Express & Star

Halesowen avoid defeat in their final fixture

Aaron Forde's last-gasp equaliser concluded Halesowen Town's successful first season in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League and secured 11th place.

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Grantham snatched a ninth minute lead when Liam Read held up a long ball for Liam Hurst to stroke home from 15 yards.

And the Gingerbreads held onto their lead for the majority of a game of few chances.

As the Yeltz tried to settle, Kris Green screwed wide before Read lofted the ball onto the top of Halesowen's net.

Iyseden Christie flashed a shot wide of Grantham's goal before the interval and a Christie header was cleared off the line at the start of the second half.

Read remained onside to scoop over the bar after 70 minutes and then flicked a Ben Saunders cross just high four minutes later.

The Yeltz finally conjured an equaliser two minutes into added time.

An Aaron Griffiths throw-in from the left was headed on by substitute Aaron Lloyd, for Forde to steer his shot the ball just inside the post.

Rushall Olympic made it a run of five wins in April following Jake Heath's stoppage time winner at play-off qualifiers Ashton United.

The first-half passed by without much incident but Ryan Price sliced a clearance which fell to Martin Hill, but the Ashton winger's touch let him down and Price gathered.

Steven Leslie crossed for Aaron Williams, who headed straight at Ashton goalkeeper Paul Phillips.

Ashton took the lead on 51 minutes through Max Harrop as he picked the ball up on the right, beat Leslie, and fired in at the near post.

Rushall pulled level through Williams on 71 minutes, heading in a Michael Townsend cross.

Chris Lait's first half goal was not enough for Stourbridge as their wretched run of form continued to the final day of the season.

The Glassboys suffered a 2-1 defeat at Skelmersdale, with Lait striking after only six minutes after a Luke Benbow flick-on put him through on goal.

But Portuguese full-back Valter Fernandes equalied in the first-half and Danny Mitchley gave the home side the advantage in the Evo-Stik Premier clash.

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