Table topping Hednesford Town faced fourth placed Warrington Rylands at Keys Park in the Northern Premier League. The Pitmen got off to the stronger start to the game than the visitors with Dom McHale drawing a foul after five minutes, Chris Hussey sent an inviting freekick into the Rylands’ box, but keeper Luke Pilling was on hand to punch the ball clear. Akheem Rose won a corner for the home side which was defended well before he lost control of the ball with just Pilling to beat. Montel Gibson broke from inside his own half and went on a scintillating run into the Rylands’ area where he dragged his shot narrowly wide of the post as the Pitmen dominated the opening twenty minutes. Warrington came back into the game with a freekick following a foul by Ollie Harrison on Alex Kiwomya for which the Pitmen defender was booked, the subsequent freekick was put over the bar by Rylands. Ben Hardcastle shot just wide for the visitors after a cross from Harrison Wood was put out for a corner. The Pitmen scored an excellent goal on 32 minutes, Hussey delivered a freekick from the halfway line to the edge of the box where the ball was flicked on by Harrison, Gibson was on hand to drill a low shot past Pilling to give the Pitmen a deserved lead. McHale almost found Gibson with a killer through ball, but the Rylands’ defence made a timely interception. Dan Trickett-Smith sent a shot over the bar from distance for the Pitmen as the game approached the half time interval.
HT 1-0
The visitors found an equaliser early in the second half; Joel Taylor won a corner for the Pitmen which was taken by Trickett-Smith, the ball was cleared by Lewis Hardcastle finding Kiwomya who broke downfield and scored past Tony Breeden. Shortly afterwards George Waring went close to giving Rylands an unexpected lead with his shot going narrowly wide of the post. The next chance fell to Rylands’ substitute Jake Burton who forced a great save from Breeden. The Pitmen then began to regain the ascendency in an overall evenly fought contest, McHale curled an effort close to the top corner of the net before Rose hit a shot inches over the bar. Pitmen substitute Dan Turner had a promising run down the left, cutting inside and forcing a save from Pilling before a dangerous cross from McHale was gathered in by the Rylands’ stopper. Rose broke through midfield on a promising run but was hacked down by Guy Hall who was booked, the resulting freekick was cut out by the visiting defence. In stoppage time another foul on Rose, this time by Pat Gamble presented Hussey with a freekick which he delivered into the area, the ball was headed on by Harrison but eventually gathered in by Pilling. McHale was dismissed in the final minute of added on time, receiving a second yellow card for a comment made to the referee. The game ended in a draw despite both sides creating enough to win the game.
After the game, Pitmen manager Gavin Hurren said; “It was a very competitive game, and we went toe to toe with one another like we did at their place earlier in the season. I was pleased with the performance and felt that we created enough chances to win the game late in the second half.”
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan, Taylor (White 61), Maye (Sheaf 61), Harrison, Hussey, Trickett-Smith (Edwards 76), Doyle-Charles, Gibson (Turner 69), McHale, Rose. Sub not used; Parke
Warrington Rylands; Pilling, Smith (Burton 56), Regan (Holding 46), Fermanagh, Gamble, L Hardcastle (Craddick 73), Wood (Hough 91), B Hardcastle, Waring, Kiwomya, Hall. Sub not used; Moore.
Attendance 1366
