Unofficial Halesowen Town FC Forum

You obviously haven't watched the highlights yet...

Halesowen Town 2 Banbury United 0

Relieved Halesowen hit two goals early in the second half to record their first victory under the new management team of Rob Smith and Larry Chambers.

Lee Hughes fired over the bar in the first minute and was then blocked in front of goal from Matt Curley’s 7th minute cross as Halesowen started brightly. Banbury central defender Charlie Wise cut out Joel Taylor’s dangerous 9th minute cross and Dan Sweeney fired over the bar after 13 minutes in a first half of few clear chances.

As Banbury settled, goalkeeper Dan Platt collected a cross from former Yeltz loanee Ravi Shamsi after half an hour and then easily saved a header from Banbury captain Ricky Johnson after 38 minutes. Before the break, Puritans’ goalkeeper Emmanuel Agboola cut out a dangerous right-wing cross from Hughes after he was fed on the break by Danny Bragoli.

The delighted Yeltz soon wrapped up their first league victory since early October with two goals at the start of the second half.

SWEENEY bagged his first Halesowen goal of the season with a cracker when he flicked the ball over George Nash and hammered home a volley from the edge of the penalty area after 48 minutes.

HUGHES soon doubled the lead just four minutes later by prodding home from close range after Sweeney hit a low cross across goal from the right-hand by-line. The Yeltz went close again in the 64th minute when Mathias Bakare burst forward from his own half, only for his final shot to be beaten away by Agboola.

There was plenty of time remaining for the Puritans to try to find a way back into the game, but Halesowen battled well and defended solidly to deservedly secure all three points. Kieran Morris cleared Giorgio Rasulo’s 66th minute free-kick off the line and Greg Kaziboni fired wide after 73 minutes. A 77th minute effort from Rasulo flew over the bar and substitute Harry Whitehead flashed a header wide in the 83rd minute as Banbury continued to press, but made no real impression against determined Halesowen.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Matt Curley, Jack Kelly, Joe Fitzpatrick, Kieran Morris, Danny Bragoli (c), Mathias Bakare (Harry Higginson 89), Jack Rea, Lee Hughes (Ivor Lawton 71), Joel Taylor, Dan Sweeney. Subs Not Used: Joab Wheatley, Kieran Boucher (GK), Aaron Gilpin.

Banbury United: Emmanuel Agboola; Matt Taylor, George Nash, Charlie Wise, Ravi Shamsi (Harry Whitehead 62), Ricky Johnson (c), Steve Diggin, Amer Awadh (Mark Bell 59), Eddie Odhiambo (Edmond Hottor 68), Greg Kaziboni, Giorgio Rasulo. Subs Not Used: Darius Browne, Ryan MacDonald.

Referee: Robbie Dadley Attendance: 402
Booked: Bragoli (20), Hughes (42), Bakare (79), J. Taylor (90), M. Taylor (79)
‘Tulleys Print’ HTFC Man of the Match selected by Ella Watts: Matt Curley
Non-League Paper Man of the Match selected by DJ: Joe Fitzpatrick

Good game, great result... something to build on... but let's not get carried away... Banbury were a shadow of the side that gave us a good beating earlier in the season..and even though we won they were still in the game till the last...a couple of scrambles in our box.. fortunately went our way.. luck was also with us today .. second half at 2-0 we needed to keep the ball more , play passes through midfield, control the tempo.. long balls giving possession away cheaply only invites them back on the attack, against a better side we would have been punished....
That said, great 3points, just need to control the game more from winning positions,, hopefully more times over the next few games...starting the new year off with a big win at Reditch ... Happy new year to all

Aw sod it, we don't get chance to get carried away very often.

Nearly a Chinese Saturday as well. The Stripeys loused that up with a 95th minute equaliser