbing goalkeeper Daniels when clear on goal.

At the start of the second period Lamey's shot was turned for a corner and Daniels collected Nicki Preston's header from Forinton's cross. Another Forinton strike was blocked on the hour before a good turn from Ben Pringle set up NICHOLSON to convert his second goal and put the visitors back in front after 61 minutes.

But Halesowen finished with a flourish and Daniels was forced into a fine 64th minute save after Lamey was left in space following a defensive slip-up. LAMEY then punished more defensive hesitancy a couple of minutes later to slam home Halesowen's third equaliser from a narrow angle.

Two minutes from time, FORINTON completed his hat-trick by turning Jeff Forsyth and drilling home the winner under Daniels from 12 yards.

News Story

Friendly Yeltz 4 Stourbridge Town 0

Things are still OK in the world. The indomitable Yeltz gained their first victory of the season with a convincing 4-0 win over local rivals Stourbridge Town. Goals from The Pope, new bloke Steve Farmer and two from Nathan on a very hot afternoon clinched a comfortable and satisfying victory.

Our next fixture is now on Tuesday when the Albion visit The Grove in our traditional pre-season friendly.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: C. Taylor; Johnson, Haywood, Preston, Pope, Farmer, Amos, Forinton, Smith, Hay, Forsdick. Second Half Subs: Lamey, Cooper, O'Brien, Paszkowec, Harper.

Stourbridge: Evans; Southwick, Wood, Broadhurst, Bennett, Oliver, Heath, Field, Bellingham, Gennard, Rogers. Subs: R. Taylor, Wright, Ford, Rock, Hollick, Brown

Referee: D. Gratton (Solihull) Attendance: 257

Two goals in each half gave Halesowen a comfortable victory over Midland Alliance neighbours Stourbridge.

New home striker Gary Hay caught the eye early on by turning cleverly on the edge of the penalty area before thundering a 5th minute shot just wide. Nick Smith then drove just wide from 15 yards in the 22nd minute but two minutes later goalkeeper Chris Taylor was forced to race out and save at the feet of Mark Bellingham to deny the Glassboys.

Halesowen took the lead on the half-hour when Smith's cross was flicked onto the crossbar and last season's leading goalscorer Steve POPE turned the ball home from close range. Two minutes later former Nuneaton defender Steve FARMER rose to glance home a header from Simon Forsdick's corner. Five minutes before the interval Hay battled through the visiting defence but blasted the ball over the bar.

Substitute striker Nathan Lamey showed his class by adding two further second-half goals. Bellingham hit weakly wide for Stourbridge in the 53rd minute but Lamey turned well in the Stourbridge area three minutes later to fire just wide.

LAMEY drilled home Halesowen's third goal into the bottom corner from 15 yards on 64 minutes and twelve minutes later a fit-looking LAMEY latched onto a long ball out of defence and calmly prodded his second goal past goalkeeper Paul Evans.

Sandwiched between Lamey's goals, Jamie Oliver stabbed wide of an empty net for Stourbridge after Chris Taylor failed to gather Leon Broadhurst's 68th minute corner. In the dying minutes Nick Preston and Smith both went close for the hosts.

OFF AGAIN

Friendly Yeltz 0 Walsall 3

Here we go once more - another season kicks off with a lot of hope that we can challenge for promotion once again, but this time go a lot closer.

The first friendly at home to a full strength Walsall squad resulted in a 3-0 defeat - full details in Dave's match report .

The fixtures are out now, and your best bet for the moment is to go to the Southern League web site as it's going to take me a few days to get them on to this site. We start at home to Hitchin on August 13th and finish away to Chippenham!

Next friendly is at home to Stourbridge Town on Saturday.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: C. Taylor; Johnson, Haywood, Farmer, Pope, Cooper, Cowley, Lamey, Smith, Forinton, Forsdick. Second Half Subs: Hay, Amos, O'Brien, Teraud, Warner, Lewis (GK).

Walsall First Half: Oakes; Pead, Fox, Gerrard, Westwood, Osborn, Darius Larossa, Wrack, Wright, Taylor, Bradley

Walsall Second Half Squad: Oakes; Leitao, Kinsella, Bennett, Atieno, Platt, Harkness, Dann, Vaughan, Sztybel, Tuohy. Subs: Deakin, Coleman (GK).

Referee: A. Marriner (Coventry) Attendance: 760

Walsall brought a full squad to the Grove to give both sides their first full pre-season work out.

