Halesowen Town 1 Corby Town 2 - Report

In neat early play from the Yeltz, Josh Hawker played a good through ball for Luke Yates to turn two defenders but his curling shot was turned away by visiting goalkeeper Daniel George. Rob Evans then flashed a header wide from Robbie Bunn's 8th minute free-kick. As Corby ventured forward, Jordan Crawford cut in to strike an 11th minute shot wide from 20 yards out.

With Halesowen controlling the early stages, Charlie Wise cleared Bunn's fierce goal-bound volley off the line after 17 minutes of an exciting first-half. But the Steelmen took a 28th minute lead against the run of play when Evans failed to clear a right-wing cross, allowing unmarked Crawford to beat goalkeeper Brendon Bunn from ten yards out. Just three minutes later Steve Diggin headed a cross from Crawford against the underside of the Halesowen bar but was ruled offside.

The Yeltz equalised in style after 36 minutes when Montel Gibson laid the ball off for Yates to pick his spot and slam home from 15 yards. Before the break Corby's Wise powered a free header wide from Jake Duffy's 38th minute corner. But with Halesowen continuing to press, Bunn had three consecutive shots blocked by Corby's packed defence and Bunn then fired wide from 20 yards in the 42nd minute.

The game took a decisive twist in the 50th minute when Halesowen defender Evans was dismissed with a straight red card for needlessly kicking out at Sam Warburton. The Steelmen soon notched their winning goal just four minutes later when full-back Warburton burst straight through the parting home defence to fire past Brendon Bunn from the edge of the area.

Gibson curled wide after 77 minutes and blasted past Corby's post from a wide angle with three minutes remaining as ten-man Halesowen tried to fight back. However, the Steelmen managed the game competently during the second period with their one-man advantage and went close when substitute John Dean crossed along goal for Diggin to put the ball wide at the far post at the end of a well-worked 90th minute move.

Halesowen Town: Brendon Bunn; Jamie Ashmore (Jamie Lucas 74), James Bowen, Ashley Sammons, Paul McCone (c), Robert Evans, Joshua Hawker (George Forsyth 62), Robbie Bunn, Montel Gibson, Jamie Molyneux (Andrew Parsons 51), Luke Yates. Subs Not Used: Jordan Piggott, Kartel O'Neill-Martin.

Corby Town: Daniel George; Callum Westwood, Samuel Warburton, Joe Burgess (Gregory Ling 85), Charlie Wise, Curtis Hartley, James Ireland (John Dean 68), Jake Duffy (c), Elliot Sandy, Stephen Diggin, Jordan Crawford (Scott Sandy 90). Subs Not Used: Josh Carpenter (GK), Ashley Robinson.

Referee: Alan Cox Attendance: 608