Hednesford stay on FA Trophy trail

Seven days previously, the Pitmen underlined their reputation as proud ambassadors for non-league football with a brave, but ultimately unsuccessful battle in the premier tournament with League One Crawley Town.

But in the FA?Trophy third qualifying round, the Keys Park outfit barely had to move out of second gear against a Workington AFC side who, had they finished with as much skill as their hosts, could have made the game a lot less comfortable than it was.

Elliott Durrell tested Joel Dixon twice in the opening five minutes with a teasing cross and then a shot hit straight at the goalkeeper.

But it was the away side who had the best early chance when Lee Andrews skipped down the right wing and crossed for Joe Jackson, unmarked at the back post, who headed tamely over the bar from six yards.

The Pitmen heeded that early warning but, with a somewhat flat atmosphere inside Keys Park, only raised themselves on 27 minutes when Wayne Riley smartly controlled a long ball and finished confidently in-off the post past the goalkeeper to open the scoring.

The goal seemed to spring Hednesford into life and within three minutes they doubled their advantage when Durrell found space on the right wing and sent in a superb cross to which Francino Francis got the slightest touch to divert the ball into the far corner.

Workington had another golden opportunity on 34 minutes when Ross Wilson was found by a through ball inside the Hednesford area, but shot against the inside of the post and the ball bounced clear.

Man of the match Kris Taylor, a metronome-like presence in the centre of midfield, forced Dixon into a sprawling save from long distance after the break and then, worryingly for Hednesford, ahead of next week's top of the table clash against Brackley, Jamey Osborne came off with what looked like a side injury.

The Pitmen then wrapped up the victory with a bizarre goal when the referee awarded an indirect free-kick which was debated strongly by Workington.

Durrell ignored the protestations and slammed the ball into the far corner, only for the ball to break the net and flummox those behind the goal who were fooled, thinking the ball must have gone wide.

The goal was rightly awarded but Workington still had time to waste a further two chances in the final minutes as Joe Jackson hit the ball against Francis when it looked easier to score and John Disney hacked a shot clear of the line.

But Hednesford were not seriously troubled as they strolled through.

Hednesford Town: Crane, Disney, Campion, Bailey, Francis, Taylor (Lennon 69), Osborne (Melbourne 50), Durrel, Harvey (Rey 69), Riley, Thorley. Subs not used: McCone, Thompson-Brown.

Workington AFC: Dixon, Andrews, Wright, May, S Smith, Skelton, Hindmarch (J Smith 72), Lynch, Jackson, Wilson, Allison. Subs not used: Dean, Conway.