Craig Pead's early cross from the right was headed wide by Darren Wrack and in the 17th minute Dave Haywood's corner was punched clear by Walsall goalkeeper Andy Oakes at the other end.

Pead's drive was then beaten away by home goalkeeper Chris Taylor on 23 minutes before the Saddlers took a 27th minute lead when a shot from Daniel Fox fell for new Brazilian striker Ruben 'Darius' LAROSSA to round Chris Taylor and score from 8 yards out.

Oakes turned away a fierce 28th minute shot from a fit-looking Nathan Lamey at the foot of the post but with Walsall moving into their stride Kris Taylor found space in the area after 34 minutes but his volley was unknowingly blocked by well-positioned Chris Taylor.

Walsall increased the lead in the 43rd minute when another Pead cross was met with a glancing header into the net from Kris TAYLOR.

A much-changed second-half Walsall line-up saw Jorge Leitao lead the line as the solitary striker in a 5-4-1 formation and in the 57th minute Julian Bennett's header was scrambled clear. Halesowen substitute goalkeeper Carl Lewis made a flying save in the 77th minute to deny Michael Tuohy from 20 yards and in the 82nd minute Steve Pope headed off his own line from Leitao's effort.

Halesowen went close in the 84th minute but Walsall added a third goal with two minutes remaining when Pope shielded a through-ball from Lee Vaughan but goalkeeper Lewis was slow to collect and LEITAO nipped in to roll the ball into the unguarded net.

STARTING TO GET EXCITED

It's July, which means thoughts finally start turning to the pre-season friendlies and the new season. Hurrah!

There's been some activity within the the squad so far - mainly up front where Jason and Jimmy have left us with Howard Forinton and Gary Hay joining us to form what will hopefully be a more productive front-line (with Nathan) than last season. It's a shame in particular to see Jason go, but he was well below his previous form last year so it makes sense (to me anyway!)

Friendlies start on July 13th at The Grove when Walsall are the visitors, and we have a pretty decent set of matches arranged.

The draws for the FA Cup and the Trophy have also been made, and miracle of miracles we've got home draws! FA Cup 1QR gives us South Normanton Athletic or Arnold Town, and in the Trophy we've got Willenhall.

I'm very much looking forward to the new season, where I hope we can build on the progress we made last year and challenge strongly for promotion. I'm also hoping that there'll be a lot less moaning this year and people will appreciate a bit more what a great club we are, but I'm not holding my breath :-(

NOT GOOD ENOUGH IN THE END

Yeltz 0 Team Bath 1

In the end even a win wouldn't have made any difference, but it was still a disappointing end to the season when we lost to Team Bath to only end up in 9th place .

I guess the end of season report is something like "shows promise but could do better". We started off the season brilliantly, being top of the table in November and having an excellent FA Cup run. However a bad run in December knocked us out of our stride and from then on we couldn't keep up that early season form and eventually ran out of steam. With a relatively small squad, losing several players with long term injuries didn't help.

So on to next season. I think if we can get Steane, Strachan and Spencer fit and playing again it will make a huge difference to the squad, and with maybe a few additions in the summer we have an excellent chance of promotion next year. I'm certainly looking forward to it already!

As usual the site will still be operating over the summer, but now we have the official club site that will also be a good place to find the latest news. Have a jolly summer, and I'll see you all next year!

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Taylor; Johnson, Haywood (Cooper 65), Preston, Pope, N. Smith (Skidmore 81), Cowley, Moore, Lamey, Amos (Baker 81), Forsdick. Unused Sub: Gayle

Team Bath: Hines; D. Smith, Townley, Long, Hudson, Ball, Heiniger, Canham (Wojciechowski 73), Kamara-Taylor, Blake (Lewis 77), Warner. Unused Subs: Maye, Jaukovic, Chitty

Referee: P. Caswell (Leicester) Attendance: 547 Booked: None Sponsors' Man of the Match: Simon Forsdick

Halesowen missed out on the play-offs and slipped down to 9th place in the final table after their University-funded visitors completed the double.

It proved to be a disappointing end to a season of early promise and the day started badly after the first-team kit went missing, presumed to be stolen. Prior to the game, captain Steve Pope was named as the Player of the Season ahead of Simon Forsdick and Alex Cowley and the Halesowen Town Supporters Travel Club presented a cheque for £1000 to the club.

