Barwell updates

[juanillo]

I'd have certainly taken the play-offs before the season. We just have to make sure we finish as high as possible to secure home advantage.

That was not a great result given the level of the opposition, but yes, we have to try and finish 2nd or 3rd at worst to get a home semi-final...if we make it.

[OnionYeltz]

Very poor performance today in all honesty, besides maybe the first 20 minutes or so.

If we produce that in a playoff game then regardless of being at home or away we will be sent packing

[HalesowenHarry]

A couple of the players must have something on the manager as they start week in week out. Mitchell is never less than 8/10 yet doesn't start. Too late with the subs against a very poor side. Oh well. Forget my earlier prediction. 6th it is

[Rich]

Very poor today. They sussed us out and we had no answer. A few players had an off day.
Plan B today as they showed no intent would have been Wynter up front to give us another option.
Onto next week now but we really need to up our game

[andy]

Title gone. Thankfully we probably have enough points in the bank for a tilt at the play offs. As disappointing as a lot of our games have been, that was right up there. At 0-0 with time running out we should have been playing it like a cup tie. Caution should have been thrown to the wind as 1 point is fairly useless. I've come away from too many games this season thinking 'if only'. It now looks like Bedford or Kettering will fall over the line and we now have to take our chances in the play offs. But without big improvement and remembering how to score goals again I don't fancy them either.

[lutleyyeltz]

.....and Ponticelli scored 2, today.

[DJ]

Southern League Premier Central – Saturday, 12th April 2025

Halesowen Town 0 Barwell 0

Halesowen couldn’t break the deadlock and slipped to fourth place in the table with a second successive stalemate, writes DJ. The first 0-0 of the season at the Grove kept Halesowen’s run of ten games unbeaten and eight unbeaten at home intact in the third game without victory.

But Yeltz manager Russ Penn remained optimistic. “We played really well, we’ve come a long way. I’m not disappointed with the performance but disappointed with the result. I’m pleased, you can’t win them all. Fair play to Barwell, they came with a stubbornness to earn a vital point.”

Halesowen made a good start as Ben Cassidy flashed a 5th minute shot wide and Barwell goalkeeper Liam Castle made a great save to keep out Ryan Wynter’s header from Jak Hickman’s 8th minute right-wing cross. Kieren Donnelly’s 16th minute header was then turned away for a corner with Ryan Wollacott heading at Castle.

The Canaries went close in the 21st minute after Ashley Chambers broke free down the right to cross along goal but Hickman did just enough to prevent Tyrell Waite from tapping home.

Conor Tee whipped in a number of dangerous Halesowen corners midway through the half although Castle stood firm and the tense first half became somewhat scrappier towards the interval before Halesowen’s best chance of the first period. After a neat move, McKauley Manning’s 43rd minute shot bounced back off the inside of the post into the grateful arms of Castle with Donnelly set to pounce.

It took just 26 seconds of the second half for the Yeltz to go close again when Castle beat away Milan Butterfield’s shot. Donnelly then headed over the bar from Tee’s 51st minute free-kick and Castle raced out of goal to beat Tee to a long clearance two minutes later.

But Halesowen couldn’t break Barwell’s resistance as the visitors dug in to restrict any late chances and claim a vital point, although Cassidy’s cross along goal evaded everyone in stoppage time.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Jak Hickman (Reece Mitchell 70), Ben Cassidy, Josh Smile, Ryan Wynter (c), Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee (Charles Wragg 85), Kieren Donnelly, Kacy Butterfield (Reece Flanagan 85), McKauley Manning (Alex Cameron 72). Sub Not Used: Jack Birch.

Barwell: Liam Castle; Victor Nirennold, Scott McManus, Ethan Hill, Lathaniel Rowe-Turner, Herve Pepe Ngoma, Prince Mancinelli, Brady Hickey (c), Kane Richards, Ashley Chambers (Leroy Bohari Lita 88), Tyrell Waite (Deen Master 90+4). Subs Not Used: Oliver Brown-Hill, Gregory Kaziboni, Ryan Hayes.

Referee: Benjamin Stott Attendance: 1,241
Booked: Hill (63), Nirennold (84)
Tulleys Print HTFC Man of the Match selected by The Big Pet Store and Friends: Ryan Wynter
Non-League Paper Man of the Match: Liam Castle (Barwell)

[drummyb]

Bit surprised at some of the comments here, which I can only put down to disappointment. I didnt think we played poorly and Ive certainly seen worse. I just think we didnt look like scoring. I havent any point believed we'll win the league, in fact 15 or so games back, I thought we'd struggle to hold the play offs. I thought Barwell belied their league position today. Not that they played with any flair, but worked as a unit, even if the individual parts werent spectacular. Long way to go yet.

[juanillo]

.....and Ponticelli scored 2, today.

Just one?

[Rich]

Title gone. Thankfully we probably have enough points in the bank for a tilt at the play offs. As disappointing as a lot of our games have been, that was right up there. At 0-0 with time running out we should have been playing it like a cup tie. Caution should have been thrown to the wind as 1 point is fairly useless. I've come away from too many games this season thinking 'if only'. It now looks like Bedford or Kettering will fall over the line and we now have to take our chances in the play offs. But without big improvement and remembering how to score goals again I don't fancy them either.

Think we need 1 win. Teams below us have easier run in