The Pitmen faced Warrington Town for the season’s first game on the new turf at Keys Park. Gavin Hurren made just the one change from the starting XI that were victorious at Hebburn Town on Saturday, with Niall Watson coming in for Akheem Rose.
The Pitmen went close from a corner when Ollie Harrison almost bundled the ball over the line in the opening minutes. In the 6th minute Jonny Edwards broke free from midfield and looked as if he had a clear run at goal, however he was scythed down by Bohan Dixon, who controversially only received a yellow card for his actions. Dom McHale looked to open the scoring forcing a decent save from Li-Bau Stowell in goal for the Yellows. The visitors replied with a fierce shot from Enock Lusiama which struck the base of the post. A minute later Joe Doyle-Charles beat the Warrington keeper to the ball, before putting in a dangerous cross which was headed wide by Edwards. McHale was in the midst of the action again, this time playing a ball into the area for Trickett-Smith who was narrowly beaten to it by Stowell. McHale had a good effort on goal deflected away before Trickett-Smith got on the end of a good Hednesford move, shooting over the bar. The Pitmen continued to dominate the first half, Edwards had a shout for a penalty turned down, and Harrison forced a save from Stowell with a header from a corner. Just before the half time interval, the Pitmen recycled the ball from a corner and McHale fired high and wide.
HT 0-0
The second half began with a curling shot from Trickett-Smith being saved by Stowell. In the 47th minute Doyle-Charles found some space in the box and provided a pass to Niall Watson who fired the Pitmen into a deserved lead from close range. A mazy run into the area by McHale was ended when he let the ball get too far ahead of him, allowing Stowell to gather it. Tony Breeden was called upon to gather in a long ball into the area from Warrington on a night when he was well protected by Harrison and Ryan Wynter. Substitute Dan Turner caused problems for the Warrington defence and was wrestled to the ground on the edge of the box in the 66th minute, however the referee dismissed his claims for a freekick. The Pitmen doubled their lead in the 75th minute when Kieron Freeman delivered a corner into the Warrington area, the ball was diverted goalwards and despite a last-ditch attempt from Jay Harris to clear the danger, the home skipper Elliott Johnson was able to poke the ball home and double the advantage. The Pitmen twice went close to adding to their lead in the closing stages of the game, firstly Doyle-Charles curled a shot inches wide of Stowell’s left hand post, before Turner rounded the keeper and saw his effort cleared off the line by Matthew Tweedley. Warrington were able to pull a goal back in stoppage time when substitute Reece Daly hammered the ball against the post, with the rebound falling kindly to fellow substitute Dontai Gabidon whose deflected shot found the back of the net. Despite the late goal the Pitmen were able to see out the remaining minutes of the game to claim the victory in front of an attendance of 2003 at Keys Park.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Johnson, Wynter, Harrison, Freeman, Trickett-Smith (Maye 71), Doyle-Charles, Edwards (Rose 67), McHale (Turner 64), Watson (Blissett 74). Sub not used; Brown.
Warrington Town; Stowell, Lloyd, Waters (Gabidon 61), Dixon (Daly 80), Bourne, Doyle, Melhado (Brazier 55), Tweedley, Lusiama, Harris, Murphy. Subs not used; Roper, Morgan
Attendance 2003
