Pitmen Toil As Tamworth Prove Class

Hednesford Town battled to eventual defeat as Midland rivals Tamworth showed their class with an assured passing display at Keys Park.

Bernard McNally will be happy with the run out given to his players but for the majority of the game the Conference outfit looked a class above a Zamaretto League side still looking for match fitness.

The Pitmen were missing big players in the form of Mark Bellingham and Elliott Durrell and their lack of attacking threat meant it was a difficult ninety minutes for the midfield and defence.

Scott Fuller came closest for the home side as he flicked Ben Bailey’s header over the bar after ten minutes but it was the pace and skill of Richard Tait, Neil MacKenzie and Seb Lake-Gaskin which caused Hednesford problems all night.

It was Tait who scored the only goal of the game on forty minutes when Hednesford failed to clear and the right wing-back curled the ball confidently into the far corner.

Tamworth continued to dominate in the second half but Pitmen centre-half Fuller stood firm and was imperious at times as he and Bailey struggled to contain the Conference sides attacking threat.

A slim defeat and a game which tested the fitness and commitment of a squad in its formulative stages will no doubt give McNally food for thought as he prepares for the much anticipated second leg of the Chase Cup against fierce rivals Stafford Rangers at Keys Park on Saturday.   

Hednesford Town

Crane, Platt, Keenan (Gibson 59), Bailey, Dunkley (Osborne 70), Fuller, Clements, Denny, Proffitt (Roberts 73), Marshall (Watkins 53), Bridgwater,

Subs Not Used

Burgher

Tamworth

Markie, Tait, Marshall, Bradley, Rowe, Mitchell, Rodman, Perry, MacKenzie, Farrell, Thomas, Dudley, Wright, Wylde, Reid, Kasiama, Lake-Gaskin, Fairclough

Star Man – Scott Fuller

Advantage Stafford As Pitmen Impress But Lack Sharpness

Stafford Rangers drew first blood in the Chase Cup as Ben Mills finished off a sweeping move which started in their own area to score the only goal in a keenly conttested local derby.

Bernard McNally will be dissapointed that his side failed to register any challenge of note as the home side broke for the goal but there were plenty of other positives for the Hednesford boss.

Dave Bridgwater looked impressive in centre midfield and it was The Pitmen who played most of the quality football. Craig Marshall should have scored in either half as he fed on chances provided by the tenacious Mark Bellingham.

Mills should have scored with a free header for the hosts half an hour in but it was giant Stafford centre-back Craig McAughtrie who stood out with a series of imperious defensive headers. Elliott Durrell worringly limped off for The Pitmen on thirty-six minutes with a knee injury following an inoccuous challenge by Andre Francis.

The second half saw the intensity drop but both sides will feel they could have capitalised but for goalkeeping reflexes and sharper finishing.

Bellingham gave Stafford keeper Tom Harrison the opportinity to show off his acrobatic skills with a floating free kick which was destined for the top corner and Mills was denied his second goal with a superb low block by The Pitmen's Dan Crane.

Hednesford Town's preparations continue with another local derby on Tuesday night with Conference outfit Tamworth travelling to Keys Park and Bernard McNally will look forward to more encouraging signs for the season ahead.

Stafford Rangers

Harrison, Francis, Patrick, Goodhead, McAughtrie (C), Bennett, Reid, Davidson, Mills, Wellecomme, Moss (Love 64),

Subs Not Used

McGuire, Jones, Parker, Worthington,

Hednesford Town

Crane, Platt (C) (Osborne 65), Gibson (Fuller 55), Keenan, Denny, Durrell (Proffitt 36), Bridgwater (Roberts 86), Bellingham, Marshall (Watkins 71), Clements,

Attendance - 372

Words by Chris Brewerton
Images Simon Faulkner

Inaugural Chase Cup comes to Keys Park - Chase Cup 2^nd Leg

Pitmen Triumph in Cup as Nisbett Stakes Claim

Hednesford Town claimed the Chase Cup on a soaking wet August afternoon as they dominated their local rivals from start to finish. New signing Justin Nisbett terrorised the home sides defence in the first half but the end result could have been by a bigger margin but for some outstanding goalkeeping by Danny Allen.

