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Kidsgrove Athletic 2-2 Hednesford Town (Hednesford win 5-4 on penalties)

20 January 2026

Hednesford Town advanced to the next stage of the Staffordshire Senior Cup at the expense of Kidsgrove Athletic, winning 5-4 on penalties following a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes.

Gavin Hurren put out a Pitmen side that included youth and experience, with the likes of Tony Simkiss, Lennon Brown, Alfie Gibson and Taylor Molyneux amongst more familiar first team names.

An even opening fifteen minutes saw neither side carve out any clear-cut chances in wet and cold conditions at the Fitzjohn Stadium. The Pitmen had a freekick following a foul by former player Ritchie Sutton in the 16^th minute, which was put behind for a corner, the visitors applied the pressure and won three successive corners all of which were cleared without breaking the deadlock. A few minutes later Zander Parke was called upon to make a decent save from Jay Ford. Some good work by Joel Taylor saw a dangerous cross go into the Kidsgrove box, the defence failed to clear the ball allowing Akheem Rose to pounce at the far post and give the Pitmen the lead on the half-hour mark. The Pitmen continued their good spell with Dan Turner having a shot deflected for a corner before Rose saw an effort from 18 yards pushed behind by Aaron Woolrich. Alfie Gibson went close with a quick turn and shot in the area, although Woolrich was on hand to make the save. Kidsgrove equalised with a good move just before the break, Matt Rhead held the ball up well before laying the ball off to Nat Morley who produced a good low finish.

HT 1-1

Natty Stewart missed a golden chance for Kidsgrove early in the second half when he failed to make contact at the far post with Morley’s inviting cross. The Pitmen replied with a great run from Turner who slipped the ball through the home defence for half time substitute Jonny Edwards, who lifted his shot wide of the post. The evening got worse for Edwards as he received two yellow cards in the space of ten minutes and was dismissed leaving the Pitmen with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage the Pitmen would regain the lead in the 79^th minute when Kidsgrove committed a foul on the edge of the box following a corner. Captain Joss Labadie stepped up and bent his freekick around the Kidsgrove wall and into the bottom corner of the net. Hednesford looked to be well on their way to seeing the game out when Josh Thorpe fired home an equaliser in the 87^th minute. After four minutes of extra time the game went straight to penalties.

FT 2-2

The Pitmen went through to the next round 5-4 on penalties with five successful spot kicks taken by Labadie, Turner, Taylor, Elliot Johnson and Ryan Wynter. Parke saved Kidsgrove’s fourth penalty taken by Stewart.

Kidsgrove Athletic; Woolrich, Falding, Morley, Brereton, Jepson, Sutton, Stewart, Ford, Rhead, Bromfield, Barnett. Subs; Capey, Thorpe, Bradbury, Lewis, Pope.

Hednesford Town; Parke, Brown (Johnson 58), Taylor, Labadie, Wynter, Simkiss, Turner, Maye, Rose (Edwards 46), Sterling-James (Watson 55), A Gibson (Molyneux 70). Sub not used Mabbley

Match Commentary

At 9:45:50:

Penalties, 1-0 Kidsgrove, Labadie scores 1-1, Kidsgrove score 2-1, Turner scores 2-2, Kidsgrove score 3-2, Taylor scores 3-3 , Kidsgrove saved by Parke 3-3, Johnson scores 3-4, Kidsgrove Rhead to take....scores 4-4. Wynter for Hednesford....scores. Hednesford win 4-5 on penalties

At 9:35:51:

Full time 2-2

At 9:34:53:

90+2 Kidsgrove corner, onto the roof of the net.

At 9:33:03:

4 minutes added time

At 9:30:25:

87' Thorpe equaliser for Kidsgrove 2-2

At 9:26:48:

84' Pitmen freekick by the corner flag, into the box and cleared

At 9:23:21:

79' Turner wins a corner, ball comes out to edge of.box , foul, Pitmen freekick on edge of box, Labadie takes into the bottom corner. 1-2

At 9:18:27:

75' Edwards has been dismissed for a second yellow.

At 9:13:31:

70' Molyneux replaces Gibson

At 9:12:11:

69' Edwards shoots wide from distance

At 9:11:02:

67' Edwards booked, Kidsgrove freekick, delivered into the area headed away by Wynter

At 9:04:53:

61' Great run from Turner who plays in Edwards, whose shot is lifted just wide of the post.

At 9:01:09:

58' Johnson replaces Brown for Hednesford

At 8:58:39:

55' Watson replaces Sterling-James

At 8:57:26:

53' Simkiss is booked for a foul on Stewart, Kidsgrove freekick, into the area headed away by Edwards.

At 8:54:57:

52' Taylor with a freekick on halfway line into the box and headed away

At 8:53:23:

50' Morley puts in a dangerous cross, Stewart is unable to finish at far post.

At 8:46:52:

Second half is underway

At 8:31:40:

Half time 1-1

At 8:30:52:

43' Good run from Kidsgrove, ball held up by Rhead, laid off to Morley who fires home 1-1 .

At 8:26:50:

39' Alfie Gibson shoots on the turn, saved.

At 8:25:43:

38' Rose shoots from 18 yards, saved for a corner. Sterling-James takes, keeper punched away

At 8:23:25:

37' Turner shot deflected for a corner which is cleared

At 8:18:31:

31' Kidsgrove freekick, whipped into the box and scrambled away.

At 8:16:05:

29' Ball to the back post , bundled in by Rose. 0-1.

At 8:09:07:

22' Foul on Alfie Gibson, Pitmen freekick on the left if the box, delivered to the far post and cleared

At 8:07:26:

20' Kidsgrove corner taken long flicked back into the area and goes over the bar for another corner. Which is cleared at the near post

At 8:05:52:

19' Parke makes a good save from Ford.

At 8:04:34:

16' Foul by Sutton, Pitmen freekick on the right, into the area and headed behind for a corner. Sterling-James takes headed out for another corner....far post and cleared for another corner. Sterling-James takes headed clear

At 8:01:57:

15' Kidsgrove freekick on the half way line, delivered into the box, and out for a goal kick.

At 7:59:35:

12' Even so far, no chances for either side.

At 7:51:02:

4' Stewart shoots wide for Kidsgrove

At 7:39:11:

Kick off at Kidsgrove

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