Harborough Updates

[Johnny Bud]

Tee hits the bar from a cross!

[Johnny Bud]

Subs: Holmes on for Tee.

[old git]

Well from 1500 miles away … 2 points off top … what’s the problem

[HalesowenHarry]

I think we just need to accept its not going to be pretty

[Jefftoad76]

Very happy we won obviously but we cant keep on playing like that we looked like the away team tonight 1st half was ok fighting for everything and getting onto the 2nd balls but even then it looked like they had more players than us on the pitch and my god its so boring to watch constant hoofball and all 2nd half we were camped in our own half inviting pressure on and survived on just clearing the ball out of play and hoofing up the pitch straight to their players
We created nothing except mini robbing the ball off the last man then trying to be too clever he just cockily tapped it goalwards allowing the defender too clear off the line instead of just smashing it in the net.wollocot and wynter were brilliant tonight and kd ran his socks off but what is the system we play as he was so isolated on his own against another pair of giant defenders.

[HalesowenHarry]

Happy to lend punctuation too

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Tuesday, 24th September 2024

Halesowen Town 1 Harborough Town 0

Halesowen bounced back to victory with a solitary early goal enough to overcome stubborn Harborough, writes DJ.

Yeltz manager Russ Penn was pleased with the reaction to Saturday’s defeat. “We played some good stuff. Defensively as a team we were excellent as they played four up front in the second half. We could’ve been better on the transition but I can’t fault the lads. The first 30 minutes were outstanding against a man-mountain team. We have some lads with big hearts and that got us over the line.” Penn acknowledged the need to find consistency though. “We can beat any team but we also have it in us to lose to any team.”

Harborough were first to show with Tendai Daire poking at goalkeeper Dan Platt in the opening moments before the Yeltz capitalised on a 5th minute mistake with Josh Smile firing just wide after being set up by Conor Tee. Halesowen then took a 6th minute lead when Nat Kelly met a free-kick with a free header at the far post and the ball was turned home on the line by Kieren DONNELLY. Donnelly then made a lovely 16th minute turn and surged towards goal but his final shot drifted wide of the far post.

The Bees defended two consecutive corners midway through the first half with goalkeeper Elliott Taylor collecting as Halesowen continued to press with pace going forwards. The visitors made more impression towards the interval and a rocket shot from 25 yards out by Riley O’Sullivan crashed off the underside of the crossbar after 38 minutes before O’Sullivan rolled another chance just wide for a corner three minutes before the interval.

An open, end-to-end second half saw Halesowen fail to add to their tally and defend some late Harborough pressure in search an equaliser. The Bees spurned a great chance on the break in the 61st minute when substitute Kai Tonge crossed from the right for fellow substitute Ben Stephens to fire over the bar when well positioned.

The Yeltz went close when a Conor Tee cross struck the bar but should’ve doubled the lead in the 74th minute after McKauley Manning robbed the visiting defence to be presented with an empty net and although he rounded goalkeeper Taylor his final contact wasn’t strong enough and was cleared off the line, with the following rebound also cleared.

Harborough suffered from more wayward finishing late on with O’Sullivan screwing high and wide in the 77th minute. Ryan Wollacott made a vital 80th minute clearance and Stephens found himself totally clear and onside a minute later but Platt somehow clawed the ball away with a fabulous save. Platt then punched clear in the 87th minute, Wollacott made a good block and Platt collected another low long range effort. Four minutes into added time Stephens struck a 20 yard free-kick over the bar.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Jak Hickman, Nat Kelly, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (c), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee (Finley Holmes 88), Kieren Donnelly, McKauley Manning, Ben Cassidy. Subs Not Used: Reece Mitchell, Adi Yussuf, Ryan Boothe, Lewis Solly.

Harborough Town: Elliott Taylor; Ben Starkie, Joshua Walsh, Daniel Cooper, Ben Williams (c) (Amarvir Sandhu 62), Alexander Morris, Connor Kennedy, Ryan Inman (Ben Stephens 46), Tendal Daire (Daniel Forbes 62), Riley O’Sullivan, Luis Rose (Kai Sanchez-Tonge 46). Sub Not Used: Gary Mulligan.

Referee: Andrew Biggin Attendance: 619
Booked: Williams (38), Hickman (72)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by The Big Pet Store: Kieren Donnelly

[Yeltzbaby]

Phew thank goodness for that. We are brilliant again. 4th honestly there is no stopping us. Bovril however was well below par tonight which was a tad disappointing to say the least

[drummyb]

Phew thank goodness for that. We are brilliant again. 4th honestly there is no stopping us. Bovril however was well below par tonight which was a tad disappointing to say the least

If Paul Smith had made it though, it'd have gold flakes in it. You cant beat quality

[piearce9]

I was pleased to see that team selection today - a part of me expected Russ to dig his heels in and persist with Yussef but KD as a lead striker with two in behind gives us much more threat. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best use of what we have right now.

Perversely, I thought shooting into the Shed End first half might suit us tonight. Early goals cost us a couple of times this season and I just felt like the first half was crucial tonight. As it was, we came out the blocks and the goal was richly deserved.

It got a bit hairy as the game went on and we rode our luck (much to Mini’s relief, I’m sure) but a good performance and definitely some bouncebackability after Saturday.