Halesowen Town 3 Wimborne Town 0 (From Halesowen News)

Halesowen Town 3 Wimborne Town 0

in Sport

BEN Haseley scored two delightful goals as Halesowen Town recorded their second win in a row.

Mark Smith put the hosts in front from close range after visiting keeper Jason Harvell could only parry Brendan Kelly’s free-kick.

Haseley doubled the lead with a lovely solo effort, before George Webb missed the chance to get the visitors back into it when his penalty hit the post.

The second half was largely a procession after Haseley grabbed his second with a delicate lob.

It’s now five goals for Haseley since his move from Heath Hayes last month and today he made the man-of-the-match decision a no-brainer.

Both goals were among the best seen at the Grove this season, or any other ground in this league for that matter. The decision to put him on contract until the end of the season is looking shrewder by the game.

Wimborne fought back from four goals down to beat Shaun Cunnington’s men 5-4 in September but today they offered little and a repeat of that comeback never looked on the cards.

Its now seven points in a week for the Yeltz and while the improved form may have come too late season push for the play-offs, there is definitely a happier air around the Grove than there was a few weeks ago.

The Yeltz could have taken the lead after just 45 seconds. Haseley ran into the box from the right and was challenged by Jordan Cole but the ball fell nicely to Caines, whose low drive was saved by the legs of Harvell.

Smith then should have given the hosts the lead several minutes before he eventually did but planted a free header a yard wide, after meeting Marcus Jackson’s cross at the far post.

Wimborne’s early chances were limited to a George Webb shot and a Micky Hubbard free-kick which cleared the bar by some distance, so it was little surprise the Yeltz were the one to break the deadlock.

Kelly’s curling free-kick from 25 yards out was only parried by a goalkeeper who was perhaps not expecting a shot, leaving Smith with the easiest of tap ins.

The next chapter of the game was all about Haseley. The striker has added the cutting edge so often missing from the hosts and he nearly doubled the lead after bringing down a long ball, holding off a defender and firing in an early shot which Harvell just about held onto.

Haseley then nearly turned provider after running at the defence and playing in Jones, whose fierce shot was well saved.

When the second goal did arrive, it was something special and began with a crossfield ball from Marcus Jackson. Haseley’s first touch took out Wimborne defender Peprah-Annan and his second sent the ball firmly into the bottom corner after the striker had raced into the box.

Despite being in control, the Yeltz nearly gifted the visitors a route back into the game three minutes before half-time. Kelly failed to control in the box, allowing Hill to nip in before being cynically hacked down by the home skipper. But this was clearly Halesowen’s day and though Webb sent Flower the wrong way, his spot-kick hit the outside of the post.

Haseley was still at the centre of Halesowen’s best work at the start of the second half and he just failed to provide Jones with a tap in, after another fine run into the box.

But it didn’t take him long to put the Yeltz further in front and once again it was a goal to savour. Haseley beat Paul Roast to a super ball over the top from the recently introduced Gavin Saunders and with Harvell off his line, he sent a delightful lob over the keeper and into the net.

With September’s capitulation still in the mind, Halesowen looked in no mood to let up and Marcus Jackson was just wide with a shot after cutting inside from the right.

Neil Barnfield could only head over from just two yards out after Kelly had knocked down a corner and substitute Naveed Arshad certainly should have increased the lead with two great chances.

First he fired over from near the penalty spot on the half-volley, before repeating the trick from even closer range minutes later.

YELTZ: Flower, Smith, Kelly (c), Folkes, Huckfield, Barnfield, Jackson M, Jackson N (Saunders 59), Jones (Arshad 62), Haseley, Caines (Cotterill 41) Subs not used: Fulloway, McGrath.

Goals: Smith 20, Haseley 36 59.

WIMBORNE: Harvell, Arnold (c), Cole, Roast, Peprah-Annan, Hill (Taafe 72), Webb (Jamal 62), Hubbard, Kemble (Cook 62), Jeffes, Davidson Subs not used: Magookin, Ackerman.