Saturday 22 March 2003 - The Grove - kick off 3.00pm Dr Martens Premier Division

Despite this problem new signing Steve Tweddle had to be content with a place on the bench, last weeks scorer Dave Toomey keeping his starting spot alongside top scorer Jason Eaton. It was at the opposite end of the pitch that City made their one change from the side that beat Dover Athletic, repalcement keeper Ellis Glassup taking over the gloves from injured regular Mark Bryant. Cheered on by a large and noisey following City stamped their control on the game from the opening minutes. The first chance arrived after seven minutes. Andy Williams, who had one of his quieter afternoons, sent in a left wing cross that Eaton headed goalwards. The ball bounced up toward the top corner of the net only for keeper Clarke to claw it away at full stretch. A long-range Charlton shot and Collins header gave Glassup his first taste of the action but this was virtually all he had to do for the whole half. Jamie Gosling and Paul Milsom saw half chances come and go before the 30th minute saw another flowing move tear the home side apart. Glassup began the move with a accurate throw to Eaton on the halfway line. Eaton took a touch and then laid the ball off to Milsom who lifted it over top and sent Toomey clear on goal. Electing for power his shot was blocked by the outrushing Clarke. Five minutes later Gosling sent a dipping volley narrowly wide with Clarke well beaten and Eaton then finished weakly from 18 yards. The final chance of the half fell to Toomey only for his shot to deflect off Colwell and drop the wrong side of the post.

Having dominated the first half so completely City were almost caught cold within a minute of the restart. A quickly taken free-kick sent McHugh running clear into the City box. However, Glassup showed that his quiet first half had not affected his concentration as he produced a good stop at his near post. Normal service was soon resumed. A strong run by Frankie Bennett on 53 minutes ended with a neat pass to Eaton but his shot was charged down by Stone. Finally, just past the hour mark, City broke the deadlock. Milsom collected the ball 25-yards out before advancing to the edge of the Yeltz box. With no defender challenging him he had time to pick his spot and that was the bottom corner of Clarke's goal. Another Gosling dipping volley almost doubled City's lead moments later and the game looked to be City's for the taking. However, with 74 minutes gone Mike Trought conceded a corner on the City left. William's lifted the ball in and an unmarked Stone planted a header beyond Glassup and into the corner of the net. Suddenly Halesowen went from the shockingly poor side that they had looked for most of the game (and the other two encounters with City this season) to the more likely winners of the game. Stone headed narrowly over a couple of minutes later and Leadbetter fired wide after Glassup had blocked Ashby's first effort. The final chance fell Ashby five minutes from time but he was denied by an excellent block by Rollo and City were left to reflect how they ended a game hanging on that they should have had won by half-time.