Express & Star

Halesowen 3 Leamington 0

Substitute David Blenkinsopp grabbed two goals in another dominant second half display for Halesowen in front of their highest attendance of the season.

Published

Some 606 spectators saw potential new owners Graham and Godfrey Ingram made a dramatic entrance, by flying in by helicopter for a game that cost Leamington manager Jason Cadden his job.

An even first half saw few chances in the Zamaretto Premier match, although Leamington's Luke Corbett went close with a second minute far post header and goalkeeper Chris Kiely saved from home striker Stefan Moore.

But it proved a different story when Halesowen turned up the heat after the interval. Kiely made a good fingertip save to keep out Tom Bates' 48th minute free-kick and Moore headed just over.

Yeltz went ahead in the 64th minute when Tom Breward set Moore free, with his low cross turned home by Blenkinsopp for his first Halesowen goal. The home defence then held firm as the Brakes forced three consecutive corners after Leon Broadhurst beat the offside trap.

Any chance of a Leamington recovery ended when Blenkinsopp's brilliant 75th minute solo goal made it 2-0, after he cut in from the left to beat two defenders and curl the ball beyond goalkeeper Kiely.

With Halesowen in full control, Bates added a third goal in the 81st minute by skipping past a high Leamington defensive line and advancing to calmly slot home.

Late on, home goalkeeper Nick Bussey made an excellent fingertip save to deny Brakes' substitute Josh Blake.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.