Hednesford 3 Kendal 3
This Unibond Premier game at Keys Park had everything and was certainly worth every penny of the entrance money.
This Unibond Premier game at Keys Park had everything and was certainly worth every penny of the entrance money.
The Pitmen dominated the opening minutes but were rocked when, in their first attack of the game, Kendal scored through Alex Taylor.
His attempted cross from the left in the 10th minute looped over keeper Stuart Brock's head and into the far side of the net.
The visitors extended their lead two minutes later when Tony Hallam headed in a right-wing cross from close range, after Danny Harvey had slipped and Tom Marshall was fouled during the build-up.
In the 18th minute, the Pitmen pulled a goal back from the penalty spot. The kick was awarded after Hallam had pushed Harvey inside the penalty box.
Sean Platt stepped up to score by sending David Newnes the wrong way.
Kendal restored their two-goal lead in the 22nd minute, after Platt had conceded a freekick out wide on Kendal's left wing.
The free-kick was floated into a crowded penalty area where Carl Osman climbed above everyone to place a firm header into the net.
In a feisty first half the referee had cautioned four players from each side and in injury time he sent off Kendal's Callum Warburton, when he threw a punch at Ross Draper after the Pitmen captain had tackled the Kendal player on the halfway line.
With a man short for the second half Kendal defended in depth for long periods and it took until the 84th minute for the Pitmen to break their resistance.
Substitute Adam Burley sent a cross from the left which Tyrone Barnett headed down over the line. Newnes made a grab for the ball in an attempt to fool the officials but the assistant had already signalled it was a goal and was making his way back to the halfway line.
The goal gave the Pitmen the encouragement to continuing pushing forward and with the clock ticking down Marshall made one last move forward from his own half.
He hit a deep cross on the run from the left which Barnett headed back to Draper, who flicked it on for Adam Burley to race into the six-yard box to score a well-deserved equaliser in the fifth minute of injury-time.
The game finished the moment Kendal re-started the game.
By then, the referee had cautioned eleven players and sent one off. The bad news for the Pitmen was that six of their players were cautioned, which will result in a £500 fine from the Football Association.
Hednesford: Brock, Platt (Hall 77), Maguire (Burley 67), Gomes, Harvey (Benjamin 57), Marshall, Briggs, Durrell, Barnett, Dyer, Draper. Subs not used: Stamps, Brown.
Referee: R Lovegrove MBE.
Attendance: 564.
