Oh we do like to be beside the sea as another win lifts Pitmen to edge of playoffs

The Pitmen extended their current undefeated run to six games with another excellent performance away at Whitby Town. The early start and long midweek journey did not effect the team as from the first whistle Sam Hall broke down the left wing and within seconds had won a corner. Hall took the corner which Leon Scott headed away for a second corner in the first minute. From Hall's second corner Ross Dyer glanced a header which was cleared off the line. A third corner came before the second minute of the game when Tyrone Barnett  played the ball off a defender.

A long punt upfield by Hall gave Dyer the chance to chase the ball but the defender managed to get a foot to the ball passing back to his keeper but Liversedge the Whitby keeper sliced his clearance which gave dyer the chance to play the ball back into the six yard box but his touch was heavy and Liversedge managed to clear the ball away.

Tom Marshall conceded a foul 30 yards from goal however the distance did not faze Andy Burton who attempted a shot on goal from the free kick.

.Ross Draper was controlling the middle of the park and after winning another tackle on the half way line he played a forward pass for Elliott Durrell who then played the ball into space for Dyer to run into and hit a shot from the right across the face of the goal.

The home team won their first corner in the 18^th minute which was over hit by Andy Burton allowing Hall to clear from the opposite side of the pitch from the where the corner was taken.

Stuart Brock came off his line to deny Tom Raw after a ball was played into the box then Karl Charlton tried his luck with a long range chipped shot after he was gifted the ball by sloppy play in the middle. Brock was of his line but the ball safely sailed over the crossbar. Brock was again in action when having to hold onto a long range effort by full back Kevin Burgess.

Barnett who has had a lean time in front of goal had a chance in the 35^th minute when Draper chipped the ball into the box for Barnett who placed a tame header straight into the keepers arms.

The Pitmen took the lead in the 39^th minute when Tom Marshall curled a long pass from inside his own half of the pitch forward for Dyer to chase, having beaten the offside trap he beat the defender for pace and slipped the ball past Liversedge to take his tally for the season to twenty eight.

Soon after it looked as if the Pitmen would add a second when Dyer, Barnett and Durrell broke clear but a late flag halted their progress.

The Pitmen started the second half where they left the first and that was on the attack. Durrell played a good ball inside the box for Hall to chase but the midfielder was easily shoulder charged off the ball

Whitby made an early second half substitution and sub Sean Ross should have levelled the scores in the 56^th minute when only six yards out he hit a cross from the left straight at Brock.

Another chance fell to the home team when Harvey was beaten by a high bounce which allowed Alex Janes to nip in but with only Brock to beat he hit his effort straight at Brock.

Durrell made a good turn on the edge of the box and was brought down by Jimmy Beadle who was cautioned for the challenge. A free kick routine by Durrell and Marshall enabled Marshall to hit a firm low shot under the defensive wall and after taking a deflection ended up in the back of the net to extend the lead in the 60^th minute

Ludovic Quistin who was making only his second start of the season after returning from spells at Weston and Grays was making a great improvement to the Pitmen's left side and besides his attacking qualities he showed that he can also defend when he made a great tackle to stop Burton inside the penalty area.

A long clearance by Hall started another attack when Dyer headed on the ball for Barnett to chase, the keeper came off his line and as Barnett got a touch the keeper managed to deflect the ball just wide of the post for a corner. The Pitmen were claiming a penalty from the corner when Draper was bundled to the floor but the Referee waived the protests away.

Draper was booked for a tackle in the 70^th minute which took his tally to fifteen and as a result will be on the side lines for the last three games of the season but should be available for the play offs in the event that the Pitmen qualify for them.

Brock ensured he kept a clean sheet with an excellent finger tip save to deny full back Kevin Burgess after he hit a fierce low shot from 30 yards.

The Pitmen continued to apply pressure, Hall disposed Burton then played the ball to Barnett who set Durrell up who was open on the right but from 20 yards he hit his shot well over the crossbar.

A quick break down the right by Dyer saw the striker take the ball to the right hand bye-line, he pulled the ball back into the six yard box for Barnett who from close range lifted the ball over the crossbar.

Quistin played the ball out of trouble at the back and hit a long cross field ball to Durrell who attempted another long range effort which he pulled wide of the left hand post. Hall attempted a left footed shot from 25 yards which just sailed just over the right hand post.

In the 84^th minute Barnett created space for a shot by pulling the ball back and making a quick turn but he squandered the chance by sending his shot high and wide.

Barnett who had failed to score since mid January finally got the goal his efforts deserved in added on time when he controlled a pass inside the penalty area and coolly lifted the ball over the advancing Liversedge.

As a result the Pitmen are a point off a play off place with a game in hand so the race for a play off berth continues at keys Park against the same opponents on Saturday.

Whitby Town

Liversedge, Burgess, Bishop,Janes (Garvie 63), Beadle,Lyth, Burton, Scott, Raw (Ross 51), Thompson (Nogan 63), Charlton. Subs not used; Forster, James

Hednesford Town

Brock, Platt (Gill 87), Quistin, Gomes, Harvey, Marshall, Hall, Durrell, Barnett, Dyer (Edwards 90+2), Draper (Abraham 90+2). Sub not used; Bailey

Referee  Mr N.J.Sharp (Hartlepool)

Attendance  227

RodH