Halesowen Town 1 Grantham Town 3 - Report
Second placed Grantham proved too strong for Halesowen after taking control with two goals within seven minutes late in the second half.
New home signing Kevin Monteiro looked lively for the Yeltz and he set up Khaellem Bailey-Nicholls, only for Oliver Luto to make a vital block in the Grantham penalty box after 19 minutes.
In further home pressure, Monteiro's 22nd minute low shot was well saved by goalkeeper Kieran Preston. Matthew Barnes-Homer then exchanged passes with Monteiro before his 27th minute shot was also blocked in the area.
Grantham went ahead in the 30th minute when man of the match Lee Shaw's shot was parried by goalkeeper Dan Platt but Curtis Burrows headed the rebound into an empty net.
Jordan Goddard hit a fierce shot past the post after 34 minutes but the Gingerbreads doubled their lead in the 37th minute with a smart breakaway straight from a Yeltz attack as Jordan Hempenstall set Shaw free to advance and fire his 27th goal of the season past Platt.
With Grantham's work already done, there were few chances early in the second period, although Tom Batchelor headed straight at Platt in the 61st minute.
Shaw then fed Andrew Wright and he made it 3-0 to the Gingerbreads in the 64th minute after skipping Exodus Geohaghon's challenge to hit home from a tight angle.
Home substitute Roland Agbor picked his spot to beat Preston and pull a consolation goal back for Halesowen with a delicate 81st minute chip, despite the attention of several Grantham defenders.
With the Yeltz finishing the game well, Jack Kelly fired just over the bar and in stoppage time goalkeeper Preston back-pedalled to save a seemingly certain goal from substitute Yasin Al-Massry before producing another fine save from Agbor.
Teams
Halesowen Town: Platt; Ekongo, Charlton (Agbor 46), Goddard, Geohaghon, Morrison (c), Bailey-Nicholls (Al-Massry 73), Poscha, Barnes-Homer, Monteiro, Kelly. Subs Not Used: Steele, Bragoli, Parsons.
Grantham Town: Preston; Potts, Luto, Lewis (c), Batchelor, Hollingsworth, Meadows (Osborne 70), Wright (Curtis 87), Hempenstall, Shaw (McMenemy 89), Burrows. Subs Not Used: Galinski, Thompson.
Referee: Ryan Haynes Attendance: 338
