Hednesford Town continued their league campaign taking on Ilkeston Town under the floodlights at Keys Park.
The Pitmen began the game well and within a few minutes Dom McHale shot narrowly over the cross bar from the edge of the box, before Akheem Rose went close with a header from Ryan Wynter’s long throw. The visitors were set up to defend and try to catch the Pitmen on the break, the lively Dylan Youmby looked threatening on the wing, rifling a shot into the side netting. The Pitmen continued to seek the opening goal but were thwarted by Ilkeston, Joss Labadie forced a save from keeper Dylan Wharton and a good move from the home side came to an end when Nathan Blissett was judged to have fouled a defender. Tony Breeden did well to parry an Ilkeston shot from a freekick before the ball was cleared to safety. Rose dragged a shot wide of the target, Chris Hussey saw a freekick charged down and Labadie had another shot go close as the first half ended in frustration for the Pitmen.
HT 0-0
The visitors continued to defend well in the second half and began to look more dangerous on the break. The Pitmen continued to carve out a few half chances, Wharton gathered in a dangerous cross from Hussey, while Rose was flagged offside following a through ball from McHale. A rather uneventful game sprang to life in the 82nd minute when the visitors were awarded a freekick, Jordan Stevens stepped up to beat Breeden with a well struck effort from 25 yards out. Ollie Harrison glanced a header wide of the post in reply before Wharton had to palm a cross from Hussey over the bar. The Pitmen were given a lifeline in the 93rd minute when a hand ball in the area from Ilkeston gave the home side a penalty, Colin Daniel was booked for his protests, before Dan Turner drilled the spot-kick home to equalise for the home side. Daniel continued to argue with the referee and received his marching orders in the aftermath of the goal. Deep into stoppage time McHale got hold of the ball, beating a couple of defenders before firing into the bottom right of the net to give the Pitmen a late winner in front of a stunned Keys Park.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Hussey, Labadie (Maye 63), Harrison, Wynter, Rose (Trickett-Smith 71), Doyle-Charles, Blissett, McHale, Jervis (Turner 63). Subs not used; Brown, Johnson
Ilkeston Town; Wharton, Stevens, Walker, Parker, Marshall, Dixon, Brandy (Kirby-Moore 60), Essien, Fox, Daniel, Youmby. Subs not used; Thornhill, Sulkowski, Whyle, Janneh
Attendance 1488 including 72 away support.
