Pitmen Flatter to Deceive in a Game of Two Halves

Hednesford Town followed up their convincing 4-1 win over Heath Hayes on Saturday with a draw at Midlands Division One outfit, Bromsgrove Rovers. With very few of what would usually be regarded as first team players in the starting eleven ‘The Pitmen’ looked disjointed against a Bromsgrove side a yard sharper in the opening half.

Josh Mackenzie was the stand out player of the opening forty-five minutes setting up Dexter Ravenhill to coolly dink the ball over Danny Woodhall after sixteen minutes to make the score 1-0.

The pacey striker caused Danny Harvey and Tyrone Andrews problems throughout the first half and five minutes later Mackenzie opened his Bromsgrove account; slotting confidently past Woodhall when clean through.

The ever reliable Harvey began to show why he will be such an integral part of the new look Pitmen this season with some strongly won headers and fierce tackles towards the end of the first period. Ricky Nicholls looked to possess touch of class in the opening exchanges but faded quickly as Aiston and Palmer failed to click in the Hednesford midfield.

Dean Edwards rang the changes in the second half and introduced five regulars from last season. ‘The Pitmen’ looked a much firmer unit and the lethal front line of Barnett, Durrell and Dyer clicked into action; looking threatening throughout the second period. Sam Aiston looked far more comfortable in the second half and it was his run in from the right wing and twenty yard left footed shot which made the score 2-1 after fifty-one minutes.

Ross Dyer confidently despatched the equaliser when one-on-one with Karl Lewis after seventy-one minutes and with Hednesford finishing the stronger a winner was perhaps deserved.

The evening was an encouraging run out for ‘The Pitmen’ but it will no doubt have left Dean Edwards believing his squad still needs some work before the season begins. 

Bromsgrove Rovers

Lewis, Milicev, O’Connell, Richards, Elliott, Lloyd, Jones, Wells, Mackenzie, Ravenhall, Findley,

Subs – Crisp, Moore, Ray, Campbell, Waite, Banner, Gardiner, Barlone, Walters

Hednesford Town

Woodhall, Malcolm, Beale, Aiston, Andrews, Harvey, Nicholls, Palmer, Brown, Nisbet, Stair,

Subs – Lycett, Platt, Walker, Bailey, Mason, Sanderson, Barnett, Durrell, Dyer,

Referee – W. Barrett (Worcestershire)