Chippenham 2 Halesowen 1
Chippenham Town gained revenge for last season's play-off semi-final defeat against the Yeltz.
Luke Gullick was introduced after Jason Wood injured an ankle in the first minute. He opened his account in the fifth by volleying over keeper James Russell, after Sam Allison had hoofed the ball forward.
Chippenham central defender Cortez Belle had been a previous target signing for Halesowen and his header was scrambled away from an eighth-minute corner.
Halesowen's best chance of the half came in the 13th minute when Jermaine Palmer's glancing header from Darren Caskey's free-kick was grabbed by keeper Chris Snoddy.
Out-of-sorts Halesowen fell 2-0 behind in the 22nd minute, when Kye Holly crossed for an unchallenged Gullick to head home at the far post.
Halesowen's defence was ripped apart again on 34 minutes when Dave Pratt put Gullick clear in search of his hat-trick, but Russell saved his first effort and Tom Bryant cleared his second effort.
The second half was more even and the Yeltz pulled a goal back in the 70th minute. Zema Abbey cleverly stepped over Alex Cowley's ball into the area to leave Palmer free to calmly slot past Snoddy.
Halesowen's bad afternoon continued after the final whistle, when there was a dispute between manager Morell Maison and his out-of-favour striker Dean Brennan.
Halesowen: Russell; Cowley, Bryant, Kemp, Ujah (Allward 39), Denny, Taylor (Danks 45), Caskey, Rowe (Abbey 68), Palmer, Cornwall.
Ref: T Lawrence (Bridgewater).
Att: 491.
