The Pitmen travelled to Morpeth Town in the North-East of England for their longest away trip of the season.
Gavin Hurren had to make a number of changes to the side due to injuries to Dom McHale, Joe Doyle-Charles and Elliott Johnson while Joss Labadie was restricted to the substitute’s bench. The Pitmen started brightly enough and within the first minute Ryan Wynter headed over from Kieron Freeman’s corner. Joel Taylor put in a dangerous looking cross which Morpeth ‘keeper Dan Langley did well to gather in, Dan Turner almost found Jonny Edwards in the box, however Langley was there to make a timely interception. The Pitmen continued to dominate possession without breaking the deadlock, Simeon Maye shot over from a corner before Akheem Rose headed over Chris Hussey’s cross. Edwards had another chance blocked by the Morpeth defence, before in the 25th minute a diagonal ball from the left from the home side played in Sam Hodgson who forced a tremendous save from Tony Breeden. The Pitmen continued to have the better of the first half with Rose having another good effort deflected clear, before a sustained attack by Hednesford ended with a foul by Edwards just before the break.
HT 0-0
The Pitmen continued in a similar manner to the first half, however Morpeth were beginning to come into the game more and look like they could be dangerous on the break. A tactical substitution saw Dan Trickett-Smith replace Turner in the 51st minute, as the Pitmen sought the opening goal. A foul on Trickett-Smith led to a Pitmen freekick which was taken by Hussey and headed wide by Ollie Harrison. The Pitmen were undone in the 65th minute when they failed to adequately clear a corner, Dan Myers did well to keep the ball alive and fed it to Will Dowling whose low strike went in at the near post to give the hosts a lead. The Pitmen fought to get back in the game but could not convert their final chances, a long throw from Wynter was flicked on by Harrison and substitute Jake Jervis forced a save. A header from Maye called Langley into making another save, before the action switched to the other end with a dangerous break from Morpeth ending when Hodgson fired the ball straight at Breeden. Trickett-Smith went narrowly over with a freekick from 25 yards in the 77th minute, the Pitmen continued to look for an equaliser in vain, Langley was on hand to punch away a freekick and then a corner as the game entered the closing stages. The home side were able to hang on during additional time and sent the Pitmen back to Keys Park empty handed.
Morpeth Town; Langley, Evans (Robson 78), Holvey, Henderson, King, Myers, Gordon, Dowling, Hodgson (Griggs 90+1), James, Giraud (Chater 90+1). Subs not used; Brown, Chungh
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Taylor (Watson 72), Wynter, Harrison, Hussey, Maye, Freeman, Edwards (Jervis 65), Rose , Turner (Trickett-Smith 51). Subs not used; Brown, Labadie
