The Pitmen faced off against Warrington Rylands in the Northern Premier League Premier Division playoff final at a packed out Keys Park. Following a nervy opening ten minutes, Blues’ midfielder Charlie Munro would be the first to test Tony Breeden as he let fly from distance with the Pitmen stopper needing to palm the ball over his crossbar for the first time. With 16 minutes gone, Montel Gibson would respond with an effort of his own following a cross from Joe Doyle-Charles, which fell wide of the right hand post, though he was offside nonetheless.
32 minutes in, Gibson would try his luck once again following a lovely dribble from Omari Sterling-James as Pilling was called into action again to make a simple stop as the conclusion to a relatively even first half drew nearer with neither side able to break the deadlock.
HT: 0:0
With a first half devoid of much quality, the second looked to avoid the same tagline. Two minutes into the half, Alex Kiwomya latched onto a long ball and made way down the outside of Ollie Harrison who recovered well to divert the oncoming cross away for a corner. Moments later, the Blues made their set piece count as Benjamin Hardcastle’s corner found the head of Clive Smith as he thumped the visitors into the lead. The Pitmen looked to respond quickly. Liam Kinsella slid a disguised pass into the feet of Gibson who looked like he had found the equaliser but Matthew Regan got back to make a heroic goal line clearance. With momentum looking to swing into the hosts’ favour, Rylands would have an opportunity to double their advantage. 69 minutes in, Tony Breeden made a phenomenal stop to deny Smith his second. As Pitmen hopes dimmed, George Williams fired home a dramatic equaliser in stoppage time to send Keys Park into euphoria and the final into extra time.
FT: 1-1
Hednesford’s best opportunity in extra time came through Gibson in the 100th minute as he sent an effort towards the far corner which was palmed wide by Pilling. Five minutes later, Jake Jervis flashed a wonderful cross across goal which just evaded Ollie Harrison. With seconds left to play, Rylands thought they had the winner as Hardcastle’s free kick was headed onto the crossbar with the playoff final now heading to penalties.
AET: 1-1
With both sides having scored four penalties a piece, it would be George Waring who faced despair as he cannoned his effort onto the crossbar. Up stepped Captain Joe Doyle-Charles who calmly dispatched his spot kick to cement the Pitmen’s place in next season’s National League North for the first time in ten years.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan (McHale 77), Hussey, Kinsella, Harrison, Williams, Hylton (Jervis 66), Doyle-Charles , Gibson (Trickett-Smith 120), Sterling-James, Rose (Wynter 86) Sub not used; Sheaf
Warrington Rylands – Pilling, Smith (Muyengwa 108), Regan, Hall, Gamble, Caddick, Wood (Hough 83), Munro, Waring, Kiwomya (Burton 97), Hardcastle. Subs not used; Ashcroft, Webster
Attendance – 4029
