On Saturday 18th October Hednesford Town play their fourth consecutive away game when they make the 115 mile journey to Northern Premier League Premier Division leaders Lancaster City, hoping to avoid a fourth successive defeat.
After losing their opening two league games of the season Lancaster have gone on to be undefeated in their next ten league matches and sit at the top of the table with 26 points from 12 games, two points clear of second placed Warrington Rylands who have played a game more and six points ahead of fifth placed Hednesford who have 20 points from 11 games. Lancaster’s points have been shared equally between home and away matches, winning four, drawing one and losing one on home soil and on their travels. At home their four wins have been earned by beating Hebburn 3-2, Workington 2-0, Warrington Rylands 2-1 and Ilkeston 3-1 to go with a goalless draw against Guiseley with the only defeat coming against FC United who won 2-0. Their only away defeat came on the opening day of the season when they lost 1-0 at Hyde while they have won at Morpeth, Rushall Olympic, Ashton and Leek, drawing 0-0 at Gainsborough Trinity. They have not fared so well in the FA Cup or FA Trophy going out to Whitby and Prescot Cables respectively at the first hurdle. Leading scorer is former Kendal Town striker Steven Yawson with four goals while Nik Evangelinos has three.
Lancaster City are known as The Dolly Blues. The nickname is taken from the dolly blue washing tablets that were manufactured in the early 20th century and are the same colour as the team’s shirts. They play at The Giant Axe, West Road, Lancaster, Lancashire LA1 5PE. The ground was given it’s name as the exterior wall when viewed from above is the same shape as an axe head and has a capacity of 3,500 including 513 seats in the John Baggueley Stand. The Neil Marshall Stand is covered terrace while the West Road Terrace and Long Side Terrace are both open with no cover. Last season the average attendance was 511 and so far this season it is 629 with the highest being 964 for the visit of Guiseley and the lowest 344 against Whitby.
In their last two visits to Lancaster Hednesford are undefeated. In the 2018/19 season the game ended in a 2-2 draw after goals from Kieran Wells and Dan Sweeney had given The Pitmen a two goal half time lead and in the previous season a Sam Oji goal was enough to give them all three points. Manager Gavin Hurren will be looking to extend that run but knows it will be a tough game: “Every game is tough, but we’re looking forward to playing them. Football has its ups and downs, so we’ll keep chipping away, focus on our work and put points on the board. We’ve got a game or two in hand, and we need to make them count.”
Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm and admission will be £12 adults (18-64), £9 concessions (65+, disabled, EPL/EFL season ticket holder), £5 students, £3 youth (12-17) and U12s free. Tickets can be purchased in advance through Fanbase or at the turnstiles, card or cash- correct change preferred. Matchday parking is available free of charge at the ground and in dry conditions on the playing field adjacent to the ground. On street parking is also available on the nearby housing areas and roads.
Official away travel is available through the Club on Fanbase, or listen to Hednesford Town Radio via Mixlr here.
