Pitmen Playoff Dream Ends In Disappointment Yet Again

Yet another frustrating home defeat for Hednesford Town finally sealed their descent from league-leaders to play-off nearly men in the space of four months. With Kendal Town scoring late on to secure three points the result at Keys Park was rendered immaterial anyway but 'The Pitmen' faithful had every reason to see their side at least give themselves a fighting chance.

The 3-2 result up in the Lake District meant that a win for the home side would not have proved to be enough but the eventual defeat proved that with their shocking home form Dean Edwards' men simply weren't good enough.. That run is ultimately what has cost Hednesford a shot at play-off success.

From the opening ten minutes on Saturday afternoon Hednesford never really looked like winning the game and putting their home form hoodoo behind them. A scrappy start yielded very little goal mouth action until ten minutes when Tom Marshall took too long to clear the ball and gifted an opportunity to Karl Brown. The striker chipped the ball over the stranded Brock and Jack Dorney was able to nod the ball into the net from six yards out.

Following the goal, Hednesford were unable to find any sort of passing rhythm and Leigh Genesis were on top in every department. Unfortunately for Garry Flitcroft's already-relegated side there was very little cutting edge to push home their advantage.

Chris Page was booked for a cynical foul on Tyrone Barnett after twenty-four minutes and from the resulting free kick a combination of Barnett, Marshall and Harvey got in each others way and the tall striker headed the ball wide.

A quick free kick caught the impressive Ben Bailey napping and as the ball was played inside the young defender Brown saw his snap shot blocked by the covering defender. Hednesford were simply not on form and the frustration around Keys Park was evident.

'The Pitmen' endeavoured to improve the atmosphere and came close to an equaliser when a Ludovic Quistin corner found Bailey free in the area on forty minutes. The defender rose well but his header flew past the post, wasting a great chance in the process.

The home side could only improve in the second half and despite results not going their way at the half time break Keys Park was hopeful of a famous second half. As the game restarted Hednesford's players had obviously received some harsh words in the dressing room as they started much more positively. Following a flick on by Barnett, Sam Hall rifled a half volley narrowly over the cross bar after forty-six minutes

Two minutes later Durrell shot straight at the keeper when well placed after a precise pass by Dyer and 'The Pitmen' continued the pressure on the Leigh goal after fifty-two minutes when Harvey headed wide from a Quistin free kick.

Luke Edwards entered the fray on fifty-six minutes as Hednesford continued to push for an equaliser but three minutes later the away side wasted a glorious chance to double their lead. A cross was played into the box and as a Hednesford defender headed it up in the air the ball fell to Dorney who inexplicably placed the ball wide of the post from five yards out.

Leigh Genesis were made to rue that missed opportunity when just after the hour mark 'The Pitmen' nicked an equaliser through Elliott Durrell. A Quistin cross found Ross Dyer who in turn found Barnett and, as his shot was blocked; the ball ricocheted around the area only for Durrell to pounce and smash the ball into the net.

As Hednesford fans celebrated all eyes now looked towards results elsewhere; Bradford and FC United were drawing one all but Kendal were two goals to the good at home to Buxton so a three goal turnover was needed.

Hednesford pushed and pushed for a winner but the Leigh defence held firm and the away side continued to belie their poor league position. Any real chance of a famous back-door entrance to the play-offs ended for the home side when a seemingly innocuous back pass to Brock was nervously cleared by the usually reliable goalkeeper. Jack Dorney couldn't believe his luck as the ball landed straight at his feet and from 12 yards the player easily slotted the ball into the net and ended Hednesford's hopes.

As the curtain began to fall on a disappointing season and the home side again struggled to break down a resolute defence on home turf, news filtered through that if Hednesford were in a winning position the play-offs may have beckoned with Kendal conceding two second half goals to leave the door open. Unfortunately a fairytale ending wasn't to be as Durrell blazed over the bar and Bailey headed wide in the dying minutes.

As the final whistle blew and the Unibond 2008/2009 season came to an end the Hednesford faithful trooped off for the summer break wishing what could have been; their mood may have been slightly eased with the news that Kendal had scored a late winner and secured they play-off spot.

Home form has cost Dean Edwards' men dear this season and those disappointed supporters will look back at a wretched run of home form which reads played eight, lost seven, drawn one since January 24th.

The season was not a total disaster as the positive contributions by the front three, midfield performances by Draper and the superb Decio Gomes, along with the scintillating start to the season by all the players means that perhaps this squad deserves one more shot at promotion to the Conference North. Whether that campaign will take place in the North or South section the eighth tier in English football remains to be seen.

Hednesford Town

Brock, Maguire, Qusitin, Abraham, Harvey (Edwards 56), Bailey, Hall, Durrell, Barnett, Dyer, Marshall (Bandurak 81),

Subs Not Used

Platt, Lester,

Leigh Genesis

Drench, Howarth (Sephton 56), King, Heald (Whitham 75), Smith, Page, Dorney, Settle (Jordan 67), Brown, Flitcroft, Ince,

Subs Not Used

McHugh, Porter,

Referee- Mr S. Bennett (Kidsgrove) 1st Half  -  Mr P. Stowe (Evesham) 2nd Half

Attendance - 467

Chris Brewerton