The Pitmen were made to fight every inch of the way by a no frills Frickley Athletic side who came to Keys Park in search of a point by any means possible. Dean Edwards made one change to line up which defeated Welling in the previous game, Adam Burley came in for Anthony Maguire and on the bench were Luke Edwards and Craig Frost who were signed 24 hours earlier from Atherstone Town and Darlaston respectively

The visitors defended in numbers and when all else failed it did not seem to bother them when they conceded a foul. The tactics inevitably meant that they would end the match a man short which they did.

The opening few minutes saw both sides frightened to make a mistake and it took a full five minutes before a shot was kicked in anger. Frickley’s Danny Clarke and Rob Pell inter changed passes down the left wing, pulling three defenders out of position which made an opening for Pell. He attempted a long range shot which went into the side netting

Tyrone Barnett forced Adam Nicklin into a diving save when he hit a first time volley from a Mark Briggs chip into the box after he had won a challenge 25 yards from goal, the keeper diving low to his right pushing the ball away from the goal. Barnett made an effort to get another chance but conceded a goal kick when the defender played the ball against him.

A quick attack down the right by Ross Dyer and Elliott Durrell saw Dyer who was making his 150th First team appearance get into a good position on the right hand bye-line but his cross was short allowing a defender to put the ball out for a corner.

Elliott Durrell who had scored nine goals in the last four games attempted to add to his tally when he dribbled past Danny Walsh to hit a tremendous firm shot which Nicklin parried away.

Pell had a chance when he picked up a loose ball to race to the edge of the box but his shot went straight to Brock as Danny Harvey closed the Frickley centre forward down.

A good flowing move started in the middle when Dyer picked out Sean Platt on the right; he took the ball forward then hit a good cross into the box to Barnett who headed well wide.

Rapinder Gill making his home debut gave the ball away straight to Danny Clarke but he quickly recovered to get back and tackle the Frickley player as he approached the penalty area allowing the ball to be cleared.

Danny Harvey was adjudged to have committed a foul just outside the left hand side of the box, luckily for the Pitmen Davies free kick which cleared the wall went straight into Brocks arms.

A poor corner kick by Sheppard allowed the visitors to break up field and with the defence stretched Pell attempted a long range shot which again was taken by Brock.

Briggs 20th minute corner kick from the left was met by Barnett who placed a glancing header just past the right hand post. Ross Dyer shortly after attempted a back header from another Briggs cross

Gill showed good awareness when Davies took a quick free kick on the edge of the box. The pass found Pell free but before he could shoot Gill used his pace to clear the ball away for a corner. The corner on the left taken by White was met by Price whose close range header went straight to a much relieved Brock. The full back returned back to his own half shaking his head knowing he had missed a good chance to give his team the lead.

Chris White made a poor challenge in the 39th minute on Chad Sheppard which the Pitmen captain reacted to and as a result both players’ names ended up in the Referee’s note book.

With half time approaching Barnett missed a golden chance to score when from15 yards he pulled a Sean Platt cross over the crossbar then as the ball went up the other end of the pitch Clarke was denied a goal by Brock who had to deflect the ball away with his legs.

An early second half free kick on the edge of the ‘d’ was taken by the inform Durrell, his firm shot hit the wall and rebounded to Sheppard who attempted another shot which looked goal bound was blocked in the crowded goal mouth.

In the 58th minute Durrell placed a good ball into the box and was injured in the process by another crude challenge. Dyer took the ball turned but his effort was blocked then Barnett’s effort was cleared by the keeper for another corner.

Chris Gowen who was booked in the 55th minute for a cynical challenge on Durrell saw red in the 68th minute when he tripped Platt as he made an attacking run from his own half of the pitch. Michael Price joined him in the book for a poor challenge on Adam Burley in the 61st minute.

The resulting free kick taken by Briggs was headed down by Harvey but as it looked as if he was about to score Nicklin managed to make a save at the base of the left hand post.

An 80th minute corner by Briggs found Sheppard on the edge of the box, he hit a first time volley which Nicklin tipped over the crossbar for a corner kick which was the third in succession.

With Frickley down to ten men Dean Edwards put new signing Luke Edwards on to add more width to the attack and the move paid off when he slipped a ball in for Dyer. His first time effort hit the left hand post and rolled along the line taking two defenders to clear for a corner. Sub Sam Hall floated the corner into the six yard box where Barnett headed home to score.

There was still time for Edwards to make it a perfect debut when late into the game Durrell picked him out with a pass from the right and with only Nicklin to beat he placed his shot straight at the keeper. It might have been a different story if he could have used his left foot rather than his right.

In the end the Pitmen wound down the four minutes of added on time and their battling qualities ensured that they earned the three points and maintained the Pitmen’s five point lead at the top of the Division.

Hednesford Town

Brock, Platt, Burley (Edwards 73), Gill (Hall 77), Harvey, Marshall, Sheppard, Durrell, Barnett, Dyer, Briggs. Subs not used; Maguire, Harbutt, Frost

Frickley Athletic

Nicklin, Gowen, Price, Walsh, Hilton, Jones, Clarke, Groome, Pell (Pierrepont 71), Davies, White Subs not used; Towler, Camfield, Pugh, Wilburn

Referee Mr E.M.Start (Birmingham)

Attendance 481

Report RodH
Images Colin Rogers

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