The Grove, home of Halesowen Town based in the West Midlands and compete in Step 4 of the non league pyramid in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands. Nicknamed the “Yeltz…” Seems like a long story on why they are called the Yeltz…
MY 200TH GROUND!!! It has to be a good one!! How about a top of the table clash!? How about I have another sneak peak in Mike Bayly’s book!? How about Halesowen Town vs Chasetown!!!? HOW ABOUT IT!!!!! 2 teams that have historically been as high as what we now know as the National League North! But today are fighting to be in Step 3! It certainly would be a great win today for either side and I have seen Chasetown twice already this season winning both! Can they make it 3/3? Halesowen with a loud fan base according to some… Will they be as good as what I’ve been told? Let’s find out!!
Straight onto the M1 from Worksop then onto the M42, onto the M6 and onto the M5 which sees me here with 1 hour and 20 minutes before kick off! So far so good! A big crowd expected today for obvious reasons and I have secured my parking place thankfully! £10 to get into this top of the table clash… And I really do need to start bringing cash to non league… Thanks to the very friendly steward letting me pay at the bar! One of these days #toplissisaw****r is going to be trending if I keep forgetting to bring cash to non league…
Derby County have hit the post in stoppage time in the early kick off… That game finishes as a draw and the best part of the hobby strikes once again as I find myself talking to a man named Chris who has moved here from the Isle of Man! Some great stories about FC Isle of Man and the Isle of Man leagues and it’s time for the game! The Halesowen fans are in good spirits so far!
Kick Off! “YOU YELTZ!!” 2 minutes in and Chasetown have a corner, in it comes… It falls to Ryan Wynter and he’s free here… He can’t get a hold of it and Halesowen get it clear but it’s a let off for them!
The Chasetown fans are giving it a good go themselves now too! The Halesowen fans are giving it to the Chasetown keeper… “You’re just a s**t Pink Panther!” And the theme tune as well! Now that is creative! “Oh Halesowen is wonderful! It’s got a Spoons and an Asda! Oh Halesowen is wonderful!”
It’s a poor game unfortunately with little to shout about… Very scrappy! It seems like both teams are happy with a point or afraid of losing… 30th minute and Halesowen win it back in midfield and play forward down the right wing, it’s worked across to McKauley Manning about 20 yards out, he shoots… Keeper saves! Chasetown clear.
Halesowen are growing into the game the more it goes on! But Chasetown do possess a danger to the Halesowen defence. 39 minutes on the clock and Chasetown have it on the right wing now, it’s crossed in… It’s poorly dealt with by the Halesowen defence and Chasetown win it back in the Halesowen box, it’s played back to the edge of the box for Danny O’Callaghan to shoot… Just wide! From my view it looked like that was going to bend in! No goals here at half time… I wonder where this is going?
Second half, 52 minutes now and Halesowen come forward, it’s played to Richard Gregory in the box on the left, he shoots… Kept out by the keeper! “Yeltz! Yeltz! Wooaaooh! Yeltz! Yeltz!” Halesowen fans still going strong!
58th minute and Halesowen come forward again, it’s played to Jack Holmes, 25 yards out and he shoots… Keeper saves again! 5 minutes later and Halesowen play down the left, it’s played to Richard Gregory who cuts inside and goes for the far corner… Tipped away brilliantly by the keeper! It’s a throw in to Halesowen on the right, played in… Chasetown win it and force Halesowen back.
72nd minute and Chasetown have a corner… The Chasetown players have certainly had some stick from the Shed end today! In comes the corner… Headed away but Chasetown get to it first and play it back into the middle, Joey Butlin gets onto it on the edge of the box, he cuts onto his right and gets his shot away… OH! It’s gone in!! The keeper flat footed as it rolls through the crowd of players into the bottom corner and stuns the Grove into a pin drop silence… 0-1!!
Halesowen have got to come forward now! Can they get themselves back into this game? They’re certainly going for it now but Chasetown are looking comfortable you have to say! 82 minutes now and Chasetown lump the ball forward from their half, Liam Kirton chases it for Chasetown but the defender is holding him off and out comes the keeper to claim it… But he hasn’t and Kirton is past him… And he rolls it into the empty net!! A terrible mistake by the Halesowen keeper and it looks like Chasetown will be taking 3 points back to Staffordshire! 0-2!!
The spirits of the Halesowen faithful seem to be broken as fans start to head towards the exit and now it’s time for the Chasetown fans to create the atmosphere! Into stoppage time and Halesowen look dead and buried but here’s the keeper to launch it forward, it’s flicked on in the box… Straight into the keeper’s grasp! Halesowen get it back and play it forward again… But that is full time! It’s a MASSIVE win for Chasetown!! 3/3 this season when I have watched them! I certainly wish I had that 100% record watching Mansfield Town eh!?
FT: Halesowen Town 0-2 Chasetown
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 9/10 – Deafening at times!! This for me is one of the best fans in non league!! They were incredible today the Halesowen fans!! The Chasetown fans gave it a little go themselves but the Halesowen fans won out for me today!!
- The Ground: 10/10 – A very unique ground! It’s one of its own kind in the sense of no other grounds have the design of Halesowen’s ground and my word! It’s an absolutely beautiful ground! I love it!! The standing section at a height makes for a great vantage point and I love the Shed end!! Great views! Great everything!!
- Expense: 9/10 – Not the best of games for £10 but we certainly did get the drama with the goals and atmosphere!
- Overall Experience: 9/10 – Great to meet Chris today!! Best part of the hobby! Great to tick off another of Mike Bayly’s 100! I definitely did the select the right ground and game for my 200th!!
37/40