Wonder save boosts Hednesford Town

Crane threw himself across goal to block Craig Toner's netbound effort on the line in the 94th minute and secured a precious win over Gainsborough Trinity.

The Pitmen are now five points inside the Skrill North play-off places with four games to go.

Gainsborough had recently beaten Hednesford 3-1 at Keys Park, so Rob Smith's side went into the game knowing they would face a test.

But a positive start allayed those fears as Charlie Anagho-Ntamark

set up the irrepressible Marvin Johnson with a perfectly weighted through pass and the winger toe-poked the ball into the corner of the net on 11 minutes.

The Pitmen were looking comfortable but just four minutes later the scores were level when Ben Bailey misjudged the bounce and pace of a hopeful through ball and let Tom Davie skip through on goal and finish past a stranded Crane.

Trinity were a threat going forward but with Johnson continuing his barnstorming start to a Hednesford career that had already yielded two vital assists, the away side always looked a good bet for a second goal.

A header over the top of the defence by Dave MacPherson set up Danny Glover to lob Phil Barnes but to his credit the keeper got the slightest touch to the ball at full stretch and diverted it onto the upright.

Crane had to be on guard to beat away a shot by Toner before Anagho-Ntmark forced the same reaction by Barnes just before half-time but the teams went in to the break on level terms.

Marvin Robinson replaced Anagho-Ntamark at half-time to give the Pitmen more height up front but it was Johnson who again was the threat as he skipped wonderfully past three Gainsborough defenders and saw his shot across goal palmed away.

He then dug a superb cross out from the by-line to set up MacPherson but Barnes was equal to it.

With 18 minutes to go another Johnson cross was sliced up in the air by the Gainsborough defence and Wayne Riley pounced on the loose ball to nod the Pitmen into the lead.

Crane's heroics made sure of the points.

In the last goalmouth action of the match, the ball was hooked over his head on to the post, and Toner pounced on the rebound. His shot deflected off MacPherson, but Crane showed remarkable reflexes to save, and the ball was hacked clear seconds before the referee blew for full-time.

Gainsborough Trinity: Barnes, Roberts, Roma, Young, Lacey, Wootton, Russell, Toner, Davie (Winfarrah 54), Stamp (Bateson 69), Margetts (Davis 77). Subs not used: Williams, Dickens.

Hednesford Town: Crane, Disney, Campion, Bailey, McCone, Macpherson, Riley, Johnson (Lennon 77), Glover (Sullivan 58), Anagho-Ntamark (Robinson 45), Thorley. Subs not used: Thompson-Brown, Francis.