Great Start To The Year - Halesowen Town vs. Bedworth United

Big crowd on the terraces at The Grove

The New Years day fixtures looked a bit thin on for the ground for new ticks and as I wanted to save Horsahm for a rainy day, I decided to have another go at visiting Halesowen. The Grove was intended target when I visited Lye earlier in the season but the moving of the kick off time to midday meant I wouldn't have been able to make kick off with my pre brooked train. This wasn't all bad as Lye Town is one of my favourite grounds I've visited. Today Halesowen were hosting Bedworth United who were relegated last season along today's hosts from Southern League Premier Central. Halesowen were going along well in the upper reaches while Bedworth were around midtable. I really enjoyed my visit to The Oval last season, the highlight being the faggot batch and I was hoping to have something similar today but this sadly wasn't possible.

Kick off of another year of ground hopping

Halesowen take an early lead as the ball eventually falls to the forward just inside the box who smashes it into the top corner. Almost immediately, Halesowen get in on goal again and it takes a last ditch block to guide the shot over the bar. Aside from a few half chances for Bedworth it's all Halesowen who come close again when the Bedworth keeper saves a free kick. Bedworth are gifted a way back into the game as the Halesowen player gifts the ball to the Bedworth player who is then fouled to win a penalty. Sadly the penalty is thundered against the bar and into the grateful arms of the Halesowen keeper. Shortly afterwards, Bedworth have another shout for a penalty that isn't given which allows Halesowen to attack on the break and the Bedworth keeper is forced into a low save. Just before the half time whistle, Halesowen come very close again when a header from a corner is headed off the line.

Halesowen players celebrate with fans in The Shed

Bedworth look to get level and have a couple of half chances including a free kick that goes just over the bar. They really should be level when the winger gets to the byline and his pull back finds the forward who unfortunately almost trips over the ball. They are made to pay for this miss as Bedworth fail to deal with a long bouncing ball that finds the forward who despite having three defenders around him manages to find the back of the net to make it two nil. The hosts seal the points when the onrushing attacker runs onto the ball and slots home the third. Bedworth still push for a consolation, the closest they come is a couple of chances from corners that go just over. 

Three nil Halesowen

There are two legs on the journey to Halesowen from London. The first being a train from Euston to Birmingham New Street that takes just under an hour and a half. Then a short walk from the station you catch the number nine bus to just behind the ground. I'd recommend getting to Halesowen relatively earlier as there are some storming pubs. Both Picks in the town centre and King Edward VII by the bus stop had a great selection of ales and the sports channels. Both selection of ales here pale into comparison however to the range at The Waggon and Horses where there were at least ten ales to chose from. The clubhouse in the ground had a broader than usual selection of drinks and Sky Sports. As you can see from the pictures, The Grove is a brilliant ground and the excellent pubs made it a great start to the new year.

The Bedworth penalty hits the bar