Hednesford 4 Oxford City 2

The Pitmen raced into a 3-0 lead within 25 minutes in a game which kicked off 30 minutes late due to travelling problems for the away side. Oxford looked to have left their game on the busy M6, as the Pitmen raced out of the blocks and opened the scoring with a Ross Dyer penalty on seven minutes.

The striker confidently converted the spot-kick after an obvious hand ball by Andy Gunn.

Hednesford continued to press as Elliott Durrell forced a superb save from Will Puddy after his low shot flashed across the goalkeeper on 10 minutes. The second goal came five minutes later after a determined run from Dyer set up Steve Jagielka to curl his shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.

Oxford mustered an attempt on target on 18 minutes as James Clarke ran purposefully from inside his own half and unleashed a rasping drive which forced goalkeeper Gavin Ward into a sprawling acrobatic save to turn the ball round the post.

The Pitmen continued to pressurise the Oxford defence and Durrell battled through the deluge of wet weather to deceive Puddy in the Oxford goal and make it 3-0.

Durrell ghosted across the stationary Oxford defence to latch onto a long punt forward by Gavin Ward and, in trying to control the ball, inadvertently diverted the ball into the net.

Tyrone Barnett looked to get into the action, picking up on a pinpoint pass by Luke Horrocks to turn and shoot at goal and force Puddy into action once again. In monsoon-type conditions the rest of the first half petered out as both sides struggled on a sodden wet pitch.

Dyer poked wide when well placed after a low Horrocks cross on 48 minutes but the half-time interval seemed to do the world of good for Oxford as they finally began to play football and became far more adventurous.

The breakthrough for the away side came on 66 minutes when Mark Bell sent Liam Malone through on to coolly slot past Ward. Hednesford had taken their foot off the gas but the goal forced the home side back into the game as the Keys Park faithful nervously egged their team on.

Barnett duly secured the game for the Pitmen on 76 minutes as he finished from close range after a Durrell corner had caused havoc in the Oxford defence.

Jonathan Douglas headed over just after the goal and with five minutes to go Andy Baird scrambled in a second consolation for the away side after a Darren Pond shot had forced a corner. The Pitmen face Atherstone in the League Cup tomorrow at Keys Park (7.45pm).

Hednesford: Ward, Platt, Martin, Jagielka, McMullen, Goodhead, Durrell, Bailey, Barnett, Dyer, Horrocks (Carvey 78).

Subs not used: Nisbett, Flynn, Chapman, Walker,

Attendance: 305