Pitmen Miss Promotion Train Again As Defeats Keep Coming

On a horrid night in the North-East 'The Pitmen' once again ended up on the losing side as fellow promotion rivals North Ferriby sneaked a one goal victory. The hardy souls who braved the sheets of rain on a cold Tuesday night witnessed an open game in the first half which started well for the away side.

Within five minutes Elliott Durrell celebrated opening the scoring when Tyrone Barnett was played through the North Ferriby defence, his attempted shot was scuffed but the pocket-sized Durrell was able to slot the ball past Steve Wilson.

The home sides' defence were playing a dangerous game when opting to use the offside trap against the rapid Hednesford attack. Dyer and Barnett were finding all manner of joy running into the channels for Durrell and Draper to regularly set them away in the opening ten minutes.

It was industrious midfielder Draper who broke through on six minutes and found himself one on one with Wilson. However his second touch took the ball too far in front of him and despite muted claims for a penalty Durrell was unable to slide the ball into the net from the resulting rebound.

Soft defending cost 'The Pitmen' an equalising goal on eleven minutes when uncertain defending by Tom Marshall and Decio Gomes led to Simon Bird shooting low into the net. Danny Woodhall, who had been drafted in at short notice to replace the globe-trotting Stuart Brock, will certainly feel aggrieved at the shot squirming through his grasp.

Hednesford managed to shrug the disappointment of the goal off quickly and despite North Ferriby seeing more of the ball; it was the away side who looked most likely to score with Ross Dyer continuing to look dangerous.

A big chance was created for 'The Pitmen' by Sean Platt, the attacking full-back ventured down the right hand side and swung a wicked cross into the box after twenty-four minutes. The ball evaded the desperate dive of Barnett and hit Paul Foot on the thigh, the ball looped over the stationary Steve Wilson and after hitting the bar it bounced down onto the line. The linesman on the far side kept his flag down but the majority of Hednesford supporters level with the goal made their feelings known to the contrary.

As the weather worsened and passenger trains continued to rumble behind the stand, North Ferriby found their creative stride and on thirty minutes some neat passing to play the ball around Sean Platt forced Decio Gomes into a brave block to prevent Calum Russell from tapping the ball into the net.

'The Pitmen' looked most likely to regain their lead when Sam Hall was able to flight his right footed corners into the six yard box using the strong cross-wind. The only aspect lacking was clinical finishing as five corners flew agonisingly across the North Ferriby goal within the ten minutes before half time.

As the two sides emerged for the second half there was no sign of the wind dropping or the rain relenting and it was North Ferriby who were fastest out of the blocks. Before the 150 supporters were able to finish their half time pie and chips the home side had taken the lead with another fairly tame shot finding its way through the grasp of Woodhall in the Hednesford goal.

With a one nil lead turning into a two-one deficit in the space of forty minutes 'The Pitmen's' poor form looked set to continue and an all too familiar story ran its course once more. North Ferriby were able to keep the ball well and a Hednesford side low on confidence struggled to create many opportunities to equalise. Tom Marshall broke from defence on sixty-five minutes but his tame left footed shot was saved easily by the comfortable Wilson.

Tyrone Barnett broke through with eighteen minutes remaining after a good ball by Decio Gomes but the lack of confidence was plain for all to see as he lashed his shot well wide of the goal.

Hednesford's clear chance to equalise in the dying minutes came after the introduction of Luke Edwards helped force another corner and Sam Hall's flighted ball was scrambled towards goal by Durrell and Barnett. A combination of goalkeeper and defender managed to block the ball on the goal line and as the ball was cleared into the stand Hednesford hopes of a result went with it.

As Dean Edwards' men trudged off the pitch, escaping monsoon like weather conditions in the process, they find themselves walking towards a play-off storm few would have predicted as the seventh goal went in at Worksop on Boxing Day.

That day seems a long time ago now and, with the club needing at least five wins from the last twelve matches to give themselves a fighting chance of a play off place, confidence needs to come fast. Perspiration may be there but the belief that 'The Pitmen' can win promotion may be lacking.

North Ferriby United

Wilson, Cooke, Larvin, Foster, Foot, Morley (Bloor 90), Moore, Fry, Bird (Fortune-West 87), Russell (Bradshaw 78), Hunter,

Subs Not Used - Denton, Wilberforce

Hednesford Town

Woodhall, Platt, Maguire (Edwards 80), Gomes, Harvey, Marshall, Hall, Durrell, Barnett, Dyer, Draper

Subs Not Used - Cowley, Gill, Harbutt

Referee - Mr R. Atkin (Scunthorpe)

Attendance - 143

Chris Brewerton