The Pitmen crashed to an unexpected heavy defeat at the hands of Hyde United in manager Kelvin Davis’ first game in charge. `
The game was only seven minutes old when Hyde striker Tunde Owolabi sent a wonder strike past Tony Breeden to give the home side an early lead. In reply, Ollie Harrison sent a good ball over the top which found Montel Gibson who forced a sharp save from Li-Bau Stowell in goal for the hosts. A minute later Akheem Rose headed the ball into the net, but the Pitmen forward was penalised for a push, and the goal was disallowed. Owolabi doubled his afternoon’s tally in the 20th minute outpacing Harrison and sending his shot in off the far post. Breeden was called into action firstly making a save from Edy Maieco before preventing Owolabi from claiming a first half hat trick. The Pitmen replied with a handful of half chances; Gibson saw an effort blocked, before a strike from Jamie Morgan was deflected behind for a corner. A Chris Hussey freekick did find its way into the net via a Hyde defender however the effort was chalked off, this time for a handball offence.
HT 2-0
Any chance of a Pitmen fightback was killed off within five minutes of the restart, a Hyde corner was played short, finding Damon Park who fired home from inside the box. With Hyde totally in control of the game things went from bad to worse for the Pitmen when Hussey bundled Dontai Gabidon over in the area, skipper Jack Redshaw stepped up to take the spot kick dispatching the ball past Breeden. In the 70th minute some poor defending from Hednesford allowed man of the match Owolabi to feed the ball to Gabidon who comfortably found the back of the net. Jermaine Hylton had a good run putting in a dangerous cross for the Pitmen which was cut out by Stowell. Hylton went close again to scoring a consolation goal when Stowell pushed his effort over the bar. There would be no further goals, and the Pitmen ended the afternoon on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline.
Hyde United; Stowell, Ditchfield, Duxbury, Jones-Griffiths (Pratt 83), Park, Hall, Maieco Makoli 67), Fearnley, Owolabi (Cina 70), Redshaw (Harrop 83), Gabidon. Sub not used; Kershaw
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Taylor, Hussey, Harrison, Johnson, Sheaf (Labadie 46), Kinsella, Gibson (Turner 77), Rose (McHale 61), Sterling-James (Hylton 61). Sub not used; Trickett-Smith
Attendance 606


