Match Preview | AFC Telford United (A)

Dec 23, 20245 min read

Updated: Dec 26, 2024

Halesowen travel to Shropshire on Boxing Day in a 2nd v 3rd clash against Telford United

Written by Ben Ditchfield

Fresh off the high of a last minute winner at the weekend, the Yeltz face on paper their toughest league game of the campaign to date as they travel to The New Bucks Head for a Boxing Day blockbuster.

The sides have only met three times since Telford were formed in 2004, replacing the old Telford United who folded. The first and only win for the Yeltz in this fixture came back in September 2006 when Paul Holleran's Yeltz side beat The Bucks 4-2 away from home in the FA Cup in front of an attendance of 1,472. All four goals came thanks to one man, Matt Lewis, who incidentally is the only Halesowen player to score in this fixture.

The most recent contest between the two sides, came on Boxing Day last year, where the Yeltz fell to Telford's 16 game unbeaten streak in a 2-0 defeat at The Grove, that saw Reece Styche and Remi Walker earn two first half goals to get our opponents over the line to victory. Halesowen have failed to score in the last two meetings, with the game a year ago and the 0-0 stalemate in Shropshire last year in August, since that day Halesowen have gone 54 league games without a goalless draw. The Yeltz do have one current player who has previously scored against Telford, as Ryan Wollacott managed an equaliser against them for Redditch in August last year.

On this occasion Russ Penn will be in the dugout, in what will be his sixth managerial meeting against The Bucks. Penn has a remarkable record against Telford, which saw his Kidderminster side go unbeaten against them in the five games he was in charge of at Kiddie against The Bucks, winning four of them and conceding just the one goal.

The Yeltz come into the boxing day clash, following a 94th minute winning free kick against Redditch United from Conor Tee. He is currently in red hot form and the goal at the weekend now means he has scored in two successive league matches for the first time in a Halesowen shirt and has seven goals for the season in all competitions, six of which have come in the second half of games.

The side have lost just two of their last 11 away matches in the league and with a win on Thursday, Halesowen could have the second best away record in the division. The Yeltz won just six of their 20 league away games last season, scoring 21 goals and already have five wins in nine away game this league campaign, scoring 19 goals.

The game will give Penn's side the chance to go top of the league for the first time since the 13th of August. The chances of it happening will be slim due to Kettering playing at home to bottom of the pile Biggleswade Town, but if The Poppies do fail to win, the Yeltz could end their 72 day successive streak at the top of the league.

Our opponents Telford, also come into the game following a late goal in their game against Stourbridge, unlike the Yeltz though, the last minute goal came against them. The Bucks took the lead just before the hour mark through James Armson who headed in the rebound from Ricardo Dinanga's initial shot. They eventually came undone with a 95th minute equaliser from Stourbridge defender Jordaan Brown, a goal that was later awarded to Alexander Jones.

The Bucks suffered a shock defeat at The New Bucks Head against Leamington in the play-off final last season, but have since reacted well to that defeat as we edge towards the half way stage of this campaign. The side have lost just four of their 19 league matches and just like the Yeltz, they have shown big character in matches this campaign, picking up 12 points across the season in games when they have been behind, more points than any one else in the division. The Yeltz will though be encouraged by the fact that Telford have kept just the two clean sheets in the league this season.

Telford boss Kevin Wilkin, has been in charge of the club since October 2022 and in the 103 matches he has been in the hot seat, his side have picked up 43 wins, scoring 139 goals and conceding 130, along the way. The clubs relegation from the National League North in 2023, was the only time in Wilkin's 18 year managerial career where he has suffered relegation. In the past he has managed the likes of: Brackley Town, where he won the FA Trophy in 2018, Wrexham where he reached the FA Trophy final in 2015 and Nuneaton Borough from 2006-2014, where he secured three promotions in four seasons.

The Yeltz will have to be on red alert for Matthew Stenson's current hot streak in the league, the man who joined from Nuneaton Borough at the start of the year has scored nine goals in 13 league games this campaign and has 15 league goals across this calendar year. Ricardo Dinanga has scored nine goals in all competitions this season, and 11 in league games this year.

If the Yeltz want the victory in Shropshire on Thursday, scoring the first goal could be crucial come the outcome of the game, based on recent history. Halesowen have lost just two of their last 35 league games when scoring first, while Telford have lost just one of their last 40 league matches when doing so. The Bucks have also been behind at half time just five times in their last 50 league games, stating the potential importance of another strong second half showing for Penn's side.

Key Seasonal Stats

Telford

League Position - 3rd

Season Record - PL23 12W 5D 6L 39GS 35GC

Form (Last 5 Games) - LWWDD

Top Scorer - Matthew Stenson & Ricardo Dinanga (9 Goals)

Most Appearances - Brandon Hall (23)

Most Starts - Brandon Hall (23)

Biggest League Win - 4-1 vs Bishop's Stortford (Home - 2nd November)

Biggest League Defeat - 5-1 vs Stourbridge (Home - 13th August)

Longest Unbeaten Run - 4 Games (23rd November - present)

Longest Winless Run - 2 Games (Four Times)