Points dropped in the Black Country

Paul Parkin
Nov 16, 2025
2 min read

Not for the first time we left the Grove on Saturday having conceded an injury time goal, lessons not learned from the defeat to St Ives we really do need to switch on in the closing stages. Halesowen looked there for the taking in the first half and when Curtis Thompson went round keeper Platt the goal at his mercy his weak shot was blocked by Butterfield and the chance gone. Despite the amount of rain leading up to the game the pitch played really well, with us failing to make a breakthrough the Yeltz could only get better after the interval and they certainly did. New signing Dan Wilks in goal (long overdue in many supporters opinion) certainly was the busier of the two keepers and made some crucial saves. With our front 3 looking ineffective step forward Liam Moore, Bendle's free kick on 61 mins found the skipper who's header seem to take forever to loop in of the bar. Jimmy bangs on about individual errors costing us and on 79 mins along came another, this time Bondswell on a wet surface rather than playing the ball forward came inside and was easily robbed by Holmes who fed Cowley and its now 1-1.

With Jack Roberts in the team a bit of magic is always on the cards a quiet game for him came to life 4 minutes from time, a free kick from 25 yards out was perfectly executed, his shot went right in the corner of Platt's net to the travelling supporters delight. A much needed 3 points? hold on to your hats, 6 minutes of added on time went up and Halesowen threw everything at us, from a scramble in the box in the dying minutes Cowley went down very easily and you guessed it referee Wormleighton pointed at the spot, Cowley scored but the players involvement didn't end there. Mr Wormleighton awarded us Tulips a free kick in added on added time Moore and Cowley tussled at the far post which ended with both players wrestling on the ground, rather than blowing the full time whistle as Moore made his way back to the half way line the man in the middle produced a second yellow for Cowley and a straight red for our Skipper. Its now 2 points from a possible 9 which really is not ideal .........

Player Ratings

1. Dan Wilks - Impressive debut our best player 9

2. Tosin Olopade - first start never really got forward 5

3 Matt Bondswell - Lost the ball to easily 5

4 Liam Moore - Leads by example ridiculous red card 8

5 . Lewis White - Could have done better for first goal 5

6. Dan Lawlor - Always puts a shift in 7

7. Curtis Thompson- Needs to boss that midfield but doesn't , subbed 4

8. Alfie Bendle - free kick found Moore for opener 6

9. Jack Roberts - Goal deserved to win any game 6

10. Bart Cybulski - Butterfield had him in his pocket all game 4

11 Yusif Ceesay - Goes missing , inconsistent 4