Hednesford Town played their last league game of the season at Keys Park, knowing that a win against visitors Runcorn Linnets and a home defeat for Widnes, against Trafford, would hand them the league title.
The game began at a frenetic pace with home skipper Dom McHale going close to opening the scoring in the first minute. A mix-up at the back for the Pitmen allowed Luke Wall to get a shot away which was saved by Tony Breeden. A melee broke out in the third minute when Jacques Welsh fouled Joe Doyle-Charles with the Runcorn skipper booked for his transgression. Jake Jervis was the next Pitman to go close to scoring, shooting wide of an empty net from an acute angle. McHale forced another save from Bayleigh Passant. The game went a bit flat before half time although McHale saw another effort deflected behind for a corner.
HT 0-0
The second half began with Akheem Rose blasting the ball wide from Joel Taylor’s cross, before firing wide again with a decent turn and shot in the box. Joe Ferguson shot wide for the visitors before Ollie Harrison forced another save from Passant. The game seemed to be drifting towards a goalless draw, when McHale hit the crossbar in the 85th minute. However, the Pitmen were able to muster a win with a 90th minute header from substitute Nathan Blissett after the ball was recycled from a corner. With the points sealed, and Widnes winning, the PItmen secured second place in the league and a home tie in the play-offs versus Vauxhall Motors.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Taylor (Johnson 77), Maye (Rose 26), Harrison, Hussey, Trickett-Smith, Doyle-Charles, Jervis, McHale, Bearne (Blissett 80). Subs not used; Gwilt, Brown.
Runcorn Linnets; Passant, Wylie, Arsan, Doyle, Ferguson, Grogan, Wall, Welsh, Brooke, Daly (Clair 64) (Dwyer 72), Moseley (Crane 79). Subs not used; Eleverstone, Ellams.
Attendance 1734
