HALESOWEN Town shrugged off squad illness and the loss of a second-minute goal to deliver a comeback victory worthy of top spot in the Southern Premier Central.
Yeltz overcame the loss of the division’s leading scorer Kieren Donnelly and fellow marksman Charlie Wragg to consolidate their position following a 3-1 win over struggling Lowestoft Town.
Three goals – all from set-pieces – managed to swing the tide in favour of the hosts on a day when 1,584 turned out in support at the Grove.
And boss Russ Penn revealed his squad had to dig deep to find a response.
He said: “We’ve had a few issues today with the illness that has gone around the club in the past week.
“I’ve had it, the players have had it. They’ve been needed and all rested up. Four or five have got it or played with it.
“It’s been around for seven days now. It might go into a second week. It’s what it knocks out of you to be honest. We have to get the lads back on it.”
The Grove was stunned however, when Kyle Haylock found Joao Rangel with less than three minutes on the clock and the Trawlerboys leading scorer made no mistake.
That was the way it stayed until the 32nd-minute when Ryan Wynter grabbed the leveller.
A few minutes later, Conor Tee’s free-kick found Wynter and he set up Alex Cameron to give Penn’s men some breathing space.
On the stroke of half-time, McKauley Manning made it three from a corner.
Penn added: “We don’t make it easy for ourselves. We found a vulnerability in them with set-pieces. The amoung of final entry we have had today and not made the keeper work.
“They make me shout. So frustrating. I know we can be better. I thought we the second half look very comfortable.”
Halesowen welcomed two new signings to the club. Former Villa trainee Jack Birch and ex-WBA academy player Archie Oliver.
Penn said: “Jack was at the Villa, he went to the US and made a career for himself. He wants game time.
“Archie has been Colchester, highly thought-of at West Brom. He’s a local lad, looking sharp.
“They’ve both turned up here fit, which makes a difference if you turn up fit to play.”
