The Bucks drew 1-1 with Halesowen at the Grove in what was likely a dress rehearsal for the playoffs.

With both sides heading into the game on the back of lengthy unbeaten runs, it was little surprise that this game ended all square. The Bucks shaded the early exchanges and took the lead in 20th minute through Dylan Allen-Hadley. Jahdahn Fridye-Harper slid a lovely through ball inside the Yeltz right back, Ben Cassidy, for Ellis Brown to fire low into the box, and it broke for Allen-Hadley, who backheeled the ball home from close range.

Halesowen upped their game after the Bucks’ opener, but while Penn’s side looked dangerous, they failed to test Brandon Hall – thanks largely to some excellent interceptions and interventions from the Bucks backline. 1-0 to the Bucks at the break.

Having finished the first half on the up, the Yeltz made a fast start to the second period and levelled just two minutes after the break. The Bucks successfully defended a Halesowen corner, but when the ball was whipped back in from the right, dangerman Kieren Donnelly rose highest and scored with a well-placed headed that struck the inside of the left post on its way into Hall’s net.

The Yeltz continued to see a good chunk of the ball, but while they threatened the Bucks defence, Hall didn’t have much to do in the Telford goal. And Wilkin’s men, who had made a slow start to the second half, then started to find their feet again.

The Bucks looked the more likely side in the final quarter, although, like the Yeltz, Wilkin’s men didn’t give the opposition keeper too much to think about. The Bucks did have the ball in the net in the 72nd minute, but the goal was chalked off for a fairly soft handball. Moments earlier, Jimmy Armson had seen his header from a corner well blocked, while Byron Moore might have won it for the Bucks late on, but he could only fire high and wide when put through by Armson on the right-side of the box.

The game finished 1-1, and a draw felt like the right result. This was an entertaining game with plenty of goalmouth action, albeit without either keeper being overly tested.

The result means that, barring a Kettering defeat and an unlikely swing in goal difference next Saturday, the two sides will face each other again in the playoff semi final.