Hednesford Town manager Gavin Hurren named an unchanged side from Tuesday night’s 2-0 victory away at Leek Town as they faced second placed Gainsborough Trinity at Keys Park. The Pitmen got off to a flying start and nearly took the lead in the second minute when a looping header from defender Ollie Harrison went wide of the goal. They did, however, take the lead in the fifth minute when Dan Turner did well on the left to win a corner which was taken by Chris Hussey, in-form Akheem Rose got on the end of the delivery and beat David Robson with a bullet header. Dom McHale did well to beat a couple of Gainsborough defenders before shooting wide of the post. Tony Breeden pushed the ball behind for a corner from which Bobby Johnson smashed the ball well over the crossbar. In the 18th minute Jonny Edwards burst forward into the visitor’s area and some neat footwork set up Rose who lashed home his second goal of the game. McHale went close with an audacious lob over Robson which sailed just over the crossbar. Ashley Jackson had a low shot go narrowly wide for Gainsborough as the game settled down into a much quieter affair after the explosive start. Just before half time the Pitmen carved out another good chance when Edwards broke from midfield and set up McHale whose effort was saved by Robson.
HT 2-0
Gainsborough came out fighting in the second half and within five minutes the lively Javelle Clarke hit the post for the visitors, with Breeden gathering in the ball on the goal line. Fraser Preston took a freekick for Gainsborough providing Clarke with a free header which went behind for a goal kick. Clarke was on hand again to deliver a dangerous cross which was met by Johnson whose header was easy for Breeden to save. Gainsborough continued to apply the pressure and Sisa Tuntulwana saw a goal bound effort deflected wide, at the resulting corner Preston delivered a decent ball into the box which was put wide by Tuntulwana. The industrious Tuntulwana then had a shot pushed over the bar by Breeden, who followed up his save with another great block from the resultant corner. In the 85th minute Johnson hit the woodwork for Gainsborough, while substitute Daniel Vanderpuye put the rebound well wide. The Pitmen continued to defend well as Gainsborough threw everything at them, and managed to see the game out for an important victory that saw them move up to second in the table, in what was a game of two halves.
After the game Gavin Hurren said; “It was a very professional performance in the first half and they could not live with us, they came back at us in the second half which we knew they would, but we defended well and credit to the players for the amount of ground that they covered.”
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Maye, Hussey, Harrison, Wynter, Rose (Jervis 70), Doyle-Charles, Edwards (Freeman 70), McHale (Trickett-Smith 70), Turner (Johson 64). Sub not used; Brown
Gainsborough Trinity; Robson, Tuntulwana (Vanderpuye 83), Jackson, Johnson, Lancaster, Beeden, Simpson (McLoughlin 72), Helliwell, Hornshaw (Kruszynski 72), Clarke, Preston. Sub not used; Sykes.
Attendance 1392
