The Pitmen travelled to the North-East of England to face Hebburn Town in a highly anticipated season opener. Elliott Johson resumed the captaincy as Joss Labadie was missing from the line up, while assistant manager Lee Vaughan stepped in for manager Gavin Hurren who missed the game through illness.
The game started at a fast pace which continued throughout the contest, the opening ten minutes were scrappy yet competitive as neither side were able to carve out any clear-cut chances. Tony Breeden had to be alert to an attack from Hebburn and came a long way out of his goal to head the ball to safety, before Liam Noble delivered a freekick into the area which was headed clear by Ollie Harrison. The sides exchanged corners which were successfully defended, before the first opportunity fell to Hebburn in the 21st minute which saw Gary Martin draw a comfortable save from Breeden.
A moment of controversy came a few minutes later as Dominic McHale went on a run into the Hebburn box before hitting the floor, under the attention of a home defender. The referee waved away the visitor’s claims for a penalty and chose to book McHale for simulation. McHale was in the action again just before the half hour mark, heading the ball wide from a searching cross from Johnson. The Pitmen had to defend a couple of long freekicks into the area which were dealt with by Harrison and Breeden as the first half concluded.
HT 0-0
At the start of the second half the Pitmen began to show greater precision with their attacking and the lively Dan Trickett-Smith put in a dangerous cross that was cleared for a corner. In the 50th minute Trickett-Smith broke clear from midfield and sent a defence-splitting pass into the area for McHale who smashed the ball home to give the visitors the lead. Three minutes later Trickett-Smith nearly doubled the lead as he had a goal bound effort blocked by the home defence. Breeden punched a corner clear before Jack Foalle attempted an audacious chip over him which ultimately went wide of the goal.
The Pitmen had another half-shout for a penalty as Jamie Morgan went down in the box, as Hebburn fought hard to get back into the game. A corner from Kieron Freeman was headed off the line and a shot from substitute Nathan Blissett was saved by Harrison Bond as the Pitmen tried to finish off the game. Hebburn came close to an equaliser from a corner in the 89th minute when a header from Foalle was well saved by Breeden. The Pitmen were able to navigate the six minutes of added time and claim a hard-fought victory, taking all three points back to Keys Park.
Hebburn Town; Bond, Oliver (De Silva 70), Turner, Elsdon, Donaghy, Wood (Murray 87), Foalle, Noble (Posthill 87), G Martin, O Martin (Thompson 81), Heywood. Sub not used; Moore
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Johnson, Wynter, Harrison, Freeman, Trickett-Smith, Doyle-Charles, Edwards (Turner 66), McHale (Blissett 75), Rose (Maye 87). Subs not used; Brown, Taylor
Attendance 397
