The Pitmen travelled to FC United of Manchester for a top of the table clash at Broadhurst Park, an attendance of 4043 including 815 from Hednesford witnessed a thrilling game which saw the third placed Pitmen take on FC United who began the day in top spot.
The Pitmen found themselves under considerable pressure straight from the kick off as the home side started the game strongly with the noisy support of their fans. In the fourth minute FC United played a short corner which found Jay Fitzmartin whose shot hit the far post. Omari Sterling-James managed to win a freekick in the ninth minute which he fired straight at United keeper Darryl Ombang from 25 yards out. Fitzmartin, who proved to be a thorn in the side of the Pitmen defence all afternoon, went close with an effort that sailed narrowly over the crossbar before Montel Gibson was fouled allowing Chris Hussey to deliver a dangerous ball into the area which only just evaded the head of the oncoming Ollie Harrison. Both sides traded freekicks as firstly Fitzmartin forced a headed clearance by Jake Jervis, then Hussey’s freekick, following a foul on Gibson, was well saved by Ombang. The home side were having the majority of ball possession during the first half, and the Pitmen were doing well to prevent them from scoring, surviving a goalmouth scramble in the 35th minute. Gibson almost latched onto a long ball out of defence but was beaten to it by Ombang as the Pitmen threatened in the 41st minute. However, the breakthrough would come for FC United two minutes later when the lively Fitzmartin put in a telling cross which found Matthew Grivosti who slotted the ball past Tony Breeden to give the hosts a lead just before the break.
HT 1-0
The second half began in a similar way to the first with FC United enjoying the majority of possession, Ruben Grewal had a shot deflected for a corner before Grivosti had the chance to extend the home side’s lead with an effort that came back off the crossbar. Despite their superior possession United were unable to claim the second goal and began to sit back and defend their lead. An inspired substitution saw Dom McHale replace Jamie Morgan in the 70th minute as the Pitmen began to push for an equaliser. A cut back from McHale found Sterling-James who shot inches wide of the upright for the Pitmen. In the 85th minute another run and cut back from McHale caused problems in the box for the home defence as Dan Trickett-Smith headed the ball goalwards, allowing Jervis to head past Ombang and set up a grandstand finish to the game. A long throw from Dec Evans into the Hednesford area caused panic as the Pitmen managed to hit their own post with an attempted clearance. Sterling-James almost scored with a strike from a corner which was deflected for another corner, the ball was delivered to the far post and headed back by Harrison, an incoming shot from Gibson was handled by the United defence, and a penalty was duly awarded. Sterling-James stepped up to take the spot kick and calmly sent Ombang the wrong way before rolling the ball into the right side of the net to spark pandemonium in the away end. The Pitmen held on for a famous away victory which saw them move into second place in the table while FC United dropped to third place.
FC United of Manchester; Ombang, Thomson (Misambo 75), Devine, Wisdom, Palinkas, Evans, Grivosti, Grewal (Chimallio 82), Le Fondre (Buckley 89), Sudworth, Fitzmartin. Subs not used; Ennis, Sitholi.
Hednesford Town; Breeden, Morgan (McHale 70), Hussey, Kinsella, Harrison, Doyle-Charles, Hylton, Sheaf (Trickett-Smith 60), Gibson, Sterling-James (Wynter 95), Jervis. Subs not used; Maye, Watson.
Attendance 4043
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