Second placed Hednesford Town faced ninth placed Cleethorpes Town at Keys Park, knowing that a win would send them to the top of the league. The visitors had the game’s first chance in the 4th minute when Max Brogan shot wide. A few minutes later some great defending by Olli Harrison broke up a dangerous looking Cleethorpes attack. The Pitmen had a decent chance in the 10th minute when Dan Trickett-Smith fired well over from Chris Hussey’s freekick before Cleethorpes skipper Brad Abbott shot narrowly wide. Both sides continued to trade chances in an evenly fought contest, Joel Taylor put a dangerous cross into the area for the Pitmen, but nobody was able to get on the end of it. Taylor was booked for a foul five yards outside the Pitmen area, the freekick was taken by Nicky Walker who saw his effort go inches past the post. In reply, Jamie Morgan won a corner for the Pitmen which saw Harrison’s header blocked on the line and cleared by the visiting defence, minutes later Montel Gibson sent a curling shot towards goal and was unlucky to see it come back off the post. Trickett-Smith went close with a shot over the bar from Hussey’s corner before Brogan shot wide for the visitors. The Pitmen had a shout for a penalty when it appeared that a Cleethorpes defender handled the ball, however a corner was awarded instead which was cleared at the far post. Walker broke through on goal for Cleethorpes just before the break, but Tony Breeden did enough to get in his way allowing Taylor to clear off the line.
HT 0-0
The second half began with a driving run from Dan Turner finding Gibson who put his shot wide. A few minutes later Gibson turned provider with a skilful piece of play on the right-hand side finding a cross for Trickett-Smith to guide into the bottom corner of the net to give the Pitmen the lead. A few minutes later some last ditch defending from the Pitmen prevented Brogan from finding an equaliser. The game went a bit scrappy following the goal, with both sides carving out the odd half chance. A cross from Gibson was scrambled away by the Cleethorpes defence before substitute Joss Labadie had a shot blocked and then Gibson’s follow-up effort was saved on the line. Walker went close for Cleethorpes with a header that went over the bar before Breeden had to make a save from a corner. Jonny Edwards found himself through on goal with just Ollie Battersby to beat but the Cleethorpes stopper came out on top to deny the Pitmen a second goal. Cleethorpes pressed hard in the final five minutes, but the Pitmen defence held strong and claimed the three points that sent them to the top of the league.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan (Labadie 46), Taylor, Maye (Rose 46), Harrison, Hussey, Trickett-Smith, Doyle-Charles, Gibson (Edwards 79), Turner, Hylton (Sheaf 69). Sub not used Parke.
Cleethorpes Town; Battersby, Gallimore (Sutcliffe 86), Boateng (Jones 80), Conway (O’ Grady 80), Vann, Foster, Whitehouse (Braithwaite 60), Abbott, J Walker, Brogan (Andreucci 60), N Walker.
Attendance 1524