Nathan Lamey found himself in space after just 6 minutes for white-shirted Halesowen after being put through by Alex Cowley but could only toe-poke at goalkeeper Ali Hines from five yards out. Team Bath then produced a good move on 20 minutes when David Blake flashed just wide after being set up by Matt Warner and Joe Long.

Jason Moore was caught offside on 21 minutes and in the 25th minute a Cowley cross was headed back across goal but Moore tried to place his header and his effort was cleared off the line. Caleb Kamara-Taylor headed just wide for the visitors after 28 minutes and in the 39th minute Halesowen man-of-the-match Simon Forsdick burst down the left-wing to earn a corner. Lamey then cut in from the right in the 40th minute but Hines produced a fine save to punch clear his 20-yard drive and then repeated the trick from the same player a minute later.

The visitors grabbed the winning goal in first-half injury time when Blake crossed for Matt WARNER to head home.

Halesowen never looked likely to break down well-organised Team Bath in the second half and it was Marc Canham who struck the side-netting from ten yards for the visitors in the 57th minute. A casual back-pass from Karl Johnson then let in Kamara-Taylor but his clever chip rebounded off the Halesowen crossbar with goalkeeper Chris Taylor beaten.

Forsdick won a couple of corners for the increasingly desperate hosts and in the 76th minute Hines turned a 20-yard Lamey drive around the post. But Team Bath remained good value for their victory to claim a creditable mid-table league position as Halesowen's season petered out bereft of ideas.

STILL SOME HOPE

Hitchin 1 Yeltz 1

It was never going to be easy. The topsy-turvy season continues down to the wire as we could only draw at Hitchin, dropped down to 7th but still have a reasonable chance of getting into the end of season playoffs.

Dave's match report explains the details of a lacklustre performance on Saturday, but the situation now is this. We MUST win on Saturday against Team Bath at The Grove, and hope at least two of Merthyr, Hednesford, Bedford and Tiverton don't win (not that unlikely). Also, Bath are only one worse goal difference than us so a big win for them could put them above us. However with rumours of illegible players for Bedford even all this isn't clear! Calculators at the ready.

Obviously all we can do is win next week and hope for the best, but we've been in this situation before (when we won but unfortunately other results went against us!) but we WILL win on Saturday and for some strange reason I think we've going to be lucky.

BELIEVE!

Match Report from DJ

Hitchin Town: Wilmot; Baldry, Kidd (Lamacraft HT), Ayres, McCulloch, Cavill, Hassan, McMenamin, Sozzo, Lewis, Bridge. Unused Subs: Hill, Duffy, Mills, Burke

Halesowen Town: Taylor; Skidmore, Haywood (Johnson 13), Preston, Pope, Smith, Cowley, Moore (Baker 82), Haarhoff (Lamey 66), Amos, Forsdick. Unused Sub: Gayle.

Referee: C. Francis (Little Downham, Cambs) Attendance: 417

Injury-hit Halesowen dropped out of the play-off places after letting ineffective Hitchin off the hook by failing to hold onto a crucial lead.

A win would have put Halesowen up to 3rd and in the driving seat for home play-off game but Hitchin's equaliser meant Halesowen slipped to 7th place to join three other teams on 66 points. On the bright side, victory in the final home game against Team Bath would mean Halesowen skipping above any of the 4 teams above them that only manage a draw. Rumours also emerged that, subject to appeal, Bedford will be docked a point for an administrative irregularity. Clearly, once the disappointment of throwing away victory by gifting Hitchin one of the sloppier goals of the season had passed, there remained plenty to play for on the final Saturday of a season of twists and turns.

A disappointing game with both sides requiring points for different reasons at the opposite ends of the table started quietly with a total lack of early action. Dave Haywood limped off injured on 13 minutes, but the period of scrappy play continued until the first chance of the game in the 20th minute when Hitchin's Josh Sozzo hit a half-volley over the bar. A minute later home goalkeeper Richard Wilmot punched clear Alex Cowley's long throw-in. Halesowen then came to life and enjoyed a good spell of pressure in the 23rd minute when Jimmy Haarhoff crossed from the right but the Hitchin defence cleared off the toe of Simon Forsdick. After clever foot-work from Cowley and Haarhoff, the home defence then cleared another Forsdick effort off the line. On the half-hour, Steve Pope worked his way down the left wing to earn a corner, but Cowley's kick was taken well by Wilmot.

A long clearance from Wilmot found Sozzo in the 34th minute but substitute Karl Johnson tidied up and a minute after the interval Halesowen goalkeeper Chris Taylor blocked from Mark Bridge although the assistant referee had already flagged for offside.

