Hednesford Town faced Tividale in the Birmingham Senior Cup Second Round under the lights at Keys Park, manager Gavin Hurren shuffled his pack and named several scholars amongst some more familiar names.
The Pitmen got off to a flying start with Dan Turner hitting the crossbar in the second minute, Dom McHale was on hand to tap in the rebound to give the home side an early lead. Jonny Edwards went close to doubling the lead with a shot that went narrowly wide of the post. A great attacking move from the Pitmen found Edwards free in the area with just the Tividale keeper to beat, however his shot went wide from close range. The Pitmen controlled the first half and continued to create chances; McHale went close to adding his second goal of the night before Dan Trickett-Smith sent a freekick over the crossbar after a foul on Edwards. Edwards did put the ball in the net in the 36th minute but saw his effort chalked off for an offside offence. Shakel Brown made a promising run into the Pitmen box for Tividale, but his shot went well wide of the mark. Tividale ‘keeper Joe Williams made a couple of saves from McHale and Edwards before the half time break.
HT 1-0
A late challenge early in the second half from Joe Doyle-Charles on Myles Durham saw the Hednesford midfielder dismissed and the unfortunate Tividale player carried from the pitch on a stretcher. Tividale tried to take advantage of their numerical superiority with skipper Brad Maslen-Jones freekick requiring a decent save from Xander Parke in goal for the Pitmen. Alfie Higgs had the next opportunity for Tividale, forcing a good save from Parke. Despite the visitors threatening for a spell following the red card, it would be the Pitmen who scored what turned out to be the decisive goal, a foul on substitute Jacob Gwilt allowed Chris Hussey to deliver a long ball into the Tividale area which was latched onto by Edwards who fired home in the 76th minute. Spencer Bailey should have done better for the visitors when he broke through on goal, seeing his shot go wide with just Parke to beat. Another decisive move from the Pitmen set up a chance for Edwards who sent his shot narrowly over the bar. The ten-men Pitmen were able to control the remainder of the match and go through to the next round of the competition where they will face Burton Albion.
Hednesford Town; Parke, Barlow, Taylor (Brown 73), Doyle-Charles, Roskell (Maye 46), Hussey, Turner (Gwilt 66 (Mabley 81)), Sheaf, Edwards, McHale (A Gibson 46), Trickett-Smith.
Tividale; Williams, T Rann, Mossini, Maslen-Jones, Holland, Garrington, Brown (Liburd 85), E Rann, Durham (Bailey 54), Higgs (Mpanu-Mpanu 75), Agyemang (Bate 74). Sub not used; Alouane.
Attendance 532
