HALESOWEN Town boss John Hill has praised the character of his players after they claimed their first victory in the Northern Premier League.

The Yeltz bagged their first three points of the season when beating Barwell 1-0 away on Monday thanks to Iyseden Christie's second half strike.

They had come close to their first three points just two days before but were denied when Frickley hit an injury time level at The Grove last Saturday to make it 1-1.

Hill said: "We were very frustrated not to have got our first win on Saturday. The late goal for Frickley meant we came off the pitch feeling like we'd lost.

"The most impressive thing about beating Barwell was the character the players had to show to get over that previous disappointment.

"It would have been easy for them to go into their shells or feel sorry for themselves, but they didn't. They came out and got the win they have deserved."

Against Barwell, Hill opted to use his squad because of the two games in quick succession.

He left out Ben Haseley, choosing Robert Thompson-Brown and Christie up top, and picked Neil Mackenzie, Tom Tonks and Joel Kettle to start in place of Aaron Forde, Elliott Turner and Asa Charlton.

The decisive moment came just before the hour mark. Thompson-Brown used his pace to burst down the right wing and he then played a low cross past the sliding defenders and to Christie, who comfortably tapped the ball into the net.

The victory pushed the Yeltz up to eighth in the league and continued their unbeaten run following their previous three draws from the first three games.

"The win makes it a very good start to us and has given everyone a life," added Hill. "It is now really important that we build on that.

"We all knew that one point from our games is only acceptable for so long.

"Now we have got that win we need to look to add to it."

Halesowen will welcome Blyth Spartans at home this Saturday (3pm).