The Pitmen made their longest journey of the season as they traveled to Lancashire to face Clitheroe. Clitheroe were much improved from the side who received an 8-1 mauling by the Pitmen when the two sides met at Keys Park earlier in the season. The game was only two minutes old when Joe Doyle-Charles was shown a yellow card for a heavy challenge, and he was quickly followed into the referee’s book by Clitheroe skipper Ross Dent for a foul on Manny Duku. Tony Breeden made a good save before Dom McHale put an effort well wide at the other end of the pitch. The Pitmen were riding their luck and bundled two shots from Clitheroe off the line. Jamie Morgan had a good chance to open the scoring, seeing his shot on the turn go inches wide of the post. Clitheroe hit the bar from a corner, before Jack Massey shot wide for the hosts. The half ended with Niall Watson putting the ball wide from Duku’s cross.
HT 0-0
Clitheroe took the lead in the second half in the 48th minute, when they broke down field through Sam Olawumi, his initial shot was parried by Breeden, with the ball coming back to Olawumi who headed into the net. Breeden made a double save five minutes later to keep the Pitmen in the game, just before Jack Bearne replaced Dan Trickett-Smith. Bearne was straight into the action, putting an excellent cross into the box which found Watson who forced a great save from Liam Isherwood. The equaliser came a few minutes later, McHale threaded a ball through for Bearne who was able to beat the home keeper with a well placed shot. Isherwood was almost caught out by a looping header by Bearne in the 74th minute, but was able to scramble back to make a save. Another foul late on by Doyle-Charles saw the midfielder dismissed, the ten men Pitmen were able to hang on during six minutes of added time to claim a hard fought point on the road.
Clitheroe; Isherwood, Hanson, Dwyer, Lancaster, McEvilly, Olawumi, Poilly, Dent, Creech (Cirino 83), Parny, Massey (Gill 68). Subs not used; Morgan, Booth, McConville
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Taylor, Doyle-Charles, Harrison, Hussey, Trickett-Smith (Bearne 58), Maye, Duku (Barnes-Homer 83), McHale, Watson (Spence 74). Subs not used Gwilt, Brown
Attendance 1025
