Halesowen Town 2 Bedworth United 0

Halesowen chalked up their second straight win of the season with a goal midway through each half, writes David Johnson.

Manager Paul Smith praised his team’s workmanlike performance. “We had a good first 25 minutes and then created a number of good chances in the second half, so it was a pleasing second game of the season for us.

We’re a different side now, there’s an energy and tenacity about us and we were well worth the win.”

Nathan Hayward headed just wide as Tom Turton delivered Halesowen’s first corner after 8 minutes and a second Josh Quaynor corner just a minute later was grabbed by giant Bedworth goalkeeper Sam Lomax.

Josh Ezewele and Kieran Morris exchanged neat passes to earn a third corner in the 16th minute and Simeon Cobourne then went close a minute later after some trickery in the penalty area, only for Greenbacks’ captain William Edjenguele to block his shot.

Ezewele made a vital challenge at the other end when Jazz Luckie ran into the penalty area but Halesowen created further chances with Richard Gregory going close after 21 minutes and a low 23rd minute shot from Jack Holmes was saved by Lomax before Tyler Haddow flashed a 25 yard shot past Dan Platt’s post.

Halesowen went on to take a deserved 28th minute lead when Quaynor did well to find COBOURNE down the right and his hard, low 15 yard shot beat Lomax at his near post.

The home defence continued to look strong and home captain Rob Evans made a good 36th minute clearance when Eesa Sawyers surged into the penalty area from his own half.

But Halesowen always looked likely to find further goals and before the interval a low Holmes shot was saved by Lomax’s fingertips and a 45th minute deflection off Cobourne almost fell into Bedworth’s net.

The ball then somehow stayed out of the Bedworth net when Turton’s 58th minute corner tangled up in Cobourne’s feet on the line. Bedworth never gave up and the Greenbacks went close to equalising in the 59th minute when the ball fell kindly for Sawyers, only for Platt to make a great blocking save for a corner in a one-on-one.

The Yeltz then went mightily close to doubling the lead in the 64th minute after Ezewele did well and laid the ball off for Gregory to pick his spot, but Gregory’s seemingly goal-bound shot cannoned back off the post and goalkeeper Lomax kept out Jamie Insall’s follow up with his feet.

However, the wait for the second goal wasn’t too long following good work on the right from Holmes and his 67th minute cross along goal was slammed home by INSALL from close range.

Substitute Richard Smith was unlucky not to add a third goal when his effort was cleared off the line in the 79th minute after Insall broke free and squared the ball.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt; Josh Ezewele, Josh Quaynor, Tom Turton (Nat Kelly 74), Kieran Morris, Rob Evans (c), Jack Holmes, Nathan Hayward, Jamie Insall (Matt Funge 80), Richard Gregory (Richard Smith 69), Simeon Cobourne. Subs Not Used: Dexter Dudley-Toole, Bailey Fuller.

Bedworth United: Sam Lomax; Joseph Smith (Richard Blythe 11), Luke Rowe, Elliot Parrott, William Edjenguele (c), Kyle Barnett, Liam Lockett, Max Johnson, Jazz Luckie (Liam Murphy 68), Tyler Haddow (James Sanderson 83), Eesa Sawyers. Subs Not Used: Reece Blackmore, Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls.

Referee: Joshua Brookland                   Attendance: 757

Booked: Haddow (52), Quaynor (86)