PITMEN FAIL TO REGAIN TOP SPOT AFTER HEAVY DEFEAT

The Pitmen's poor New Years league form continued at Kendal Town on a heavy and sticky pitch which only passed a pitch inspection early on the morning of the game.

There was an early sign that Kendal were up for the game when an early chance fell to them. A corner taken by Craig Hobson on the right went to the back post where Tony Hallam raced onto hit a shot which was deflected for a corner on the left. Danny Woodhall managed to punch the resulting corner onto a forwards head to win a goal kick.

Hobson caused Rapinder Gill problems on the right, as he rounded Gill the defender slipped which allowed Hobson  a free run into the penalty box but his first touch was to heavy taking the ball over the line resulting in another goal kick.

The Pitmen's first attack should have seen the visitors take the lead as after a throw in on the right Sam Hall hit a perfect cross to the back post where with a clear sight of goal Ross Dyer somehow managed to send his header wide of the left hand post.

A quick break on the left saw Dean Craven hit a forward ball to Dyer who from the left hit a first time cross into the box which was just out of Elliott Durrell's reach but found Dale Anderson on the right but he delayed taking a shot and his effort was blocked by a defender throwing his body in the way.

Durrell found an opening after controlling a Craven pass on the left. The midfielder cut inside and from 30 yards hit a shot which was always bending away from the right hand post.

Tom Marshall nearly caught out the Kendal defence when from the edge of the penalty area he went close with a first time volley from a left wing corner taken by Dean Craven. The ball going inches over the crossbar.

Dyer caused Dan Wordsworth to handle the ball as he broke towards the penalty box. Elliott Durrell took the resulting free kick and he tested the Kendal keeper who was making his first team debut with a shot from 20 yards he bent the ball around the defensive wall. The shot looked goal bound until Tom Bush leaped to his left to make a spectacular dive to push the ball around the post for a corner kick.

Danny Woodhall kept out a long range attempt from Wordsworth by tipping over the defenders shot for a corner then Woodhall who was deputising for the injured Stuart Brock did well when Danny Wisdom was allowed to continue when he looked a yard offside when receiving the ball. The Pitmen keeper stayed calm as he closed the angle and somehow managed to block the wingers shot

Marshall was caught in possession in the 24^th minute which allowed Kendal to mount another attack with George Melling attempting a long range effort then within a minute Dean Wordsworth denied Anderson at the other end of the pitch as he managed to get a toe onto the ball to concede a corner

A poor decision by the Assistant Referee allowed Danny Wisdom a free run on goal from just inside the Pitmen's half after he looked to be standing in an offiside position.  A goal looked to be a certainty but Woodhall managed to deflect the ball away to his left. Woodhall then had to get up quickly to grab hold of the ball as Wisdom put him under pressure.

The Pitmen keeper was in action again when he had to make a save low down by his left hand post denying Osman a goal.

Lapse marking at the back allowed a cross find Carl Osman free inside the box and again the Pitmen were grateful to Woodhall who dived bravely at the Kendal players feet to collect the ball.

The Kendal pressure finally paid off in the 37^th minute when their Assistant Manager Ian Kilford hit a spectacular shot from 30 yards which gave Woodhall no chance as it crashed into the top right hand corner of the net.

In the 41^st minute Alex Taylor hit a low firm shot from the edge of the box which went through a crowded penalty area and land in the net just inside the right hand post.

The first half could not end quick enough for the Pitmen as they went further behind in the 44^th minute when Wisdom easily beat Hall on the left, his cross to the near post was met by Taylor who stooped around his marker to glance a header just inside the left hand post.

Kendal started the second half as they finished the first half in the opening minute had an effort bounce off the crossbar. The Pitmen pressed forward and Marshall had a header saved by Bush.

Any hopes that the Pitmen had of getting back into the game went in the 52^nd minute when Bush's long punt up field was taken by Wisdom who from 18 yards hit a firm shot past Woodhall.

Woodhall was in action shortly after tipping a corner from the right from under his crossbar for a corner on the left. Danny Harvey injured himself when he bravely tackled Hobson as he was closing down on the Pitmen goal. As Kendal looked to be adding a fifth Woodhall was the only Pitmen player to stand in their way when he used his legs to stop Wisdom in another one in one situation.

In the 67^th minute Durrell forced a corner on the left. Mark Briggs corner was met by Hall who bundled the ball from close range just wide of the right hand post.

A minute later Kendal's Wisdom scuffed a good scoring chance after Alex Taylor had created the opening.

A deep cross from the right by Hall was fumbled by Bush who recovered quickly to take the ball at the second attempt just as Anderson was racing in to pounce on the ball in the event that the keeper had dropped it

Wordsworth fouled Dyer in the 76^th minute and Durrell found Marshall with his free kick but the centre backs first time left footed volley went well wide

The travelling Pitmen supporters finally had something to cheer in the 78^th minute when Ross Draper won a tackle inside the penalty area. The Pitmen Captain took a touch before placing the ball past Bush into the right hand side of the net.

Durrell was denied a goal with ten minutes to go by Bush who dived to tip over the midfielder's first time volley from a long clearance from Woodhall which was dipping under the crossbar.

In the final seconds of the game the Kendal defenders blocked two close range shots from Luke Edwards and a follow up effort from Durrell. The defeat meant that the Pitmen failed to regain the top spot and now go into the next league game against league leaders Eastwood Town next Saturday at Keys Park still lying in second place.

Kendal Town

Bush, Williams, Byrne, Hallam, Wordsworth, Melling (Redhead 53), Osman (Mulvaney 69), Hobson (Baker 75), Taylor, Kilford, Wisdom. Suns not used: Ashcroft, Standley

Hednesford Town

Woodhall, Hall, Craven (Edwards 65), Gill, Harvey, Marshall,Briggs, Durrell, Anderson,Dyer, Draper. Subs not used: Maguire, Platt

Referee  Mr G.Wallace (Tyne & Wear)

Attendance   205

RodH

Image Colin Rogers