A top of the table clash between Hednesford Town and Hebburn Town ended in a 1-1 draw under the lights at Keys Park. The Pitmen, playing their first game since the departure of Gavin Hurren, almost got off to a perfect start after three minutes when Omari Sterling-James hit the crossbar with a freekick from thirty yards out. Akheem Rose shot narrowly wide for the Pitmen before the visitors replied with a similarly wide effort. The Pitmen began to pile on the pressure with Montel Gibson forcing a fine save from Dan Cameron, before Sterling-James went close with a shot that went wide of the post. Joel Taylor was regularly finding space and producing some dangerous crosses, the first of which was headed straight at Cameron by Gibson. In the 28th minute Taylor put in another cross which was headed home by Rose to give the Pitmen the lead. Taylor was in the action again before the half time break this time firing in a shot that went wide.
HT 1-0
Hebburn came back at the hosts in the second half and Tony Breeden was forced into an excellent save in the 47th minute. A Chris Hussey freekick to the far post caused problems for the Hebburn defence, with Cameron only able to parry the ball before it was eventually cleared. Hebburn continued to look dangerous in attack and another good save from Breeden presented the visitors with a corner, Ollie Harrison was able to head the ball away, but Hebburn recycled and sent the ball back into the area allowing Jack Donaghy to head home an equaliser. Hebburn were by now in the ascendency and the Pitmen were lucky to survive a goal line clearance. The Pitmen went close to regaining the lead in the 81st minute when following Hussey’s corner, the ball came out to Dan Trickett-Smith who shot over the bar from the edge of the box. Another opportunity fell to the Pitmen late on when Harrison headed over the bar from Hussey’s corner. Neither side could find another breakthrough as the game ended in a hard-fought draw.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Taylor, Hussey, Kinsella, Harrison, Wynter (Morgan 63), Hylton (McHale 70), Trickett-Smith, Rose (Turner 87), Gibson, Sterling-James. Subs not used; Labadie, Johnson
Hebburn Town; Cameron, Heywood, Turner, Donaghy, Elsdon, Wood, Thompson, Briggs, G Martin (Foreman 76), Murray (O Martin 76, Phillips (Oliver 88). Subs not used; Carington, Pavan
Attendance 1602
