7:37pm Saturday 21st March 2009
YATE Town fell to their second home defeat of the week in a game littered with controversy at Lodge Road.
Francis Williams scored Halesowen’s winner in the 65th minute but the home side were incensed as they felt the free kick leading up to the goal was taken while play had been stopped by referee Mr Pottage.
It was Halesowen who felt aggrieved in the first half though, as Justin Rowe was brought down by goalkeeper Lee Matthews in the penalty box when seemingly through on goal.
Although the penalty was awarded and emphatically despatched by former Mangotsfield United striker Aaron Cornwall, Matthews could consider himself fortunate to only receive a yellow card with the usual punishment for such an offence a sending off, and he saved another Cornwall penalty just seven minutes later.
Aaron Blakemore marked a rare start with the equaliser in between but Yate created few chances throughout the afternoon and have now slipped further into trouble in the relegation zone.
Halesowen started the brighter side as Jay Denny dragged a volley wide, Matthews saved a Cornwall free kick before making a great reaction save to keep out Matty Clarke’s close range effort.
Halesowen won their first penalty on 24 minutes after an incisive breakaway and Cornwall stepped up confidently to score.
It could have been worse for Yate after Sam Duggan failed to control Taylor Thomas’ poor cross into the box and then caught Denny coming round the back, but Matthews made an excellent save diving to his right to keep out Cornwall’s penalty.
Yate equalised on the stroke of half time when Blakemore escaped his marker in the box and placed his header beautifully into the corner of the net after a great deep cross by Edd Vahid.
Neil Ward came close to scoring his first Yate goal five minutes after the break but headed just wide from Duggan’s long free kick.
Halesowen re-took the lead after 64 minutes when Thomas’ free kick was taken short to James Johnson who crossed for Williams to head home and Yate protests followed.
With the game lacking fluency after this moment, Yate never seriously threatened the Halesowen goal.
The visitors could have made it three in the 89th minute but Lee Matthews did well to save with his legs, directing Fabion Brown’s shot from ten yards onto the underside of the bar.
Yate Town: Matthews, Vahid ©, Metitiri, White, Ward, Duggan, Blakemore, Wood (Robbins, 87), Metheringham (Griffiths, 61), Whittington, Smythe (Beadle, 68). Subs not used: Reid, Yeo. Halesowen Town: Bussey, Lonley, Allward, Clarke ©, Pearce, Denny, O’Brien, Cornwall, Rowe (Williams, 55), Johnson (Brown, 87), Thomas. Subs not used: Ntolla, Daval.
Ref: Mr Pottage Attendance: 183 Gazette star man: Edd Vahid.
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