Saturday 31 December 2005 - The Grove - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

Unfortunately, the reaction proved to be insomnia as City's defence dozed off when a long clearance from Halesowen was headed on by Chris Smith to leave Howard Forinton a clear run on goal. With Matt Coupe and Gethin Jones struggling to close him down, the striker hit a powerful lob over keeper Paul Evans into the top right-hand corner. After that, the game adopted a very similar look to October's 0-0 draw between the two teams with City controlling the game but rarely threatening to break down Halesowen's deep defence. Scott Partridge hit the side-netting after latching on to Phillip Walsh's header after ten minutes and Steve Jones had an effort cleared off the line by Nick Amos. With ten minutes until the break, another Walsh flick-on found Graeme Power, whose well placed shot had keeper Dean Coleman scrambling to his right. Halesowen were content to soak up the pressure and hit on the break and very nearly doubled their lead when Simon Forsdick's diving header was blocked by a last-ditch tackle from Jim Rollo. It is worth mentioning that referee Danny Gratton missed a blatant handball by Alex Cowley in the build up to the chance and City can point to a number of minor decisions that went against them. Partirdge, in particular, should feel aggrieved at three dubious offside decisions when he was left with just the keeper to beat and another free header at goal from Steve Jones brought an immediate blow from the referee for a shove - despite an absence of players around the City defender. Even a long-range Walsh shot, which cannoned off a Halesowen defender and spiralled into the arms of the keeper, brought a raised flag from the linesman.

City's bad luck continued after the break, although most of it was self-inflicted. After scoring the early goal, Halesowen had decided to play as if it was an away game and City's characteristic lack of invention led to 20 minutes with neither side getting into the box. When a shot finally did come, it was a dipping long-range effort from Halesowen's Dave Haywood that Evans dealt with well. City continued to play patiently but it was only when substitute Craig Davidge came on that they started to cause the home side problems. What the youngster lacks in experience, he more than makes up for in pace and enthusiasm, and his surges down the right led to some good half-chances. Evans had to be sharp to save a powerful Steve Pope free-kick which came through a crowd of players on a rare Halesowen break but, with ten minutes to go, City finally got the break they deserved when a goalmouth scramble led to Walsh stabbing home from close range after blocking the initial shot. It looked like City would go on to win it but, with three minutes to go, Matt Coupe inadvertently conceded a corner while trying to guide a poor through ball out for a goal-kick. The defender was clearly shoved into the mistake by chasing winger Forsdick but again the referee missed it and, from the resulting corner, Pope blasted into the roof of the net after Evans' punch fell well short of safety.