Halesowen3 Merthyr Tydfil 0
Halesowen moved level with King's Lynn at the top of the table with a comfortable victory after Merthyr were reduced to ten men for an hour by the dismissal of goalkeeper Ashley Morris.
The Yeltz almost took an early lead when Zema Abbey struck the post in front of goal after three minutes.
But the pivotal moment arrived after 32 minutes when Merthyr goalkeeper Morris was shown a red card for handling the ball outside his area to deny Dean Brennan and club-captain Andrew Thomas took over the goalkeeping jersey.
Halesowen soon went ahead when Abbey converted Anya's low left-wing cross on the line in first half stoppage time.
Ten-man Merthyr battled bravely at the start of the second period and Darren Griffiths turned well in the home penalty area to drive inches past the post before home keeper Mark Osborn saved at the same player's feet.
The Yeltz secured the points when Darren Caskey set up Brennan to easily beat Thomas after a neat exchange of passes in the 64th minute.
Substitute Davion Hamilton then created havoc down the left wing and he broke from the half-way line after 76 minutes to deliver a fine cross for Brennan to make it 3-0 with his second goal.
Hamilton burst forward again in the 80th minute to poke wide and then set Shane Paul free with stand-in goalkeeper Thomas saving well. In the final minute Paul turned to fire past the post against rapidly tiring ten-man Merthyr.
Halesowen Town: Osborn; Lycett, Perpetuini, Pearce, Amos, Denny, Paul (Waite 90), Caskey, Abbey, Brennan, Anya (Hamilton 70). Subs: Abassi, Hill.
Merthyr Tydfil: Morris; Porter, Martin, Wharton, Dale Griffiths, Rewbury, M. Harris, Thomas, Darren Griffiths (Cushen 88), Hartshorn, Glassey (Evans 73). Subs: T. Harris, Shepherd.
