It's Chico Time! (09.09.06)

A SUPERLATIVE display of shot-stopping from Chico Ramos and two very welcome strikes from Craig O’Connor proved decisive in Halesowen on Saturday, as the Magpies clocked up their first win of the season.
Halesowen’s Old Hawne Lane has been the scene of goals galore this season, with the ball hitting the back of the net 19 times in just four games.
And it was not difficult to see why in a first half full of goalscoring opportunities.
Maidenhead drew first blood after 10 minutes, when a Dominic Sterling header from an Ashley Smith corner hit the crossbar.
But within a minute Halesowen’s Matt Lewis had blasted the ball over from point blank range.
Within 60 seconds Lewis again seemed poised to score in front of a goal, only to be foiled by Ramos, who recovered quickly to make a superb double save, denying Paul Szewczyk the chance to score on the rebound.
With 25 minutes gone, Lewis caught Ryan Johnson in possession in front of goal but once again Ramos was equal to the shot.
After these let-offs, United played their way back into the game, Richard Witt playing a vital midfield link role.
Ironically though, it was from a long ball that Maidenhead took the lead.
As the ball descended around the right corner of the penalty area, Halesowen keeper Danny Woodhall hesitated, allowing Craig O’Connor to take the ball past him and deftly slot it in from a tight angle.
With half-time in sight, however, the Magpies again had Ramos to thank as he tipped a good shot from Alex Cowley past the post.
The second half failed to live up to the excitement of its predecessor, but Halesowen continued to press for an equaliser, which almost came on 71 minutes when they rattled the woodwork.
However, as time pressed on gaps began to appear in the Yeltz’ defence and Maidenhead continually surged forward with confidence.
With 10 minutes left, United won a free-kick on the right corner of the penalty area, which Abdul Osman stepped up to take.
His kick took a wicked deflection off the wall, leaving the hapless keeper Woodhall flat-footed and the Magpies two goals up.
The game was far from over though, with Nikki Preston hitting the target for Halesowen at the second attempt, after yet another great save from Ramos.
With two minutes left Maidenhead made sure of the points from the penalty spot, after a defender had tried to rip the shirt of Yashwa Romeo’s back.
O’Connor stepped up to take the kick, blasting the ball straight, hard and high to make the score 3-1, and extend United’s unbeaten run to six games.


Manager Carl Taylor said: “Before the game I just asked the players to carry on with the way they had been performing so far.
“Five games without defeat against the teams we’ve been playing wasn’t a bad return.
“But we did want to get off the mark and we’ve done that.
“The monkey is off our backs and people should start appreciating how well these boys are playing now.”

United take on Carterton in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup at York Road on Saturday.
The Oxfordshire outfit are currently midtable in the Premier Division of the Hellenic League, so should provide easy progress to the next round, at least on paper.
But Taylor is not intending to give them an easy ride, saying: “I’m not bothered what league they’re in. We play the same nearly every game, so it’s just a matter of what they can do to try and stop us.
“But if we take our chances we should go through.”

Taylor is still hoping to add to his squad, with Neville Roach, Lee Newman and Stephen Hughes potential targets
Taylor said: “We’ll get the FA Cup out of the way first, then see what happens from there.”

Halesowen Town: Woodhall, Warner, Haywood, Preston, Knight (for Pierpoint, 45), Amos (for Beckett 52) (for Bridley, 70)), Cowley, Lewis, Szewczyk, Williams, Forsdick. Unused subs: Cooper, Dowdall.
Maidenhead United: Ramos, Smith, Parsons, Johnson (for Jackson, 45), Sterling, Osman, Witt, Nisbet, O’Connor, Romeo (for Kwakye, 88), Hughes.Unused subs: Haule, Gorman, Howard.

Goals: O’Connor 36, 88 pen; Osman 80.  Booking: Witt 81.   Magpie Of The Match: Ramos