Pitmen Fail To Beat The Seasiders Twice In A Week

All good things must come to an end and Hednesford's mini-revival of late was halted in its tracks by a hard-working Whitby side. A scrappy game played out in warm Spring sunshine was hardly a classic but with Whitby level on points with two other sides in the relegation zone and ‘The Pitmen' in the hunt for play off glory it was certainly important.

Sam Hall had the first opportunity of the game when on ten minutes he dragged his shot wide after finding space twenty yards out. With sixteen minutes gone Sean Platt's day came to an abrupt end when a nasty looking injury to his arm meant Dean Edwards changed the system around and went 4-4-2 with substitute Ben Bailey replacing the injured Platt.

Almost immediately Tyrone Barnett tested David Campbell in the Whitby goal; unfortunately for the home team he wasn't able to get enough power on his attempt and the keeper saved easily.

A minute later the in-form Ross Dyer flicked a header wide of the post after a superb teasing cross by Elliott Durrell had created the opportunity. Hednesford were looking good for a win as the pressure continued to build but the hard-working Whitby defence managed to repel the impressive Quistin and a marauding Durrell.

The away side had an opportunity themselves after twenty-two minutes when Ross Draper brought down Lee Nogan on the edge of the area. Andy Thompson's free kick had enough power and curl but went straight into the arms of Stuart Brock.

Brock very nearly gifted Whitby the opening goal when a routine back pass was sliced wickedly and the following up striker very nearly converted the ball across the goalmouth. Luckily for ‘The Pitmen' the linesman on the far side ruled the ball had gone out for a corner which they defended well.

The major turning point in the game came on thirty-eight minutes when a long ball over the Whitby defence was collected by Barnett. The striker broke towards the edge of the box and was hauled back by a desperate Richard Forster. It looked to all of Keys Park that Forster was the last man and the referee had no option to give him his marching orders. After consulting with his linesman the referee produced a yellow card. The Hednesford faithful's complaints were soothed somewhat when, from the resulting free kick, Tom Marshall shot left footed through the wall and the ball squeezed into the net.

Instead of building on their lead Hednesford were pinned back within two minutes as some poor defending cost them dear. Richard Forsters shot was blocked and as the ball broke free Karl Charlton was allowed to turn and scuff the ball past Brock. The goal was certainly a soft one to concede at such an important time for the home side.

Despite conceding the equaliser Hednesford finished the first half strongest with Barnett flicking a header wide from a Marshall long ball, Draper wasting a good opportunity and shooting over the bar and Sam Hall half-volleying wide.

As the teams returned to the dressing room for the interval and the crowd made their way up to the bar to clinch their betting slips in hope for the Grand National an important forty-five minutes lay ahead for both sides.

The home side had the first opportunity of the second half when Jimmy Beadle tripped Barnett, earning himself a yellow card in the process and from the resulting free kick a Draper header fell to Ross Dyer. His snap shot found the side-netting; half the ground thought he had had scored but their celebrations were cut short.

Two minutes later and the Whitby fans had reason to celebrate when poor defending from ‘The Pitmen' allowed Andy Thompson to tap the ball into the net after a header down from Jimmy Beadle. Hednesford fans had every reason to be disappointed with their side as a team which they easily beat by three goals on Tuesday night were now 2-1 ahead.

On the hour mark Sam Hall tried his very best to grab an equaliser when he danced around three Whitby defenders and shot left footed. The ball slammed against the crossbar and looped out for a goal kick. As the minutes ticked over and both sides struggled with the hard and bouncy playing surface Whitby did a good job of keeping the Hednesford strikers quiet.

On eighty-three minutes the Hednesford defence were caught out by a long ball when Ben Bailey misjudged the flight and Brunskill shot at goal, Brock was equal to it and saved well. Almost immediately afterwards Brunskill turned well and shot from the angle, yet again ‘The Pitmen' had Brock to thank for keeping the score at 2-1.

As the seconds ticked away Hednesford made one last push to get an equaliser and Dyer powered through the defence and forced Campbell in the Whitby goal to make a reflex save, the ball broke free and rolled across the goalmouth but substitute Luke Edwards couldn't quite reach the rebound. Sam Hall hit the woodwork again, this time directly from a corner kick. The ball hit the near post, the Whitby defence struggled to clear and Matthew West miscued his volley.

Whitby caught Hednesford on the counter attack with three minutes remaining and it is unlikely a better goal will be scored at Keys Park all season. A fast paced break found Andy Thompson in space twenty five yards out and he unleashed a screamer which flew past Brock in off the post and the game was all but won.

‘The Pitmen' pushed hard to try to salvage some pride from the game in added time but as the final whistle went a deflated reaction form players and fans alike told the story; it was certainly a game the home side felt they should have got some thing from prior to kick off. In reality, poor defending for the first two goals and no luck when it was needed now leaves Dean Edwards' men having to win four of the final five games to secure a play-off place. With all the teams around them playing each other there is sure to be more twist and turns in the play-off race yet.

Hednesford Town

Brock, Platt (Bailey 15), Quistin, Gill, Harvey (Edwards 45), Marshall, Hall, Durrell, Barnett (West 75), Dyer, Draper,

Subs Not Used
Gomes, Woolley

Whitby Town
Campbell, Ross, Janes, Farthing, Forster, Beadle, Garvie (Ovington 67), Nogan, Thompson, Brunskill, Charlton (Raw 90),

Subs Not Used
Scott, Lyth,

Referee - Mr P. Norris, Altrincham

Attendance - 434



Chris Brewerton