Royston Updates

[piearce9]

Mad game, really. Yeltz absolutely flew out the traps - goal in the first minute, should have had about four or five before the half hour mark. Followed by the inevitable, clinging on by the seat of our pants late on.

But we held firm, and got the three points, and that’s all that matters I guess.

Manning came back like a man possessed tonight - great man management by Penn to rest him and bring him back with such an impact. Wynter superb as ever - Royston a big side and he made amends for the red card at their place. Tee once again outstanding - took his goals well and ultra reliable once again.

KD? Missed more chances tonight than he will the rest of the season combined, almost comical at times, but still his usual energetic self and creates stuff from nothing. Hopefully the scouts were watching this one game tonight.

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Tuesday, 21st January 2025

Halesowen Town 2 Royston Town 1

Halesowen rose to the top of the table after two early goals from in-form Conor Tee overcame improving Royston, writes DJ.

Immediately after the game manager Russ Penn admitted to being emotional following the final half hour. “We won the game in the first twenty minutes today – football at its best – it could’ve been three or four. But we let them back in it and they went direct. We didn’t have our shooting boots on today, they had their chances by being direct. The subs gave us a different dimension. I’m positive going forwards.”

Halesowen made a perfect start to an exciting first half by taking the lead after just 21 seconds when TEE swept home his tenth goal of the season into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area. The Yeltz kept up their early exhilarating pace to earn three corners in quick succession and Ryan Wollacott was just unable to find a strong enough contact with his 11th minute header before Milan Butterfield then struck a low drive wide after 18 minutes.

Royston’s Jesse Akubuine mis-kicked a good opportunity in the home penalty area and Archibald Locke could only touch wide in front of goal from a Joshua Coldicott-Stevens free-kick in the 22nd minute.

Halesowen doubled the lead in the 23rd minute when McKauley Manning found Kieren Donnelly and he lifted the ball over goalkeeper Tommy Dixon-Hodge for TEE to score into an empty net.

The Crows pulled a goal back in the 28th minute when Harrison ROOKARD was on hand to turn home a right-wing cross from close range. Towards the interval Donnelly missed near the goalpost and visiting goalkeeper Dixon-Hodge cleared with his head just before the half-time whistle.

At the start of the second period, Aaron Greene’s shot on the turn earned a 51st minute for Royston and Jak Hickman’s 56th minute cross was turned away for a corner at the other end. Royston’s goalkeeper Dixon-Hodge then grabbed a 62nd minute cross from Reece Mitchell with the Yeltz attacking the Stourbr*dge Road end in the second half.

But it was Royston who created most chances late on as they pressed hard for an equaliser. A header from substitute Eduard Toiny-Pendred was kept out by Platt’s brilliant 63rd minute save for a corner amidst a scramble in the goalmouth during a good Royston spell.

Donnelly had two chances to increase the lead mid-way through the second half. He latched onto a 66th minute long ball, only for Dixon-Hodge to make a good blocking save and Donnelly was free again down the right two minutes later but he lifted the ball over Dixon-Hodge into the side-netting.

Halesowen successfully soaked up a considerable late Royston onslaught. Platt collected a 72nd minute cross from substitute Luke Johnson low down and Platt was beaten outside his area five minutes later but the Yeltz escaped to concede a corner with Rookard bearing down on goal. Harvey Beckett’s 78th minute header was then turned on to the underside of the crossbar by busy Platt and the home defence defended another dangerous 81st minute corner in a crowded goalmouth against the big, strong opposition. Captain Ryan Wynter’s brilliant 90th minute defending helped secure the vital three points and Halesowen broke away in added time through Josh Smile and substitute Musa Ceesay to set up substitute Alex Cameron, but he stumbled and could only force a corner.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Jak Hickman, Reece Mitchell, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (c), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee (Alex Cameron 89), Kieren Donnelly (Ben Cassidy 83), Milan Butterfield, McKauley Manning (Musa Ceesay 79). Subs Not Used: Martin Riley, Lewis Solly.

Royston Town: Tommy Dixon-Hodge; James Brighton, Joshua Coldicott-Stevens, Adam Murray (c), Harvey Beckett, Harrison Rookard, Jesse Akubuine (Luke Johnson 61), Damaray Anyadike (Ben Weyman 50), Oluwakoyejo Dawodu (Tyrone Baker 84), Aaron Greene (Eduard Toiny-Pendred 61), Archibald Locke. Sub Not Used: Edward Asafu-Adjaye.

