The visitors had the better of the opportunities in the opening half an hour and it needed a number of good saves from Stuart Brock to stop them taking the lead. In the second minute he pushed away for a corner a shot from Steve Williams after the winger had broken clear into the left hand side of the box.

Tom Marshall made a clumsy challenge on Lee Smith which was more to do with the slippy surface rather than any malice on Marshall's behalf. The Referee must have also take the same view as Marshall escaped a caution but did receive a long lecture whilst the Prescot player received treatment.

Ross Draper threaded a great ball forward into the left hand side of the visitor's penalty area for Tyrone Barnett. He was denied the opening goal of the game when Zac Jones blocked his shot. Draper did well shortly after winning the ball in midfield, he played Ross Dyer in on the right from where he hit an early cross into the middle which was too heavy and went over to the left.

In the 25th minute Prescot's Tommy Taylor was clear and looked odds on to score but Brock and Decio Gomes were determined that he would not score as they managed to block him forcing the ball out to the left in the process.

Sam hall hit a great cross field ball for Marshall on the left, he then hit a deep cross to the right hand side of the box to Barnett who hit a first time volley which went just in front of the on rushing Draper and wide of the left hand post.

It was against the run of play when the Pitmen took the lead in the 35th minute; Ross Dyer took possession of the ball just inside the Prescot half and raced into the penalty area. Zac Jones the Prescot keeper came off his line to narrow the angle so Dyer squared the ball to Tyrone Barnett who had timed his run well to side foot the ball home from 10 yards.

Barnett went close in the 40th minute with a header which went over the crossbar from Sean Platt's cross from the right. Elliott Durrell had a goal disallowed just before the break as he was standing in an offside position when he diverted Marshalls 35 yard shot into the net.

A mistake by Ant Maguire when an under hit back pass presented the visitors Tommy Taylor with the ball but he over ran the ball and made the angle for a shot more difficult as he placed his effort into the side netting.

It was a different matter in the second half as the Pitmen dominated the game and played some of the football which has taken them to the top. In the first minute of the restart Durrell played a good ball into the box for Draper who tangled with a defender just as he was about to shoot. The Keys Park crowd shouted for the penalty which was surprisingly turned down. Barnett did well to shoulder charge Smith off the ball and with Dyer in the middle he chose to shoot just wide of the near left hand post.

The second goal came in the 52nd minute after Brock cleared the ball up field to Dyer. He flicked it on for Barnett who took the ball on and hit a shot from just inside the penalty area which went into the net despite Lee Smith's efforts to clear off the line

Durrell should have scored two minutes later when from close range his chipped shot went wide of the goal. The first caution of the game came in the 59th minute when Rob McIntosh was booked for a poor challenge on Maguire. The Pitmen full back needed lengthy treatment before he could resume playing.

Thomas Moore Prescot's sub put Byers clear but again Brock came to the Pitmen's rescue as it was his feet that diverted the centre forwards shot away from the goal.

Sean Platt sent another good cross in from the right for Barnett who tried a diving header which unfortunately came off the top of his head and went well wide.

Prescot's Darren Byers went close in the 66th minute when his shot from 10 yards crashed off the crossbar after substitute Thomas Moore had set up the chance.

Barnett became provider in the 72nd minute when just inside his own half he spotted Elliott Durrell's run down the middle. The midfielder who was in his own half when the ball was played forward charged towards goal and as Jones came out Durrell hit the ball past the keeper and into the net.

Durrell went close with a couple of efforts his first went just wide of the right hand post with Jones rooted to the spot then in the 75th minute after turning quickly his firmly hit shot was taken low down by Jones.

Gomes who had informed the Manager that he was homesick prior to the game started a move down the left with a clever flick which left the Prescot player bemused. The cross from the left by Mark Briggs was headed inches over the crossbar by Ross Dyer.

The visitors scored a well earned consolation goal in the 83rd minute when Colin Flood sent in a good cross from the left which was headed home by the unmarked Byers.

The Pitmen restored the three goal lead a minute later when from the kick off the play down the right saw Barnett take the ball to the right hand bye-line from where he hit a pass back into the six yard box for Durrell to tap home from six yards.

Durrell who had another excellent game was brought down on the right by Colin Flood who received a caution for his poor challenge. Dyer headed wide from the resulting free kick.

In added on time Barnett was unlucky when he had to stretch to reach a great cross which sub Mark Briggs had curled into the box, his touch sent the ball wide when after the excellent build up it deserved a better result.

Hednesford Town

Brock, Platt, Maguire, Gomes (Harbutt 82), Harvey, Marshall, Hall (Sheppard 56), Durrell, Barnett, Dyer, Draper (Briggs 67) Sub not used: Burley

Prescot Cables

Jones, Smith, Flood, McCulloch, Bell, McIntosh, O'Donnell (Taylor 56), Connolly (Moore 56), Byers, Taylor (Forsyth 65) Williams.

Referee Mr K.Hayward (Stoke on Trent)

Attendance 490