Halesowen grabbed the vital lead in a game of few chances in the 52nd minute when Wilmot dropped the ball under pressure from Steve Pope from a long free-kick and the ball fell kindly for FORSDICK to side-foot home into the empty net from a wide angle. A minute later Forsdick broke down the left and set up Jason Moore to cross dangerously, but the ball ran across the Hitchin area without a supporting striker in sight and Halesowen missed the opportunity to increase the lead that their overall performance did not deserve.

The Yeltz surrendered the lead in the 60th minute when a disputed long free-kick from Chris McMenamin was missed by goalkeeper Taylor and BRIDGE headed home to guarantee safety from relegation for the Canaries.

Jaded Halesowen never looked like restoring the lead necessary to secure a play-off position and little was seen of their attack after Haarhoff was substituted in the 66th minute. Johnson's weak 25-yard shot was easily saved by Wilmot on 83 minutes but the hosts almost snatched a last minute winner when goalkeeper Taylor elected to head the ball clear and only managed to set up Aaron Cavill to launch a long range shot. However, Taylor raced back and redeemed himself by saving at the foot of the post.

WINNERS

WSC Final 2L Yeltz 2 Studley 0

It's always nice to win something, so congratulations to the players and management for winning the Worcester Senior Cup! Two goals from Alex clinched the two-legged final 3-1 last night, and sets us up nicely for the final run-in in the League.

On Saturday we play the first of our crucial last two games away to Hitchin . With Merthyr winning on Monday it's even tighter at the top , but it's still in our hands and we are guaranteed a playoff spot with two wins. Hitchin are still in danger of going down, so it's going to be a battle.

I hear the "fancy dress" theme this year is to wear blue - a pretty radical idea but I think it'll work. I'm sure there'll be an excellent turnout (even a part-timer like me is going!) and let's hope for three more points and a very exciting end to what's been a great season so far.

Match Report from DJ

Halesowen Town: Taylor; Skidmore, Baker, Preston, Pope, Smith, Cowley, Moore, Haarhoff, Amos, Forsdick (Lamey 69). Unused Subs: Haywood, Bowater, Gayle

Studley FC: C. Johnson; Cross, Strain, Dyer (Whittington HT), Walsh, Blake, Ager, Savery, Jones (Rattray 40), Grubb, Neath (Fleetwood HT). Unused Subs: Styles, A. Johnson

Referee: J. Cox (Evesham) Attendance: 349 Sent Off: Rattray (85) Sponsors' Man of the Match: Alex Cowley

Halesowen lifted the Worcestershire Senior Cup for the second time in three years with two goals from man-of-the-match Alex Cowley finally ending Studley's stubborn resistance.

Voting for Player of the Season took place during the game and although Cowley seemed unlikely to win, he has appeared in more games than any other player during the season in notching his 11th goal. Dave Haywood was named in the starting line-up but injured a hamstring in the pre-match warm up and was replaced by Lewis Baker as Halesowen's remaining squad resembled the walking wounded.

Cowley's 10th minute left-wing corner was met by a Nick Amos header but Richard Strain cleared off the line near the foot of his post. COWLEY then gave the Yeltz a 14th minute lead with a superb bending and dipping shot from the edge of the penalty area to leave goalkeeper Craig Johnson standing.

Kevin Jones caused problems for Halesowen in the first leg 1-1 draw but was substituted in the 40th minute following an injury. Within a minute Studley's Anthony Savery crossed from the right and goalkeeper Chris Taylor saved the day as defender Stuart Skidmore rattled his own crossbar with a header under pressure from Andrew Grubb with Grubb only able to flick the rebound over the bar.

At the start of the second half Jimmy Haarhoff's looping shot was collected by visiting goalkeeper Craig Johnson and seven minutes later Johnson saved Cowley's shot in a crowded penalty area.

The Yeltz added the second goal of the evening in the 66th minute when Simon Forsdick made a superb run down the left wing and crossed for COWLEY to follow up from close range after Johnson made a fine save from Nick Smith's header.

Johnson then saved from substitute Nathan Lamey in the 70th minute after Steve Pope hit a direct free-kick into the Studley defensive wall. Vincent Rattray was sent off for fouling Lamey when clear on goal with five minutes remaining but Pope's resulting free-kick was deflected over the bar.

IN OUR OWN HANDS

Grantham 0 Yeltz 2

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.