Having had both roads to Wembley come to an abrupt halt over the past fortnight, The Pitmen made a long midweek journey to Whitby with the hope of continuing their fine league form and adding to their 5-match unbeaten run. With the squad looking a little fuller from the FA Trophy tie at Harborough, Gavin Hurren was able to field an attacking line-up with Dom McHale and Dan Trickett-Smith in support of the in-form Ahkeem Rose and new signing Montel Gibson.
In a competitive start to the game, neither team were able get much of a foothold in midfield and although a Whitby shot whistled wide of Tony Breedens goal, chances in the first 25 minutes were thin on the ground. Midway through the first half Hednesford, buoyed by 50 or so supporters who had made the long journey to Yorkshire, began to take the game to Whitby, with Gibson and McHale particularly, looking lively around the 18-yard box. Taking the ball down on his chest, Gibson volleyed just over the bar and on the half hour mark both Gibson and Rose forced good saves from Bland in the Whitby goal, diving low to his left and right hand sides respectively. With Hednesford having failed to make the most of their opportunities however, it was Whitby who made the breakthrough on 35 minutes. The Hednesford defence failed to cut out a ball from the Whitby left and leading scorer Donald Chimalilo was allowed too much space on the edge of the box and was able to place a low curling shot to the left of a despairing Tony Breeden.
HT 1-0
Although Hednesford started the second half brightly, it was Whitby who almost doubled their lead when the lively Layton Watts cut inside from the left and hammered a shot from 18 yards into the Hednesford upright, with Breeden well beaten. As The Pitmen continued to search for an equaliser, Dan Trickett-Smith was replaced by Dan Turner. However, this was to no avail as Whitby did extend their lead on 68 minutes. The skilful Chimalilo again cut in from the left and although Freeman was able halt his run on the edge of the box, he could not prevent the ball running free to the over-lapping Sam Collins who finished low past Breeden from deep in the penalty area. This spurred Hednesford into action and two minutes later, having forced a free kick to the left of the Whitby penalty area, Chris Hussey curled in a fine cross. Although Harrison was unable to make contact in the air, his run created space for debutant Gibson to open his Hednesford account with a volley from close range.
Hednesford continued to press for an equaliser and Bland, the Whitby goalkeeper demonstrated strong handling, taking a succession of high crosses under pressure. As frustration built in the Hednesford ranks both Freeman and Joe Doyle-Charles found themselves entering the referees notebook for untidy challenges. Despite introducing Jonny Edwards to the attack and pushing Harrison forward in the closing stages Hednesford could not break down an obdurate Whitby backline who held firm in the closing stages to ensure they took spoils and The Pitmen made the long journey home empty-handed.
Whitby Town: Bland, Smith, Collins, Gell, Whelan, Nelson, Chimalilio (Dawson 90′), Hawkins, Charles (Haswell 72′), Watts, Harrison (Mcgrath 94′). Subs not used: Woods, Tymon.
Hednesford Town: Breeden, Morgan, Freeman, Maye, Harrison, Hussey, Trickett-Smith (Turner 59′), Doyle-Charles, Rose (Edwards 75′), McHale (Wilson 87′), Gibson. Subs not used Brown.
Attendance: 394
