Halesowen Town 1, Hednesford Town 3

HALESOWEN'S poor start to the season continued with defeat at home to an impressive Hednesford Town side.

The Yeltz battled throughout but we're always chasing the game after conceding after just 10 minutes when George Carline headed home a corner.

Hednesford eventually put the game to bed with a second half flurry as the home side pushed on looking for a way back into the contest.

The writing was on the wall early on as the visitors started the brighter and worked the first openings when Gurjit Singh and then Simeon Maye put efforts wide.

Hednesford's early pressure quickly told when Carline flicked a header home through a crowded penalty area on 10 minutes after meeting Calum Flanagan's corner.

The Yeltz settled into the game as the half drew on but struggled to get their forwards in the contest for long periods.

A drive from Lee Chilton that sailed harmlessly over Dan Crane's bar was all the hosts mustered from a unimpressive first half.

Ultimately their efforts were spend restricting their visitors after a shaky start to the clash.

The second half was an even affair for large parts with neither side able to work the opposition keeper early on.

However, it was when the Yeltz started to press for a leveller that they got picked off.

Gurjit Singh began to find more space out on the left after the hosts had gone to a back three chasing the game.

Chances just after the hour mark for Carline and skipper Thorley went begging.

But Hednesford bagged the crucial second on 74 minutes when Ash Sammons got in behind on the break.

His near post effort after a flick on from Glover should have been saved by Platt but the ball bobbled over the keeper's arms and into the back of the net.

Then within two minutes the visitors had got a third.

The ball was worked out to the right to Maye who crossed low for substitute Danny Glover to convert.

Chances continued to come for Hednesford after the game had gone away from the Yeltz.

Platt saved from Carline and the Geddes as time ran out.

Hales did pull one back with a fine individual effort from Anderson on 88 minutes.

He collected the ball, put it through the legs of the defender and fired low under Dan Crane.

The goal proved only a consolation for the home side who battled hard throughout but couldn't find the quality to match that of their visitors.

Halesowen: Platt, Haynes (Chiriac 70), Griffiths, Denny (c), Sho-Silva, Charlton, Melvin (Colley 83), Bragoli, Anderson, Delaney (Clarke 63), Chilton.

Unused Subs: Morrison, King.

Hednesford: Crane, Rowley, Brammall, Maye, Flanagan, Mutton, Singh (Geddes 75), Thorley (c), Logan (Glover 68), Sammons, Carline.

Subs: Ransome, Francis, Thompson.

Att: 567