Summary
With Hednesford’s form continuing to fluctuate, the Pitmen approached this FA Cup Second Qualifying Round tie hoping a break from league action would provide the spark needed to reinvigorate their campaign.
However, after a spirited performance it is their Northern Premier League Division One Midlands opponents who go into the hat for Monday’s draw.
Team News
Following on from last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Hebburn Town, manager Kelvin Davis made several changes to his starting eleven.
Recent loanee Will Murdock was given his debut in goal, with Sam Hornby dropping to the bench, whilst Will Murray and Jai Curran-Nicholls came into the team in place of Jamie Cooke and Sonny Sharples respectively.
Report
As befitting the higher league side, Hednesford started the game strongly with an early Ahkeem Rose cross curling just wide of the Coventry United goal.
However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock in only the fifth minute. Following a disputed corner on the Hednesford left, Shay Palmer got to the ball ahead of Will Murdock to head ‘The Red and Greens’ into an early lead.
Hednesford almost got back into the game immediately, but Coventry ‘keeper Daniel Moore produced a fine save to tip a drive from Jamie Morgan over the bar.
Moore was called into action again on 26 minutes, diving to his left to deny Will Merry a goal from the edge of the penalty area. Although Hednesford continued to press, the visitors held firm to take a deserved lead into half-time.
With Dylan Mottley-Henry leaving the field just before half-time, Jamie Cooke had entered the fray, and it was he who fashioned the first chance of the second half.
Played in by Morgan down the right-hand side, he whipped a fine cross into the near post, however, it eluded the on-rushing Rose.
Unfortunately, this set the tone for much of the second half, with Cooke delivering several crosses from the right into the danger area, but time and again the Hednesford attack failed to find the killer touch.
In an attempt to bolster the home side’s attacking force, Kelvin Davis made a triple change on the 60th minute, with Sterling-James, Abimbola and the returning Fitzmartin replacing Curran-Nicholls, Rose and Merry, respectively.
However, the Pitmen continued to be profligate with their opportunities and on the 67th minute the visitors almost doubled their lead, when Murdock had to be alert to tip over a near post shot from the experienced Simeon Cobourne.
Although Hednesford continued to dominate possession and manufacture several chances of note, the ‘Red and Greens’ goalkeeper Daniel Moore was in inspired form and remained equal to them.
On 70 mins he palmed a fine left-footed Jarvis strike around the post and in the 85th minute produced a great diving stop to deny Fitzmartin.
Although Hednesford remained camped in the visitors’ half, they remained unable to break down a stubborn Coventry United defence and not for the first time this season were left to rue the impact of conceding an early goal.
Line-ups
Hednesford Town:
Murdock, Morgan, Langston, Williams, Jarvis, Rose (Abimbola, 62), Mottley-Henry (Cooke, 44), Kinsella, Cirino, Curran-Nicholls (Fitzmartin, 62), Merry (Sterling-James, 62).
Subs not used: Hornby, Harper-Bailey.
Hebburn Town:
Moore, Sawyer, Barber, Palmer, Cox, Miles, Stone (Shaw, 83), Blackmore (Downes, 66), Cobourne, Mullen (Adamoko, 73), Faulkner
Subs not used: Richardson, Bailey, James.
