The Yeltz had the better of the first half with Carl Macauley’s men rallying to do likewise in the second, a draw being a fair result in difficult conditions as hail and snow swept across the ground at regular intervals.

The visitors were top of the form table going in to the game having suffered only one defeat in eleven games – by Marine – and made most of the early running, a header coming back off the bar with the ball being played back in to the danger area, Ben Haseley’ scuffed shot from six yards being kept out at the second attempt by Matt Cooper in the home goal.

Lloyd Ellams responded for the Mariners with a chipped shot over the top from Henoc Mukendi’s pass, before getting on the end of a Jamie Menagh cross to bring a fine save from Matt Sargeant with a header.

Cooper was soon in action again collecting a long throw from Thomas Tonks after it skimmed off Steve Wainwright’s head but was powerless to prevent Town taking the lead on 26 minutes, Haseley’s testing cross from the right being headed in to his own net by James Foley a la Sandy Brown (google him!)

The Yeltz should have added a second with an incisive move and pass inside the full back, Kristian Green sliding a shot past the far post when a second goal might have been fatal to Marine hopes.

Blake fired a decent effort over the top for Marine from 25 yards before Aaron Daniels toe poked off target at the other end, the same player then shooting over on the turn as half time beckoned.

Menagh – always lively on the Marine flanks – put in another good cross at the start of the second half which Andy Nicholas headed wide before Aaron Griffiths’ deep free kick for Halesowen eluded everyone, dropping just wide of the far post.

The Mariners got a deserved equaliser after showing some good old fashioned grit, substitute Dan Fearnehough’s determined tackle setting up Blake to level the scores with a peach of a drive from 25 yards, the ball going in off the underside of the bar to leave Sargeant stranded.

Both sides had chances to win it late on, Menagh finding Lewis Codling in space in the area with the striker’s goal bound shot blocked for the Whites, before Griffiths fired over from the left after a quick break by the Yeltz.

Marine: Matt Cooper, Karl Clair, Steve Wainwright, Andy Nicholas, Joel Bembo-Leta (Cap), Liam Blake, Jamie Menagh, James Foley (Carl Peers 45), Henoc Mukendi (Dan Fearnehough 57), Lloyd Ellams, Christian Langos (Lewis Codling 69).

Unused subs: Tom Owens, James Mitchison (G/K). Cautions: Wainwright.

Halesowen Town: Matthew Sargeant, Kristian Green, Aaron Griffiths, Aaron Forde, Joseph Hull (Cap) (Joel Kettle 71), Curtis Tilt, Asa Charlton, Thomas Tonks (Elliott Turner 79), Aaron Daniels (Robert Thompson-Brown 83), Ben Haseley, Daniel Bragoli.

Unused subs: Neil Mackenzie, Samuel Pearson. Cautions: Hull, Charlton, Tonks.

Referee: Mr. Richard Wild (Rochdale); Assistants Mr. Karl Bardsley (Oldham), Mr. Conor Brown (Rochdale).

Attendance: 322.