St Ives Updates

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Saturday, 24th August 2024

Halesowen Town 1 St Ives Town 0

Halesowen bounced back to winning ways through Conor Tee’s solitary second-half goal, writes DJ.

After last week’s defeat, Yeltz manager Russ Penn called for his team to sharpen up defensively was more upbeat in today’s post-match analysis. “We had to take stock and had some harsh words. Today we worked really hard and were organised against a dangerous team. We had impetus and energy. Their goalkeeper made 2 or 3 fantastic saves and we kept a physical team at bay. It was our first clean sheet of the season and bringing in three players this week made a difference. Josh Smile was my man of the match and Finley (Holmes) was sharp when he came on.”

The previous two games against St Ives had brought 13 goals but this was a much tighter affair.

St Ives immediately displayed their trademark long throw-ins with an early threat from the right by Aaron Smith but it was Josh Smile on his Yeltz debut who threaded a good ball through for Kieren Donnelly after 8 minutes. Halesowen gave the ball away after 12 minutes allowing captain Jonathan Edwards to advance down the right to strike the side-netting when a ball across to Theo Alexandrou perhaps looked a tastier option. Halesowen then enjoyed a better spell of possession as Tee shot at visiting goalkeeper Daniel Wilks in the 17th minute.

The Saints won their first corner after 20 minutes and Jonathan Herd’s 23rd minute edge of the area free-kick was then blocked. The Yeltz created the better chances late in the first half and Donnelly’s glancing header was saved by Wilks from Tee’s 27th minute cross with Jak Hickman then crossing along goal after the resulting corner was recycled. Donnelly forced a 33rd minute corner with Ryan Wollacott nodding wide and Tee’s shot was easily saved by Wilks two minutes later at the end of a neat move. Another good cross-field pass from Smile found Hickman to cross along goal in the 38th minute before a good cross from Alexandrou just evaded Edwards for the visitors.

Just before the interval a quickfire Yeltz break saw Hickman find Donnelly to cross for Tee and Tee went close again by forcing a good 43rd minute save from Wilks.

Halesowen dominated the second half and Smile continued to distribute the ball well and he found substitute Reece Mitchell who then set up Tee to bring another fine save from Wilks after 49 minutes

The Yeltz hit the winner in the 51st minute after a call for a penalty on Donnelly was denied and the ball was played back for TEE’s shot to be deflected up and loop over goalkeeper Wilks into the net. Tee was let through again five minutes later after a St Ives mix-up but shot at Wilks from the edge of the area. Cassidy’s 59th minute header was then tipped over by Wilks from another Tee cross and Wollacott nodded wide from the corner.

Just like the weather, the Yeltz got better as the game progressed and Donnelly this time headed wide from Tee’s 63rd minute cross before Wilks clawed away Nat Kelly’s header from a 70th minute corner.

St Ives were restricted to few chances by a solid Yeltz defence although Edwards struck just over the bar in the 81st minute. However, Halesowen were unable to find a second goal as Adi Yussuf’s header was kept out from Tee’s 83rd minute free-kick. Substitute Finley Holmes played a delightful ball on his debut to Donnelly in the 88th minute only to encounter a great saving tackle and Holmes then sent in a fine 89th minute cross for Yussuf to fire wide.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Jak Hickman (Reece Mitchell 46), Nat Kelly, Josh Smile (Finley Holmes 85), Ryan Wynter (c), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee, Abdillahie Yussuf (Ryan Boothe 90), Kieren Donnelly, Ben Cassidy. Subs Not Used: Luke Postle, Enock Lusiama Lokeba.

St Ives Town: Daniel Wilks; Jernade Meade (Gregory Kaziboni 85), Aaron Smith (Byron Lawrence 62), Jonathan Herd (Edmund Hottor 85), Jordan Williams, Ethan Creary, Theo Alexandrou, Peter Abimbola (Darko Obeng 80), Jonathan Edwards (c), Kobe Chong (David Adegbola 66), Patrick Casey.

Referee: Elliott Kaye Attendance: 749
Booked: Parker (80), Donnelly (88)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by mascot Noah Harborne: Kieren Donnelly
Non-League Paper Man of the Match: Conor Tee

[Scribbler]

Spot on Andy…. The young lad ,Finn?, showed his class in the short time he was on …. And did more than the other so called forward did all game !!! Can’t for the life of me see what he or Boothe bring to the table, just not good enough I’m afraid!!! And that needs to be addressed ASAP…… great to get 3points , but at 1-0 they were still in the game…. Looking forward to Bromsgrove on Monday, should be a big game and occasion ….

[Dazzie76]

3pts is 3pts I will take it, strange old game we had some good chances at times but were under the cosh far to much for me.
Same old story at the minute we need a no 9 anyone with visability can see it, did their no 5 even have to jump off the ground to win anything.
Wynter my man of match

[Rich]

A step in the right direction. Created more chances and forced St Ives' keeper into a couple of fine saves. Generally though there still has to be a lot more to come I'm afraid. Enjoyed the debut from Smile and hopefully the lad from Solihull will get more game time. We've only got him for a month so might as well throw him in or there is little point having him here. He must be better than what we've currently got up front. Anyhow, glad for the 3 points.

Agree 100% with this Andy.
Thouhgt St Ives were poor but we didnt really give them a sniff.
Parker was very quiet today, reckon him and Smile need time to gel
Need to change forward line asap.
Wynter MOM by a mile for me
Still 3points on the board is what really mattered today

[andy]

Wynter my man of match

Agreed. Still room for improvement but becoming a real class act.

[andy]

Wynter MOM by a mile for me

And agree with you too sir.

[drummyb]

I agree about Wynter, but the back line played well I thought. Smile looked decent as well. For a little bloke he gets stuck in. Midfield looked Ok. KD and Yussuf didnt really click for me. Still early days however.
I thought the first 20 minutes, we struggled to gel a bit, but once we found our stride, I thought we looked decent without really threatening. Some promising performances in that game.

[Yeltzbaby]

3 points job done

[juanillo]

It's just over 4 months since we played St Ives in the 4-3 win.

Of those who started that day, just 5 of ours players started yesterday and only 4 of theirs. I guess that's fairly typical of non-league continuity.

Also there was a difference in attendance with nearly a 40% drop: 1,206 in April and 749 yesterday.

[Rich]

It's just over 4 months since we played St Ives in the 4-3 win.



Also there was a difference in attendance with nearly a 40% drop: 1,206 in April and 749 yesterday.

Yes its surprising the drop off in numbers. I guess after a bad defeat and being a Bank Holiday weekend in August a few will be away.
Guess end of September we will get a better indication of if we can be around the 1000 mark.