Bilston Town V Birmingham OJM (Division One)

​Bilston Town were looking to keep their momentum going against Birmingham OJM yesterday evening. The Steelmen started the season with a 5-0 win against Saffron Dynamo on Saturday thanks to goals from Ben Priest, Kyron Cooper, Callum Bright, Jay Rossiter and Samuel Yankson.

It’s been a summer of change at Bilston with Dave King coming in as their new manager following the resignation of Mike Dunn at the end of last season. Notable signings include midfielder Luke Carter who impressed at this level for the likes of Gornal Athletic and Cradley Town last season.  

Queen Street is a ground full of character and an impressive attendance of 345 supporters turned up last night to watch their mid-week match against Birmingham OJM.

The visitors are looking to bounce back from relegation from the premier division due to ground issues. They started the season with a 1-0 win at newly promoted AFC North Kilworth thanks to a goal from Emeraude Kabongo. A lot of last season’s squad who secured a top half finish at step five have committed to OJM and their capable of challenging at this level.

They notably achieved promotion from division one through the play offs back in 23/24. They were a tough side to break down that season and had the best defensive record in the league with only 40 goals conceded. Key players from that squad have stayed on such as defender Callum Nimmo.

They were looking for a statement result against Bilston to build some momentum in division one and make it back-to-back away wins under manager Adam Younis.

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Bilston Town included Dominic Cooper starting in goal and Luke Carter captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Sam Yankson playing up front and being supported by Kyron Cooper and Ricardo Heaven on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Saffron Dynamo on Saturday with Ricardo Heaven coming into the team and playing on the left wing.

Birmingham OJM’s starting line up included Charlie Jew starting in goal and Liam Spink captaining the team in midfield. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Emmanuel Olaloko playing up front and being supported by Michael Nelson and Dominic Latham on the wings.

There was one change from their match against AFC North Kilworth on Saturday with Jordan Kondo coming into the team and playing at right back. 

First Half

Bilston settled into the match well in the first half and were causing Birmingham OJM some problems up front. Sam Yankson worked tirelessly as the number nine and chased numerous long balls to build up the play for the Steelmen. He was a real focal point for them last night and helped them build attacks in the final third.

The visitors were looking to grow into the match and keep it tight at the back throughout the first half. Callum Nimmo was reading the danger well at centre back with Liam Spink helping to link up the play from midfield. They had a half chance when Michael Nelson found some space on the edge of the box before having a shot comfortably saved by Dominic Cooper on 22 minutes.

Bilston looked well organised off the ball throughout the first half with Haydn Hall impressing at centre back. He helped clear the ball away from danger and defended well at the back. Chad Carter also played well in holding midfield and did a good job of tracking back and getting some blocks in to break up promising OJM attacks.

The Steelmen opened the scoring on 27 minutes thanks to a moment of quality from Tyron Cooper down the right-hand side. He received the ball on the edge of the box before producing a quality strike that found the bottom right corner for 1-0.

OJM kept going in the latter stages of the first half and came close to an equaliser when Adam Keough was free at the back post from a corner. He did well to find some space before firing wide in the 31st minute.

Bilston also came close to scoring from a set piece when a well worked throw in found Sam Yankson at the back post who headed over the bar on 34 minutes.

OJM built some momentum in the final ten minutes of the first half and were building attacks in the final third. Emmanuel Olaloko looked a threat up front and did well to hold up the play for the visitors. He beat a few players in the box before squaring the ball to Michael Nelson who couldn’t quite connect with it for 1-1.   

Emeraude Kabongo also came close for OJM and had a shot narrowly go wide of the far post on 46 minutes. 

Second Half

Bilston started the second half positively and were looking to make it 2-0. Their best chance for a second goal came when Jay Rossiter had a shot go wide of the right-hand post on 54 minutes.

OJM gradually grew into the match as the second half went on and almost scored from nothing when left-back Aaron Weston had a cross come shot test Dominic Cooper who had to make an instinctive save to tip it round the post in the 57th minute.  

A free-flowing move by the visitors down the right-hand side saw the ball played to substitute Reece Morris in the box who produced a classy finish into the bottom left corner for 1-1 on 63 minutes.

The equaliser completely changed the momentum of the game with OJM having more of the ball in the second half and building up the play more from midfield.

They also defended well at the back with Adam Keough impressing at centre back. Jordan Kondo also had an underrated game at right back to stifle the attacking quality of the Steelmen down the left-hand side.   

Bilston showed character and kept going despite the change in momentum. They saw out the pressure from OJM in the middle of the second half and had a chance to win it in the final ten minutes.

They were committing players forward in search of a winner and were threatening from set pieces into the box. Their best chance came when Ben Priest struck a volley that was well saved by Charlie Jew in the 85th minute to keep it at 1-1.

There was an injury to the referee with a few minutes to go who had to be replaced by the linesmen which gave both teams a chance to regroup before stoppage time.

OJM had a corner late on with a minute to go. A brilliant delivery found Emeraude Kabongo at the front post who headed into the bottom right corner for a dramatic late winner for the visitors.

Full Time

The result was unfortunate from a Bilston perspective who looked like getting a point until the late winner from OJM. They played well yesterday and created some good chances in front of goal which is encouraging for the season ahead.

There’s a good spine of the team with the likes of Chad Carter and Haydn Hall impressing last night.  

The visitors had to work hard for the three points and showed character to get a momentum building win. It was a classic away performance from OJM who stayed in the game and were clinical in the box to get the three points.  

Upcoming fixtures

Bilston will be looking to bounce back against Leicester St Andrews (Away) on Saturday before matches against Sutton United (Wednesday, Home), Kirby Muxloe (Next Saturday, Home) and Gornal Athletic (Away, Tuesday 19th August) over the next two weeks.

The Steelmen are seeded through to the second qualifying round of the FA vase where they will play Hereford Pegasus at home in late September. This gives them the chance to focus on division one over the next few months and build some momentum at step six.

Birmingham OJM have a run of away games over the next week with trips to Knowle (Saturday) and Wednesfield (Tuesday) before playing Saffron Dynamo (Home, Next Saturday) and AFC Bridgnorth (Away, Tuesday 19th August).          

​FT score: Bilston Town 1-2 Birmingham OJM

Man of the Match: Callum Nimmo (Birmingham OJM)

Attendance: 345

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League