Allen replaced Lee Evans between the posts following an injury caused by a brave save on five minutes. Nisbett released Elliot Durrell down the right flank, the striker looked up and saw Nisbett’s run, he squared the ball and presented Nisbett with a great chance to open the scoring. Evans  dived at the feet of the player and bravely blocked the ball.

Nisbett was not to be denied on ten minutes when Stafford failed to clear a Tony Dinning corner and the new signing lashed a ball on the half volley through the crowded penalty area and into the net. The travelling band of ‘Pitmen’ supporters erupted as their team went two goals ahead on aggregate.

Nisbett had the opportunity to increase Hednesford’s lead on twelve minutes but he shot wide following another Tony Dinning corner. The away side were employing a 4-4-2 formation and the midfield trio of Palmer, Dinning and Aiston were battling hard and suffocating any resistance coming from Chris Brindley’s Stafford team.

Karl Palmer showed why he will be such an important player this season throughout the first half with a combative midfield display – a display summed up perfectly on twenty-four minutes when his strong run into the area and exchange of passes with Nisbett very nearly created a second goal. Palmer lobbed the ball over Allen but desperate defending from the home side saw the ball scrambled over the bar with Barnett closing in.

Three minutes later Stafford Rangers came close to equalising when Ben Mills found his way through ‘The Pitmen’ defence; only a fantastic last ditch tackle by Theo Stair prevented the striker from getting his shot in on goal.

Nisbett continued to get great joy from the Stafford defence and on twenty-nine minutes he advanced on goal from the left area of the penalty box, Nisbett’s second touch was a little heavy and he stretched to square the ball to the open Tyrone Barnett, the pass was slow reaching the striker and he leant back and skewed the ball over the bar, missing a fantastic chance in the process.

Andre Francis looked impressive at right back for Stafford and his marauding run and cross put the Hednesford defence under pressure on thirty-six minutes with Sam Aiston blocking the ball and almost diverting it into his own net in the process.

As the second half began Stafford Rangers supporters knew their team needed two goals to overturn the aggregate result and on the strength of the first half performance such a feat seemed very unlikely. An improbable comeback almost got off to the perfect start as within two minutes of the restart the home side had the ball in the net. Unfortunately the referee had seen a handball as a group of players jumped with the Hednesford goal keeper; Tom Thorley was subsequently booked for a deliberate handball.

As the second half continued, the game slowed to a friendly pace as both sides struggled to keep the ball, Stafford created little during this period as Hednesford seemed happy to see the match out.

On sixty-six minutes Tyrone Barnett wrapped up the game and the cup with a fantastic finish from twenty yards out, he picked up Dinnings’ ball towards the area, turned the defender and rifled the ball past the goalkeeper to send the Hednesford fans into rapturous celebration.

With ten minutes to go, Allen made the first of two fantastic one-on-one saves which helped spare ex-pitman Chris Brindley’s blushes. Elliott Durrell’s slide rule pass split the home defence like a hot knife through butter and released Barnett, the striker did everything right but lost the duel with Allen as he blocked his shot. In the final minute, ‘The Pitmen’ had both hands on the cup and Allen again denied them a deserved third goal, making another fantastic point blank save from Elliott Durrell.

The final whistle was blown and Hednesford fans and players alike were united in the joy of not only beating their arch rivals twice in a fortnight but also being presented with the first ever Chase Cup by Stafford Rangers chairman, John Downing. ‘The Pitmen’ showed that their hard pre-season training seems to have paid off and Dean Edwards’ men look well set to begin the season on the front foot.

Hednesford Town host Premier League new-comers Birmingham City on Sunday 9^th August and will kick off their Zamaretto League campaign on Saturday August 15^th welcoming Tiverton Town to Keys Park.

Attendance – 383

Stafford Rangers

Evans, Francis, Vauls, Thorley, Wilson, Page, Smith, Moult, Wellecomme, Mills, Morgan,

Subs – Hulme, Rogers, Eastwood, Kassima, Allen

Hednesford Town

Ward, Platt, Stair, Walker, Bailey, Dinning, Durrell, Palmer, Barnett, Nisbett, Aiston,

Subs – Lycett, Gibson, Rix, Bandurak, Buttia

Artoicle : Chris Brewerton

Images : Colin Rogers