Halesowen Town 1 Lowestoft Town 0 - Report

The youthful Trawler Boys soon settled to play some neat football and an 18th minute long throw-in from Connor Deeks into the Yeltz penalty area caused danger. For Halesowen, Ahmed Ali headed into the arms of goalkeeper Elvijs Putnins after 25 minutes.

The visitors then went close in the 32nd minute after Matt Brown played a long ball out of defence and play was allowed to continue from Asa Charlton's infringement on the edge of the penalty area, allowing Jacek Zielonka to cross for Shaun Bammant to head a good chance over the bar.

Immediately after the interval Bammant and Connor Ingram went close and the visitors then forced three corners in quick succession as the Trawler Boys enjoyed much the better of the second half.

Zielonka's clever 68th minute corner was met by his captain Adam Smith on the edge of the area, only for Dan Platt to make a flying save. Platt then kept out a low shot from Deeks at the foot of his post and Smith hit over the bar from the third corner in the 70th minute.

Little was seen of Halesowen although Putnins saved a 72nd minute shot from Hughes on the break and substitute James Roberts scuffed a 75th minute shot over the bar. Lowestoft continued to be the better team as an 82nd minute cross flew right along the home goal-line.

But the Yeltz stole the points with just two minutes remaining when Roberts was brought down in the penalty area by goalkeeper Putnins and Hughes stroked home the resulting penalty. Home goalkeeper Platt made another good fingertip save to deny substitute Kieron Higgs a deserved equaliser deep in stoppage time.

Teams

Halesowen Town: Platt; Ekongo, Kelly, Rea, Bragoli (c), Charlton, Lawton, Haworth (Warmer HT (Gilpin 56)), Hughes, Ebanks-Blake (Roberts 65), Ali. Subs Not Used: Tonks, Lewis.

Lowestoft Town: Putnins; Curry, Brown (Wren 79), Smith (c), Jarvis, Deeks, Zielonka, Pollock, Bammant, Ingram (Higgs 70), Fowkes. Subs Not Used: Tann, Fletcher, Schaar.

Referee: Scott Tallis Attendance: 533