On Saturday 21st December Hednesford Town complete their third successive Northern Premier League West Division away game when they make the trip to Cheshire where they will play Vauxhall Motors. The Pitmen have played 11 away games in the league so far this season, winning six, drawing two and losing three while Motors’ home league record has seen them pick up five wins and four defeats. They have beaten Wythenshawe 2-0, Stalybridge Celtic 3-2, Hanley Town 3-1, Mossley 3-2 and Chasetown 2-0 while losing 1-3 to Congleton Town, 0-1 against Runcorn Linnets, 1-2 to Nantwich Town and 1-2 versus Avro. Away from home they have won seven, drawn one and lost three including a 2-3 defeat at Keys Park on the opening league fixture of the season. This form sees them in third place in the league table with 37 points from 20 games and a GD of +10 while Hednesford who dropped a place in midweek following Mossley’s draw with Kidsgrove are seventh with 33 points from 21 games giving a GD of +16, the best in the division, no surprise as they are also the top scorers with 47.
Vauxhall Motors’ leading scorer in the league this season is former Hednesford Town striker Nick Rushton with nine, amazingly all scored away from home. He is followed by the evergreen Kevin Ellison on eight and Jawad Jebrin who has six. Hednesford’s leading league scorers are Dan Trickett-Smith with eight with Manny Duku and Dom McHale both on seven.
Apart from long term injuries Rob Stevenson and Simeon Maye, Hednesford are expecting to have a virtually full squad to select from. Kory Roberts is expected to be fit after dropping out after the warm up before Tuesday’s 3-1 Birmingham Senior Cup win over Coleshill Town while Omar Holness, Blaine Rowe, Jake Jervis and Manny Duku who were rested should be available. Jamie Morgan will also be in the squad. The former Nantwich Town, Altrincham and Chester full back signed for the club on Thursday from National League North side Radcliffe.
Vauxhall Motors play at the vanEupen Stadium, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH66 1NJ. The ground has a capacity of 3,300 (350 seated) and their average home attendance this season is 218. It is situated in Hooton near to Ellesmere Port Golf Club. They have played there since 1986 when it was known as Rivacre Park. Admission is £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and £2 for U16s. Kick off will be at 3pm.
On Sunday 22nd December Hednesford Ladies play their last game of the year when they entertain Eccleshall in a Division One North league game. Kick off at Keys Park will be at 2pm and admission is £3 adults and £1 concessions. Finally, everyone at Hednesford Town would like to wish all supporters a very Merry Christmas.
