The Pitmen delivered a late show against a stubborn resistance from the visitors Worcester Raiders at Keys Park to progress to the next round of the Emirates FA Cup. A quick start from Hednesford saw three blocked shots in the opening minute and a claim for a penalty waved away by the referee. A controversial moment came in the fifth minute when the otherwise impressive Raiders’ keeper Charlie Emery came out of his goal and wiped out Rob Stevenson, with the referee opting to only show a yellow card. Kory Roberts went close from a corner, before skipper Elliot Johnson just failed to make connection with a cross from Dan Sparkes, while Emery was at hand to make a double save from first Stevenson and then from Dominic McHale. Another good shout for a penalty to the Pitmen was dismissed, as the home side were dominant. During the first period the Pitmen were guilty of perhaps trying to walk the ball into the net as the half ended goalless.
HT 0-0
