SAFE IN STYLE
Yeltz 4 Gloucester 2 and Burton 2 Yeltz 4
24 April 2000
The mighty Yeltz finally ensured safety over the Bank Holiday weekend with two brilliant 4-2 victories .
Saturday brought struggling Gloucester to The Grove desperately needing 3 points to have any chance of staying out of the relegation spots. However a powerful attacking performance from Halesowen meant they were never likely to achieve their aim, and goals from Reed, Clinton, an own goal and a wonder goal from Forrest Gump confirmed we were definitely going to be in the Premier Division next season.
Monday then brought what's probably our best result of the season with a fantastic 4-2 win away to second-placed Burton . Two more from big Clinton , another from Birchy and a late one from young Aldridge clinched another excellent result.
Two more games left now. Saturday brings relegated Rothwell to The Grove for our last home game of the season. Good news for all you youngsters out there is that's it's free to get in for under 16's . Bring all your mates down and show them how brilliant we are now :-)
Match Report from DJ
Burton Albion: Goodwin, Davies (Starbuck 59), Henshaw, Lyons (Garner 72), Blount, Glasser, Stride, Anderson, Moore, Clough, Holmes. Subs: Garner, Starbuck (Forsyth 60), Forsyth.
Halesowen Town: McDonnell, Brown, Owen, Lloyd, Smith, Gardiner, Birch, Aldridge, Thomas, Cartwright, Reed. Subs: Cooper, Gennard, Collins.
Booked: Cartwright, Lloyd, Brown Referee: S. Bratt (Walsall) Attendance: 957
Happy Halesowen bagged their eighth Easter goal to extend their remarkable end-of-season flourish with a comprehensive victory at second placed Burton.
The Yeltz signalled their intentions after 11 minutes when experienced play-maker Paul Birch netted from a tight angle after Nick Goodwin parried Ian Reed's volley, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Burton gradually came into the game and the alert Danny McDonnell made two fine blocking saves from Christian Moore before Halesowen took charge to build a three goal lead.
In the 30th minute, Birch played a lovely ball for Ian Aldridge to lob the Burton keeper, but the defensive clearance fell for Clinton Thomas to cleverly rifle home from 10 yards. Thomas and Reed then went close as the visitors turned up the pressure with Aldridge causing confusion for the Burton defence. Halesowen extended their lead three minutes before the break with a wicked 20 yard Birch volley following Reed's corner.
The Yeltz should have gone further ahead in the 58th minute when Reed's free kick struck the arm of Darren Stride and the referee awarded a penalty, but Reed's tame spot-kick was easily saved by Goodwin. With Burton struggling to make any impression, it was no surprise when Thomas powered in his second goal in the 73rd minute from another precise midfield pass from Birch.
Halesowen almost unwound their good work when a hesitant defence watched a David Holmes left wing cross sail directly into the net in the 77th. minute and just two minutes later player manager Nigel Clough drilled home from the edge of the area, watched from the stands by famous father Brian.
Agile Aldridge made the points safe for Halesowen in the 88th minute when he nipped in between the defence and goalkeeper Goodwin to net with a neat chip.