|
Blood And Thunder Brings Parity For Pitmen And Yeltz
Hednesford and Halesowen played out a committed 2-2 draw at a murky Keys Park as Sam Adkins last minute equaliser saw The Pitmen escape with one point.
Both sides had play-off aspirations prior to kick off and, after a scrappy start; Halesowen had the best of the opening play. Following a fumble by Hednesford keeper Stuart Brock, Scott Rickards hit a shot which was cleared off the line by Decio Gomes. Brock was at fault again two minutes later when he failed to collect Rickards’ shot and David Bleckinsopp was able to bundle the ball into the net.
Hednesford struggled to bite in midfield with Karl Palmer dominating midfield for the away side but the Pitmen wing-back Aaron Gibson tested Nick Bussey with a rapid turn and left foot shot following good work by Tyrone Barnett twenty minutes in.
Five minutes later a Barnett cross evaded Ross Dyer and Gibson and, from the resulting throw-in, Zak Martin scrambled a deflected shot past Nick Bussey for the equaliser.
Halesowen hit back within three minutes and found themselves in the lead once more as a teasing free kick caused havoc in the home defence and Jimmy Turner slotted in to restore the Yeltz advantage.
Barnett failed to connect with a header from an Adkins corner on thirty-five minutes as Halesowen began to sit back and preserve their one-goal advantage.
In a scrappy second half Halesowen seemed content defend stoutly and hit The Pitmen on the counter-attack as they looked for a vital three points in the race for promotion. Darren Alexander and Barnett twice headed wide for Hednesford as the home side toiled but failed to make any clear chances.
Substitute Elliott Durrell screwed his shot wide after an incisive break from a Halesowen corner for the home side and The Yeltz came close with a deflected Carl Palmer shot which flashed wide of Brocks’ post.
Durrell carved a curling dead ball inches wide of the top corner with minutes to go but the scene was set for Adkins to fire a deflected shot past the unlucky Bussey to earn a deserved point for The Pitmen.
In a hard fought game, played out in typical chilly February weather, both sides will have come away from the game wishing for more but following Hednesford’s late equaliser a point a piece means the play-off push for either club continues with interest.
Hednesford Town
Brock, Platt, Gibson, Bailey, Dunkley, Gomes, Martin (25) (Durrell 57), Alexander, Barnett (25), Dyer (Proffitt 73), Adkins,
Subs Not Used
Goodhead, Flynn, Chapman,
Halesowen Town
Bussey, Cowley (Connor 85), Morley, Turner (28), Daly, Denny, Palmer, Rickards, Moore, Blenkinsopp (13) (Thorpe 73), Edwards,
Subs Not Used
Clarke, Griffiths, Eze,
Bookings
Platt, Gibson, Adkins, Turner, Palmer,
Attendance – 504
Star Man – Cheyenne Dunkley
H/T Score – 1-2
Words By Chris Brewerton
|
