Halesowen Town 1 Biggleswade Town 1 - Report and pictures
Halesowen had to settle for a point after their first-half lead was pegged back by unbeaten Biggleswade.
In early exchanges Josh Urquhart's seventh minute cross was sliced away for a corner by home captain Danny Bragoli and home defender Asa Charlton headed at Waders' goalkeeper Sam Donkin from Jack Kelly's deep 13th minute free-kick.
The first half was a tight affair although Matthew Ball fired a loose ball over the Yeltz bar from the edge of the area after 24 minutes and tireless home striker James Roberts worked clear down the centre after 26 minutes to gain a sight on goal, but then dragged his low shot inches wide.
Halesowen took a narrow 1-0 advantage in the 37th minute when Roberts' shot from a right-wing throw-in was blocked, but Ahmed Ali turned home the rebound with the help of a deflection. Towards the interval home goalkeeper Dan Platt saved Ball's low shot as the Yeltz kept out the visitors with a packed defence.
After the interval Ball's 48th minute free-kick caused an element of surprise but was punched clear by Platt and Jonny McNamara then had two dangerous shots from the right to force two corners for Biggleswade.
As Halesowen sat deeper, the Waders deservedly equalised in the 66th minute when Ball found space down the left to cross for McNamara to be blocked in front of goal but Peter Clark was able to slam the rebound into the roof of the net. Bragoli then kept the scores level by clearing off the line in the 72nd minute after Soloman Nwabukei met Ball's corner with a header.
Visiting goalkeeper Donkin pulled out the best stop of the game in the 85th minute with a flying save to keep out Roberts' great goal-bound shot from 25 yards out. But Biggleswade then almost snatched a 90th minute winner when Brett Donnelly hit the post and Clark could only put the rebound wide.
Teams:
Halesowen Town: Platt; Hurst, Kelly, Agustien (Goddard 75), Bragoli (c),
Charlton (Gilpin 63), Baker, Lawton, Ebanks-Blake (Hughes 70), Roberts, Ali.
Subs Not Used: Rea, Tonks.
Biggleswade Town: Donkin; Urquhart, Perry, Forbes, Ujah (Bradshaw 37),
Longe-King, McNamara (Buchanan 81), Nwabukei, Donnelly, Ball, Clark. Subs
Not Used: Joseph-Dubois, Allinson, Devine.
Referee: Ryan Haynes
Attendance: 463
