Halesowen 0 Hemel Hempstead 2

Lively striker Eldon Maquemba inspired Halesowen to create plenty of chances but Hemel goalkeeper Ian Brown was in defiant mood with a string of fine saves.

Halesowen made life difficult when their defence stood and watched Hemel's Drew Roberts pull the ball back for Cracknell to guide home after just two minutes.

The rest of the first half saw the Yeltz press forward to force six corners and a good penalty appeal was denied.

Maquemba struck wide after rounding Brown early on and Brown then stood tall to deny Maquemba again after nine minutes.

Brown made another good stop from Darren Caskey's 26th minute volley and a fine 31st minute move led to a goalmouth scramble from Maquemba's effort with the referee spotting shirt-pulling after Dean Brennan finally netted.

The Tudors made it 2-0 a minute before half-time when Cracknell drove forward to set up Paul Edgeworth to slam home from 15 yards.

Halesowen made a brave triple substitution at the break but were unable to change their fortunes.

With two minutes left Caskey's fierce shot brought another excellent save from Brown before Nathan Bowden-Haase cleared the rebound off the line.

But Brown saved his best until last and summed up Halesowen's afternoon with a magnificent injury-time reflex save from Maquemba after substitute Zema Abbey nodded down.

Halesowen Town: Osborn; Lycett, Perpetuini, Pearce, Pierpoint, Amos, Paul (Wiggins-Thomas HT), Denny (Quistin HT), Brennan (Abbey HT), Caskey, Maquemba. Unused Subs: Hamilton, Dormand.

Hemel Hempstead Town: Brown; Sweeney, Coulson, Herron, Bowden-Haase, Yeboah, Burgess, Cracknell, Dillon (Sozzo 58), Roberts, Edgeworth. Unused Subs: Martin, Williams, Gearing, Sinclair.