Halesowen Town 3 Hednesford Town 4

Halesowen were left without a pre-season home win after Southern League Premier Central Hednesford Town won by the odd goal of seven in an entertaining final preparation game ahead of the new season, writes David Johnson.

Hednesford began their season with a 1-0 home defeat three days earlier but started on the front foot and forced two good early saves from Yeltz goalkeeper Dan Platt. But Platt couldn’t prevent the Pitmen taking a deserved 19th minute lead when a low shot from the right edge of the penalty area beat both the home defence and Platt to find the bottom corner. Jamie Insall had a 28th minute penalty shout turned down but it was Platt to the rescue again in the 32nd minute when he raced off his line to clear after Nat Kelly lost out.

But suddenly, the Yeltz became transformed following a drinks break and mounted a big turnaround in the final 12 minutes of the first period.

Simeon Cobourne almost nipped in to meet a delightful 34th minute long ball from Tom Turton.

Halesowen then equalised in the 37th minute when Josh Quaynor burst forward to exchange passes with Richard Gregory and Bailey FULLER slotted home Quaynor’s excellent low cross from the left. Josh Ezewele did well down the opposite flank two minutes later to cross to Gregory, but his acrobatic shot was collected easily by the Hednesford goalkeeper.

TURTON put Halesowen 2-1 up in the 40th minute with a brilliant 45 yard lob from just inside the Hednesford half after Cobourne battled for the ball in midfield. INSALL then tapped home a third Yeltz goal on the stroke of half-time following a good run from Cobourne.

But the Pitmen finished the game strongly and turned the game around by scoring three second-half goals to win 4-3 after a string of substitutions from both camps. A 20-yard shot from the edge of the penalty area made it 3-2 after 53 minutes and Hednesford drew level at 3-3 in the 68th minute when a substitute threaded into the penalty area and converted from the left of the penalty area. Platt made a good low 70th minute save and home substitute Jack Holmes struck just over the bar in the 78th minute.

Home substitute Dexter Dudley-Toole made a good block to concede a corner in the 88th minute but the visitors won the game 4-3 in the 88th minute when a left-wing cross was turned home from close range.

Halesowen Town: Dan Platt (c); Josh Ezewele (Max Morris), Josh Quaynor (Asa Charlton 77), Tom Turton, Rob Evans (Dexter Dudley-Toole 60), Nat Kelly (Kieran Morris 60), Bailey Fuller, Nathan Hayward (Brad Birch), Jamie Insall (Jack Holmes 46), Richard Gregory, Simeon Cobourne (Matt Funge 60). Unused Sub: Richard Smith.

Hednesford Town: No team-sheet submitted.

Attendance: 416