Halesowen Town 1, Leek Town 0

BEN Haseley hit the only goal of the game as Halesowen beat fellow promotion rivals Leek.

The win lifts The Yeltz into second place and level on points with league leaders Coalville.

Despite a scrappy start at The Grove, the game finally came to life when a Tonks long throw dropped to Ben Haseley in the 15th minute. He got a shot in that was pushed away by Leek keeper Ben Chapman.

The home side started to build up some pressure as the half went on and limited the visitors to half chances.

Iyseden Christie weaved his way into the box and forced a low save from Chapman after 25 minutes.

Haseley gave Halesowen the lead with his 25th goal of the season in the 35th minute. Forde worked a chance after good work down the left. Thomas Tonks latched onto the rebound but had his effort cleared off the line. It finally fell to Haseley who made no mistake from close range.

It was a deserved lead for the home side who created the better chances of the two sides in the first period.

Leek felt slightly aggrieved when the goal went in as they were down to 10 men due to Ryan Dicker still being off the pitch after getting treatment to a head wound.

It was the visitors who started the better in the second half and carved out one or two half chances for their possession. They were then denied a penalty shout in the 55th minute when a Leek forward claimed to have be bought down as he turned just inside the box.

Halesowen finally settled into the second period and started to get more of the ball. Their better play saw Christie hit a stinging effort on the hour mark that was palmed away by Leek keeper Chapman.

The home side had a goal ruled out in the 77th minute when the ref adjudged there had been a foul on the keeper when he came to collect a cross.

The Yeltz's best chance of a goal in the second half seemed to be from a Tonks long throw.

However, as the game drew on, it was Leek that passed up the best chance of the game.

Substitute Grick was played in but failed to put the ball past Sargeant with the goal at his mercy.

Halesowen then saw out a long period of extra time to gain an important three points in their push for promotion.

Teams:

Halesowen: Sargeant, Green, Charlton (Kelly 86),Forde, Hull (c), Tilt, Griffiths (Gueyes 89), Tonks, Christie (Penney 90), Haseley, Turner.

Unused subs: Mackenzie, Pearson.

Leek: Chapman, Smith, Bell, Dicker (Donnelly), Espley, Hall (c), Danylyk (Maguire), Shelley, Kinsley, Johnson (Grick), Johnston.

Subs: Grink, Maguire, Donnelly.

Ref: Stuart Eagland

Attendance: 562.