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Hednesford Town 2-0 Nantwich Town

Despite the overnight cold snap, and thanks to the new frost covers and a hardy team of ground staff and volunteers, the match between the 6th placed Pitmen and 4th placed Dabbers was able to go ahead at Keys Park.

The game was only five minutes old when the advantageΒ fell to the home side, Dominic McHale produced a cross from the left hand side of the pitch finding Manny Duku, who took time to find his feet before firing an unstoppable shot past Ben Garratt from inside the six yard box. The visitors were not dismayed by going a goal behind and gave a good account of themselves early on with a series of freekicks and corners taken by Nathan Sandison asking questions of the Pitmen defence. DespiteΒ the attacking presence of Nantwich it would be the Pitmen who would score the second goal in the 24th minute, Sion Spence won the ball with a commandingΒ tackleΒ before feeding McHale who found a superbΒ finishΒ from the right hand side of the box. In reply the Dabbers’ Tom Pratt had a shot that was easily saved by Ryan Brown, before Spence had a good effort tipped over the bar for the home side.Β 

HT 2-0

The Pitmen were forced to re-shuffle their pack at half time with Dan Sparkes replacing Dom McHale. TheΒ half had a fairly even opening with Jack Bearne marginally offside for Hednesford before Brown was called upon to make a save from a headed effort from Nantwich. Brown was called upon again in the 58th minute making a great save from Byron Harrison as the Dabbers tried to force their way back into the game. A further change was made by the Pitmen as Jacob Gwilt replaced Manny Duku. The remainderΒ of the game saw the visitors maintain large amounts of the ball, putting pressure on the Hednesford defence, however the Pitmen held their line and defended valiantly against the onslaught of Nantwich. Joe Doyle-Charles was an immenseΒ presence in the Pitmen midfield and seemingly won the ball with ease. In the dying moments of the game Nantwich captain Troy Bourne picked up a second yellow card for bringing down Jack Bearne. The Pitmen held on comfortably to their two goal lead and leapfrogged Nantwich and Chasetown to move up to fourth in the league.

Hednesford Town; Brown, Morgan, Taylor, Doyle-Charles, Harrison, Johnson, Spence (Barnes-Homer 68), Maye (Holness 81), Duku (Gwilt 60), McHale (McHale 46), Bearne. Sub not used, Roberts.

Nantwich Town; Garratt, Melhado, Mellor, Thornton,Β  Bourne, Kennedy, Sandison (Moore 68), Tweedley (Robbins 75),Β  Harrison,Β  Pratt (Bailey 81), Evans. Subs not used; Moran,Merner.

Attendance 1219