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Halesowen suffer disappointing defeat in a top of the table clash against Telford United
Written by Ben Ditchfield
The Yeltz fell to two first half goals in a frustrating afternoon in Shropshire that will now see Penn's side go four points adrift of Kettering Town at the top, with the latter having a game in hand.
For the third game in succession against The Bucks, Halesowen have failed to find the back of the net, and Matthew Stenson's goal halfway through the first half, got the ball rolling in an exquisite performance from the hosts. The Telford number 9, now has 10 league goals in just 14 matches and added to his tally after he fired a brilliant strike from the edge of the D, into the top left corner of Platt's goal.
The Bucks doubled their lead in the second minute of additional time at the end of the first period. The ball pin-balled around the box, preventing Dan Platt from grabbing it, which allowed Ricardo Dinanga to get his 10th of the season, as he stabbed it in at the back post from close range.
"We had moments during the game, but we are disappointed that we lost because of two set pieces", said Yeltz boss Russ Penn. "Neither side created a lot of chances, we should have worked their goalkeeper more but fair play to Telford, they took the lead and then made it very hard for us to get back into the match.
"A few decisions didn't go our way, but the killer was conceding 30 seconds before half time, it gave us a mountain to climb and even though we knocked on the door, we failed to open it. In the first half we had good moments, Manning was on it in the first 60, but they executed their plan really well. I can't fault the players, cause they worked hard today and as we reflect overall on the season, we are second in the league, we are pleased with where we are and hope there is more to come going forward."
The Yeltz initially started the game on the back foot when inside the first minute of the game, Dinanga was set free on the right hand side of the area, and forced Platt to save down low. The Yeltz number one, then produced a sensational stop, just prior to the fifth minute, as Ellis Brown played in Dinanga one on one, before Platt came out brilliantly to make himself big and divert the ball away from goal.
The Yeltz had a couple of efforts in the first half, but failed to overly test the Telford keeper. Just after the 10th minute, McKauley Manning delivered in a corner, that was cleared away. He then picked up the ball again and this time around moved towards the box, before he hit a shot into the side netting. Just prior to the first Telford goal, a ball up from Platt found Donnelly one on one who ran into the outrushing Brandon Hall who managed to get a nick on the ball to take it away from goal.
Russ Penn's side failed to react to the host's opener and just five minutes after the goal, The Bucks had the ball in the net again following a header from Harry Hawkins corner. The players and fans celebrated, only for a late call to disallow the goal. That came minutes after Platt pulled off a save from the top right, that followed a swivel and shot from Matt Stenson.
Halesowen had a few chances before the half, but failed to worry Brandon Hall in the Telford goal. A Ceesay nutmeg just before the half-hour mark, set the Yeltz on the attack, before a shot from Tee went straight down the centre. Minutes later Josh Smile directed a brilliant ball over the top of the Buck's defence to Jak Hickman at the back post, who hit the side netting.
All of which came prior to the best chance of the half for the away side through Conor Tee who almost dug from the depths to snatch a late first half equaliser. The Yeltz number eight picked up the ball and curled a beautiful shot towards the bottom right, only for a last ditch block from Buck's captain Sam Whittall, to deny the way back into the contest. The Telford second goal then followed before the half time whistle, that marked the first time in the league since the 2nd of November, the side had gone in behind at the break.
Just like the first half, Penn's side again started the half on the back foot in the second period. Five minutes from the restart, Ellis Brown got the beating of Reece Mitchell on the right, which allowed him to deliver into the box, a cross that came to nothing. Telford's winger picked the ball back up and set Remi Walker free in the box forcing a block and clearance from Todd Parker. Just before the 55th minute, Dinanga worked his way towards the area, before Jamie Willets and Smile crowded him out and rolled the ball to Platt.
A minute later, Manning had a huge chance to get the Yeltz back into the game, as he recieved the ball and shot down low towards Hall, who only just stopped it from sneaking into the net. Just after the hour mark, Manning then tried to became provider, his cross was whipped into the box, only for Ellis Myles-Tebbutt to get his head to the ball first.
After the brief spell of pressure from The Yeltz around the hour mark, the hosts grew back into the game. Walker brought the ball forward on a break, with two up with him, his attempted pass to Matt Stenson failed to see the scorer of the Telford opener latch onto the ball, as Ryan Wollacott intercepted the pass. Two minutes later, Dinanga had another attempt at his second, only for his shot to be blocked by Willets.
Manning was one of the brightest sparks of the Yeltz attacking display, five minutes before stoppage time, he had two efforts at goal in an attempt to provide late drama. The first came from his deflected strike went out for a corner and saw Orrin Pendley clear to allow The Bucks to break and eventually saw Reece Styche, three minutes after coming on, shoot way over the bar.
Manning's second attempt saw him force a stop from Hall and force another corner kick. The Bucks fashioned one last chance before the full time whistle, as from a Yeltz attack they broke, which allowed Walker to run at Willets on the left, before he switched play out wide to Brown, who hit a shot that deflected off Wollacott and out.
The defeat means Russ Penn's side lose two of their last three games on the road, having lost just one of the previous nine. It also means our opponents go one point behind his side, with a game in hand and go four points behind Kettering Town, who also have a game in hand following their win over Biggleswade Town.
Telford: Brandon Hall (GK), Ellis Myles-Tebbutt, Jordan Piggott, Harry Hawkins, Orrin Pendley, Sam Whittall (C), Remi Walker, James Armson, Matthew Stenson (Reece Styche 83'), Ricardo Dinanga, Ellis Brown
Unused subs: Alex Gudger, Kyle Storer, Joe Morris
Yeltz: Dan Platt (GK), Jak Hickman (Ben Cassidy 71'), Reece Mitchell, Josh Smile (C) (Pa Njie 89'), Jamie Willets, Ryan Wollacott, Todd Parker, Conor Tee (Charlie Wragg 71'), Kieren Donnelly, Musa Ceesay (Alex Cameron 46'), McKauley Manning
Unused subs: Nat Kelly
Attendance - 2,047 (339 Yeltz)