Three minutes later, and for the second home match in succession, the first meaningful opposition attack resulted in a goal. Good work by the impressive James Quiggin forced a corner on City’s left. The ball in by Les Hines was flicked on by Neil Smith and an unmarked Robin Elmes fired into the top of the net at the far post. The first goal City have conceded from a corner this season.
City tried to respond immediately but Colin Vowden could only head wide from an Adie Hayes free kick.
Another corner, this time taken from from City’s right by Quiggin picked out Andrew Spencer but he placed his header wide.
City struggled to make any real impression going forward. The Yeltz kept Matt Clements well shackled and central defenders Newall and Collins gave Wilkin and Collins little change. Behind them Tim Clarke was sure handed and commanding. The Lilywhites lack of creativity resulted in the strikers snatching at the rare half chances that came their way. Meanwhile the industry and ability of Quiggin and the aerial threat of Elmes allowed the visitors to carry more threat when they moved forward.
On 37 minutes City were let off the hook when Tim Wooding, stretching to get his head to a ball played down the left flank could only divert his attempted clearance into the path of the advancing Richard Leadbeater with only Martin Davies in front of him. To the dismay of Halesowen and the relief of City the striker was flagged offside. A decision which left the crowd debating the assistant referee’s interpretation of the laws of the game.
As half time approached City found themselves hanging on. Shane Wardley had to be alert to clear from Quiggin and a back-tracking Martin Davies collected a deflected through ball from underneath his crossbar.
On the stroke of half time Clarke mis-handled for the only time in the whole 90 minutes, juggling an Adie Hayes corner with Collins in close attendance, but City failed to capitalize and left the field disappointed.
Adam Wilde replaced Richard Skelly at the start of the second half. Whilst this change gave City extra attacking options the loss of anchor man Skelly allowed Halesowen more space in midfield which they were, on several occasions, able to exploit to good effect.
Four minutes into the half Leadbeater set up Newall, Che Wilson managed to block the resultant shot and force the ball behind for a corner. City’s back four, lacking midfield protection in the quest for an equalising goal, were stretched as the visitors used the width of the pitch to good effect. On 53 minutes Wignall was yellow carded for a lunge at Hines (joining Adie Hayes in Mr Brooks’ notebook). The resultant free-kick was cleared and the ball worked to Matt Clements, who had dropped back into his own half. His lightening pace enabled him to glide into Halesowen territory and feed Adam Wilde, however the wide man’s angle wasn’t good and his shot was collected comfortably by Clarke. Unfortunately for City it was an all too rare occasion where their too most exciting players enjoyed sufficient service.
A minute later Jason Burnham conceded a free kick, principally as a result of Matt Clements’ persistence, wide on City’s right. Tim Wooding curled a well delivered centre away from Clarke and as result Colin Vowden was pushed as he attempted to get his head to it. Penalty. There was little wrong with Adie Hayes spot kick, a carbon copy of the one he netted against Chelmsford. This time however the tall Clarke, at full stretch, palmed the ball onto his right hand post. Kevin Wilkin was the first to react but Clarke recovered superbly to make a point blank save from the City striker. With an hour on the clock it was difficult see where a better chance was going to come from.
Four minutes later Leon Gutzmore replaced Wilkin but it was Halesowen, breaking to good effect who carried the greater threat. First Hines shot wide when a pass to Spencer might have been the better option, then Quiggin and Leadbeater combined well down the left to set up Spencer, with Davies beaten his shot cannoned off the upright and back into play.
On 70 minutes Wooding played a quality through ball over the top of the defence and into the path of Adam Wilde but the alert Clarke was quickly off his line to avert the danger. Unfortunately moments like this were far to sporadic and City failed to subject the visitors to the sort of concerted pressure necessary to yield an equaliser.
The lively Jason Ashby replaced Elmes on 73 minutes, two minutes later City were again saved by the woodwork. The same combination, Quiggin and Leadbeater again set up Spencer. This time he looked on in disbelief as his drive hit Davies’ left hand post, bounced off the City stopper’s back and rolled along the goal-line.
With 10 minutes left David Batch introduced Rob Nightingale, Jack Wignall made way and City played the remainder of the game with three at the back. There was to be no grandstand finish however. In fact it was Halesowen who still looked the most likely scorers as both Ashby and Hines could have increased the margin of victory in the closing minutes.
City will be disappointed that this brings to and end their recent good run of results but on the day they lacked the craft to break down a resilient Halesowen who will feel they deserved all three points from this display.
