- Halesowen have won four and drawn one of their last five matches in all competitions.
- Stafford have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games in all competitions.
Home is where the heart is for the Yeltz
Halesowen Town FC will look to back up their excellent start to the season when they take on Stafford Rangers in a fresh FA Cup Qualification 2026 on Tuesday. John Pemberton's men are on a roll right now, winning four and drawing one of their last five in all competitions, while Stafford have been a little less consistent, with three wins, one draw and one defeat over the same five-match period.
Halesowen won 1-0 at home to Rushall Olympic in Southern League Premier Division Central, while Stafford followed up their 3-0 away win over Kidsgrove Athletic in FA Trophy Qualification with a 4-0 away defeat to Gloucester City FC in the same competition.
The Yeltz have won five and lost only one of their six home fixtures in all competitions, while Rangers have managed just two wins and four defeats from six on the road, so a home win does look the cleanest punt in this cup tie. But with Stafford expected to come at them with long throws, crosses and set pieces, there could well be goals at both ends of the pitch.
Stafford have a physical edge in this clash of styles
That's because Stafford are the more physical and direct of the two sides, with Halesowen more comfortable playing on the flanks and passing the ball. The clash of these two styles could see an open game with both teams having some joy, but we can't quite get behind both teams to score in this matchup, because we feel Stafford could easily be blanked.
The 5/4 price on Both Teams to Score - No does look appealing though, because one of these sides could well go scoreless at some stage of the contest. Halesowen have a 0.67 goals against average at home this term in all competitions, so they should be able to keep enough clean sheets to get through this round.
The 63/100 odds on Over 2.5 goals is good value too as the hosts will spread out and create plenty of territory and cutback opportunities, while Stafford could run into trouble at some point, having conceded 13 goals in their six away fixtures this season.
Halesowen have a touch of quality
Halesowen's defence and the overall home advantage should give them the edge on Tuesday, so we are tipping Halesowen to win this game at 37/50. The 1-1 draw that took place at Stafford's ground in the last round of FA Cup Qualification already gives this cup clash a tight feel, but it is true that the hosts have the touch of class that could make the difference.
Kacy Butterfield is a standout choice for an anytime goal, as the midfielder has scored two in his last five appearances, during which time Halesowen have netted five.