Referee: David Hinton Attendance: 512
Booked: Brighton (32), Platt (46), Smile (75), Locke (90)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by the Directors: Dan Platt

[andy]

Another welcome 3 points but boy did we make hard work of it. I thought at 2-0 it was a question of how many. 1 soft goal later and Royston believed. They were a big side and from set plays gave us a lot of problems. Somehow last ditch defending, good saves and the woodwork came to our rescue. If KD had done better with a couple of 1 on 1's with the keeper and Cameron put had away what looked a fairly easy chance, it could have made the scoreline look a lot simpler than it was. Very flat atmosphere again tonight, crowd halved to under 600 for the second game running. It would appear the 3 defeats over Christmas has put off all the part timers. Even though we've gone top of the league! Fickle.

[MichaelGrove]

Another welcome 3 points but boy did we make hard work of it. I thought at 2-0 it was a question of how many. 1 soft goal later and Royston believed. They were a big side and from set plays gave us a lot of problems. Somehow last ditch defending, good saves and the woodwork came to our rescue. If KD had done better with a couple of 1 on 1's with the keeper and Cameron put had away what looked a fairly easy chance, it could have made the scoreline look a lot simpler than it was. Very flat atmosphere again tonight, crowd halved to under 600 for the second game running. It would appear the 3 defeats over Christmas has put off all the part timers. Even though we've gone top of the league! Fickle.

Attendances are definitely affected by the fact the games have been Tuesday nights in January, people are skint after Christmas and the kids have school in the morning.

[Scribbler]

Attendances have overall been a bit disappointing,compared to last season, but don’t knock people who can’t make it for whatever reason,time of year…mid week… some people just can’t afford it… simple as that…. But praise them when they do turn up …it’s not a god given rule that people must attend every game… I’m a season ticket holder and I probably miss five odd games a season !!!
As for the game…. Started off like a house on fire… on the attack, playing some beautiful football and creating chance after chance, game should have been done and dusted in the first thirty minutes, should have been 5-0 at halftime….. but for some reason, as in other games,we stop playing football and revert back to long ball… punts up the pitch…WHY… second half they were a changed side.. came out firing on all cylinders… made three changes, put on bigger players and got more physical…. They changed for the better and we changed for the worse… we need to continue to play like we did for the first twenty minutes, to our strength with the players we have….. great result,in the end but could have drawn or even lost it…. Need t be putting away all these chances , last two games now, to stay on top of the table … still think we need a striker to help KD … some big games coming up, starting on Saturday… looking forward to Stratford… well done on going top ….

[TractionJackson]

I'm not 100% sure if the numbers are down tbh. A very quick scan through the forum shows we had 850 against Needham last January but that was a Saturday.

Saying that we were at least 8 down last night because the lads who lobbed the can last week were being refused entry when I was paying my £12.

[drummyb]

I'm not 100% sure if the numbers are down tbh. A very quick scan through the forum shows we had 850 against Needham last January but that was a Saturday.

Saying that we were at least 8 down last night because the lads who lobbed the can last week were being refused entry when I was paying my £12.

Good!!

[Josh1873]

I'm not 100% sure if the numbers are down tbh. A very quick scan through the forum shows we had 850 against Needham last January but that was a Saturday.

Saying that we were at least 8 down last night because the lads who lobbed the can last week were being refused entry when I was paying my £12.

I'm pleased that the culprits have been identified - credit to the club.

[HalesowenHarry]

I don't think the 3 defeats put that many off, I think it's the standard Tuesday night crowds down added to January, lets see how many we get on 1st Feb against BS, And first of all let's just worry about Stratford, it's a tough place to go, I'd take a point right now.

[Josh1873]

Very flat atmosphere again tonight, crowd halved to under 600 for the second game running. It would appear the 3 defeats over Christmas has put off all the part timers. Even though we've gone top of the league! Fickle.

The atmosphere has been flat for a while now. I think part of that is due to a group of youths/adults acting like they're 18 behaving like idiots, frankly. I know of people who used to stand in the Shed, but have moved to other parts of the ground to avoid standing next to this group. I guess that's the downside of increased attendances.

From a personal point of view, I'm really happy with how the season is going. Penn is doing a brilliant job. But I can't help feel the excitement is missing. I can't put my finger on it.