Barwell 0, Halesowen 1

HALESOWEN claimed their first win of the new season in Leicestershire, as a Iyseden Christie tap-in was enough to take three points back home to the Black Country, writes Reece Charlton.

John Hill opted to leave Ben Haseley out of the starting 11 for the first time since his return from injury, as the striker hasn't scored for the Yeltz this season, and Robert Thompson-Brown was brought into the side.

Neil Mackenzie, Tom Tonks and Joel Kettle all started for the first time this season, as they took Aaron Forde's, Elliott Turner's and Asa Charlton's place in the side.

Halesowen had the first chance at goal 12 minutes in, as Tom Tonks whipped a cross into the box, and Iyseden Christie was quickest to react, as he jumped above the defender and nodded the ball in the right direction, but the ball just flew wide of the left hand post.

Tonks had a chance later on as well, as he ran onto Neil Mackenzie's pass and smashed the ball towards goal, but goalkeeper Liam Castle produced a fantastic save to deny him his first goal at this level.

Barwell only really had one good chance in the first half, as Danny Haynes kicked the ball across the box to Luke Barlone, who could only volley the ball past the right hand post, and should have done better with the time and space he was given by The Yeltz defence.

But it was Halesowen who would break the deadlock, as Thompson-Brown used his pace to burst down the right wing and he then played a low cross past the sliding defenders and to Christie, who comfortably tapped the ball into the net on 59 minutes.

Barwell fought back later on, as a scramble in the Yeltz penalty area, resulted with the ball ricocheting off the ball twice in quick succession, and Barlone had another chance to shoot late on but he could only scuff the ball wide.

The Yeltz were greeted with cheers and celebration at the final whistle, as their first win of the season pushes them up to eighth, and their unbeaten run continues into the season.

Halesowen: Sargeant, Green, Kettle, Mackenzie (Forde) Hull, Tilt, Bragoli (Griffiths) Tonks, Christie, Thompson-Brown (Haseley),Till.