Yeltz win derby bragging rights

In a lively and tense start, Aaron Griffiths' shot was beaten away by Stourbridge goalkeeper Matthew Gould in the second minute and Halesowen cleared from Karl Hawley in the 10th minute after Dan Scarr headed on.

The game truly burst into life just before the interval when home substitute Dan Sweeney fired the Yeltz into a 38th-minute lead with the ball beating goalkeeper Gould from just outside the area.

The Glassboys squandered a glorious chance to level from the penalty spot just three minutes later after Ashley Parsons-Smith fouled Hawley on the turn, but Hawley ballooned his spot-kick high over the bar.

Further Stourbridge chances to equalise went begging before the interval as Scarr's header was saved on line by Daniel Platt and the rebound was scrambled clear.

Stourbridge failed to make much impression on the solid home defence in the second half, with Hawley denied after an hour with his back to goal just one yard out, before Sean Geddes dragged a long shot wide.

With Halesowen threatening on the break, Sweeney and Malcolm Melvin headed chances just high. The Yeltz then doubled their lead in the 80th minute after Danny Bragoli's shot was well saved by Gould but substitute Dumitru Maradona Chiriac marked his home debut by following up to score from the rebound.

Stourbridge continued to be wasteful in the final minutes with Justin Richards nodding over from a yard out and it was Chiriac who controlled to fire just past the visiting post.

Halesowen Town: Platt; Lewis, Griffiths, Denny (c), Morrison, Parsons-Smith (Chiriac 64), Charlton, Bragoli, Anderson (Forsyth 84), Turner (Sweeney 35), Melvin.

Stourbridge: Gould; Green, Scarr, Geddes, Smikle (Vincent 64), Pierpoint (c), Dodd (Lait 69), Broadhurst (Bowerman 84), Hawley, Richards, Tonks.

Attendance: 2,107.