Hednesford Town took on Rushall Olympic at Keys Park in the Semi Final of the Staffordshire Senior Cup.
Following a cagey opening to the match, the Pitmen found themselves 1-0 down as the visitors pumped the ball into the Hednesford area towards Max Ram who headed home at the far post.
Rushall looked set on increasing their advantage as the Pitmen struggled to take control of the game. Only seven minutes later, Jakub Kruszynski found Carter Lycett around the edge of the box as the latter let fly, though it was high and wide of Xander Parke’s goal. The Pics’ continued to apply pressure down the left flank as Lycett put in a number of low crosses into the Hednesford area, which were dealt with by the Pitmen’s defence.
Arguably Hednesford’s most dangerous opportunity came in the 23rd minute through a long ball from Niall Watson towards strike partner Dan Turner; though he was beaten to the ball by Davies-Manton in a contentious penalty call, which was not given by the referee. In the 32nd minute, Dan Trickett-Smith whipped in a dangerous corner that was recycled only as far as Joss Labadie, who unleashed a wonderful, volleyed effort which crashed just wide of the right hand post; capping off a frustrating first half for the home side.
HT: 0-1
The Pitmen began the second half in much better stead as they searched for an equaliser.
Within the opening two minutes, Dom McHale cut in from the right side; forcing a strong stop from Davies-Manton for the first time. Three minutes later, McHale let fly once again in similar fashion as the hosts continued to apply pressure on the Pics’ backline.
In the 67th minute, substitute Jake Jervis played a wonderful cross towards Trickett-Smith who found his effort heroically palmed away by Davies-Manton. However, it was not all one way traffic as Parke produced a strong stop following a Rushall free kick; tipping the ball over his crossbar and in turn, keeping his side in the tie.
Minutes later, the Pitmen came up the other end as the ball fell to Joe Doyle-Charles, who struck goalward from 25 yards, forcing another save from the Rushall shot stopper down to his left hand side.
In the 87th minute, Hednesford continued their hunt for an equaliser as scholar Alfie Gibson won a free kick in a dangerous area. Chris Hussey stepped up with a low, powerful effort which was pushed away for a corner once again. Six minutes later, Gibson struck goalward himself, though it was gathered comfortably by the Rushall goalkeeper.
The Pitmen’s final opportunity to salvage an equaliser came moments later as the ball fell to Turner, whose shot fell narrowly wide of the right post.
Despite a valiant, second half performance, the hosts found the deficit too much to overcome as they exited the Staffordshire Senior Cup.
Hednesford Town; Parke, Brown (Hussey 49), Walker, Maye, Labadie (Gibson 78mins), Williams (Doyle-Charles 57),Turner, Trickett-Smith, Watson (Taylor 57), McHale (Jervis 57), Hylton
Rushall Olympic; Davies-Manton, Ram, Lycett, Neto-Teixeira (Clayton-Phillips 90), Brown, Willets, Kruszynski (Okuonghae 70), Unitt (McGlinchey 61), Chimeziri (Dwyer 54), Enright (Wakefield 67), McAlinden
Attendance: 1689
