On Saturday 26th April Hednesford Town entertain Runcorn Linnets in the final game of the regular 2024/25 season knowing that should Widnes avoid defeat at home to Trafford then not even a win would be enough to make them Northern Premier League West Division Champions. However, a win would guarantee The Pitmen home advantage in the Play Offs.
Back on the 24th of August, Hednesford came away from Runcorn with a 6-2 win. Eden Gumbs gave the home side the lead in first half stoppage time but second half goals from Rob Stevenson, Dan Trickett-Smith, Sion Spence, Manny Duku and Zidane Sutherland put The Pitmen 5-1 in front. Sam Barratt pulled one back before Sutherland added his second and Hednesford’s sixth in injury time. That is one of nine defeats that Linnets have suffered at the APEC Taxis Stadium this season along with nine wins and three draws while on the road they have lost just five, at Witton Albion (0-4), Avro (1-3), Clitheroe (1-4) and Mossley (0-2) along with the 0-6 defeat at Congleton last weekend. They have won eight and drawn seven giving them 31 points to go with the 30 gained at home. Those 61 points see them sitting in ninth place in the league table, a point behind Trafford and one ahead of Nantwich Town and Clitheroe. They do, however, have a Cheshire Senior Cup Final against Stalybridge Celtic on 6th May to look forward to.
Runcorn’s leading scorer is Ryan Brooke who has 11 league goals, one in the FA Cup and two in the County Cups giving him a total of 14 in all competitions which has made him Runcorn Linnets all time leading scorer with 77 career goals. He is followed this season by Adam Moseley who has five league goals and five in the County Cups and Naim Arsan who has eight in all competitions. They will be without Jay Lee and Harvey Washington who are suspended following their red cards at Congleton. Following the substitute appearances of Captain Elliott Johnson and striker Ahkeem Rose after injury at Stafford Rangers on Monday, manager Gavin Hurren is expected to have a full squad available apart from the long term absentees. He had this to say about the season. “ Whatever happens today everyone connected to Hednesford Town should be proud of what we’ve achieved together this season. And once again, I have to mention the supporters. Over 800 of you packed out the away end on Monday and it was one of the most incredible sights I’ve experienced in my managerial career”.
Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm with gates opening at 12.30pm. Admission will be £11 adults, £8 concessions/ disabled with carer, £3 10-18, free for U10s but all under 16s must be accompanied by a paying adult. Tickets can be bought via the Fanbase app or by cash/card at the appropriate turnstile.
The last two Hednesford Town Ladies home games will have free admission. These are against AFC Telford United Ladies on Sunday 27th April and Walsall FC Women on Sunday 4th May, both at 2pm. The Ladies are currently top of Division One North with 12 wins and a draw from 13 games, two points above second placed Telford who have played three games more and seven ahead of Walsall who have played 14 games.
