Halesowen Town 2, Rushall Olympic 0

HALESOWEN gave their survival fight a much-needed boost with victory over ten-man Rushall Olympic.

The biggest talking point of a goalless first half was an altercation on the touch line between Yeltz boss John Hill and Pics forward Richard Brodie, for which saw both men red carded.

However, second half goals from debutant Lee Knight and defender Jack Kelly gave Town their first win in six games.

The weekend had started on a positive note with news that the sale of the club to current chairman Karen Brookes had been agreed subject to legal approval.

The Yeltz then handed starts to new arrivals Knight and Will Longbottom as they looked to maintain the positive atmosphere at the Grove.

Despite that it was Rushall that started the brighter and worked two early efforts as Dan Waldron fired low at Dan Platt after just 30 seconds and Joe Hull headed narrowly wide on three minutes.

The Yeltz grew into the contest, however, as Jordan Goddard forced Rushall keeper Joe Slinn to turn his effort from distance over the bar on 14 minutes.

The hosts carried a bigger threat in the final third with the tricky footwork of Knight and the good support play of Waldron and Kevin Monteiro.

Myles Arnold broke clear on the half hour mark before forcing Slinn to turn away his powerful left-footed drive.

The game then reached boiling point three minutes from half time when visiting striker Richard Brodie clashed with Yeltz boss John Hill after the ball ran out in front of the home bench.

A melee followed as both sets of players came together. It resulted in Hill and Brodie both seeing red and Dan Dubidat getting a yellow.

The game remained goalless for the last few minutes but with Rushall facing a second half with ten men.

It was the hosts that came out firing in the second period and made their extra man count after just a minute.

Goddard's long range effort was spilt by Slinn and Knight reacted quickest to follow up and slot home.

It took keeper Platt to maintain their lead five minutes later when he got down low to deny Waldron as Rushall broke.

Despite that it was still the hosts that did the pressing as Rushall continued to pick up more bookings as they lost their composure a little.

Jack Kelly couldn't quite reach a dangerous ball in from Asa Charlton and skipper Dan Bragoli again tested Slinn from range.

The home side bagged their second when Jack Kelly curled in straight from a corner to give his side some breathing space on 65 minutes.

The Yeltz managed the game well approaching the final moments but did have one scare when Hull rattled the post from close range four minutes from time.

In the end they saw out the closing stages to pick up a crucial success in their quest to avoid the drop.

Halesowen: Platt, Ekongo, Kelly, Goddard, Morrison, Charlton, Arnold, Bragoli (c), Knight, Monteiro, Longbottom (Diop 79).

Unused subs: Weir-Daly, Roland, Parsons.

Rushall: Slinn, Hull, Smikle, Hawker (Sarmento 80) Townsend (c), Whittall, Landell (Webb 62), Maye, Brodie, Dubidat (Archer 62), Waldron.

Unused subs: Adelekan, Singh.

Att: 420