Hednesford Town fell to their first defeat of the season with a 3-0 loss away at Prescot Cables. The Pitmen started the game well enough, creating a chance within the first three minutes, when some good build up play allowed Dominic McHale a half chance which he shot wide of the post. However, the good start did not last, and the Pitmen were undone two minutes later when a cross came into the box from the right-hand side allowing Cables’ number nine Ben Elliott to apply a good finish past Tony Breeden to give the home side an early lead. Jamie Morgan supplied a dangerous looking cross to the far post in reply but unfortunately no one was able to get on the end of it. In the 16th minute Cables looked like they had doubled their lead, however the ball came back off the woodwork and the deficit remained only one goal. Five minutes later some poor defending from the Pitmen allowed Elliott to claim his second goal of the evening. A foul on McHale by James Foley gave the Pitmen a freekick which was taken by Dan Trickett-Smith, the ball was delivered into the Cables’ box and was headed narrowly wide by Ryan Wynter. The Pitmen continued to search for a way back into the game with their chances mainly coming from set pieces, just before the break, following a foul on Morgan, McHale shot narrowly over the bar from Trickett-Smith’s freekick.
HT 2-0
The Pitmen did improve in the second half, firstly there was a half shout for a penalty when Niall Watson went down in the home side’s area before Trickett-Smith sent a shot just over the bar after a good run at the defence. Manager Gavin Hurren shuffled the pack, bringing on Akheem Rose, Dan Turner and Nathan Blisset as the Pitmen went three at the back and three up front. Jonny Edwards forced Calvin Hare to parry a decent shot, before the Cables’ keeper was booked for timewasting. Despite more possession of the ball the Pitmen were unable to unpick the Cables’ defence and in the 71st minute Elliott broke clear of the defence to slot home again and claim his hat-trick. Hednesford continued to try to find a consolation goal with Turner forcing a save from Hare and Edwards shooting over the bar from a corner. The Pitmen were stretched at the back with men committed forward as Anthony Donaldson broke through before sending his short wide of the post.
After the game Pitmen manager Gavin Hurren said; “It was really disappointing, and it hasn’t happened often. From minute one we were not at it for whatever reason, we prepared for it properly but sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say we were beaten on the night. Credit to Prescot they took their chances and worked hard.”
Prescot Cables; Hare, McNally, M Devine, J Devine, Hollett, Smith, Cross-Adair (Donaldson 60), Foley, Elliott (Doyle 88), Goodwin (Scully 85), Steele (Burgess 90). Sub not used Murphy
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan (Blissett 63), Johnson, Wynter, Harrison, Labadie (Maye 72), Trickett-Smith, Doyle-Charles, Edwards, McHale (Turner 63), Watson (Rose 57). Sub not used Brown.
Attendance 620
