The Pitmen were held to a frustrating goalless draw by a resolute Whitby Town at Keys Park. Hednesford had a decent chance to take the lead in the ninth minute when Ollie Harrison headed over a freekick from Omari Sterling-James. The Pitmen were in the ascendancy early on and another freekick was awarded on the edge of the box after a foul on Sterling-James, Chris Hussey delivered a dangerous ball which was headed away for a throw-in. Sterling-James was in the action again sending an audacious lob over Isaac Allan which hit the crossbar, minutes later Akheem Rose shot wide following some good work from Montel Gibson. Layton Watts shot wide for Whitby before Sterling-James had a low shot saved by Allan. Rose went close for the Pitmen when his header from Jamie Morgan’s cross was tipped over the bar by Allan for corner.
HT 0-0
Dan Trickett-Smith went close with a shot at the start of the second half when the ball went narrowly over the bar. A succession of freekicks and corners for the Pitmen failed to break the deadlock. Allan made a superb save from Trickett-Smith before Rose went down in the area under a challenge, however the referee declined to award a penalty. The Pitmen won a freekick on the edge of the box but Sterling-James was only able to fire the ball into Whitby’s defensive wall. Despite four minutes of added time Whitby were awarded with a point after a convincing defensive performance away from home, while Hednesford missed the chance to go back to the top of the table.
Hednesford Town
Breeden, Morgan (Labadie 80), Taylor, Hussey, Harrison, Wynter, Trickett-Smith (Turner 89), Kinsella, Gibson (Hylton 63), Sterling-James, Rose. Subs not used Parke, Johnson
Whitby Town
Allan, Smith, Haswell, Nelson, Whelan, Dawson, Chimalilo (Gell 90), Hawkins, Farrar (Tymon 57), Watts, Charles (Rivers 64). Subs not used; Wilson, McGinley
Attendance 1283
