Tamworth 1 Hednesford Town 0

Manager Bernard McNally made three changes to his starting line-up, with former Lambs duo Tom James and Kyle Perry recalled while Ahmed Obeng was available again.

It was the lively striker who would have the first half chance of the game as the ball fell to him on the edge of the box, but he dragged his effort well wide inside the opening minute.

Tamworth: Belshaw, Burns, Warlow, Racchi, Tomassen, Preston, Durrell (Dyer 71), Clarke (Roberts 74), Newton, Mettam (Morrell 84), Green.

Subs not used: Strong, Davies.

Hednesford Town: Crane, Williams, James, Bailey, Regan, Trainer, Williams, Obeng (Modest 86), Perry (Johnson 71), Thomas, Todd (Ennis 79).

Subs not used: Digie, Disney.

For the next 15 minutes, the home side took control of proceedings with former Pitmen player Elliott Durrell seeing a snapshot blocked.

The midfielder then whipped in a dangerous free-kick which brought a sharp save from goalkeeper Dan Crane, following Dan Preston's flick.

He was in action again seconds later when, from the resulting corner, Danny Newton was left with a free header which Crane saved low at his far post.

Crane denied the striker again in the 23rd minute, getting down low to claim a curling effort.

Hednesford saw another half-chance come and go four minutes later when James drove forward and, with his 'wrong' foot, whistled a shot just wide of the upright.

Just as the Pitmen were working their way back into the game, Tamworth scored.

A 31st-minute long ball over the Town back-line was pounced on by Newton and he finished past Crane from just inside the box.

Five minutes later, Durrell burst through two tackles but curled his effort wide.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Hednesford appealed unsuccessfully for a penalty, as goalkeeper Dale Belshaw appeared to push Phil Trainer over.

Hednesford started the second period on the front foot, with Sean Williams blazing an effort over the bar in the 49th minute.

Ten minutes later, the same player fired a 25-yard free-kick over the bar.

Tamworth's only real chance of the second half arrived in the 63rd minute when Crane reacted quickly to deny Newton a clear shot on goal.

The Pitmen had the ball in the back of the net after 76 minutes when Williams' free-kick found Trainer at the back post, but his looping effort was ruled out for offside.

The turning point almost arrived a minute later, when substitute Danico Johnson worked himself half a yard of room inside the Tamworth box.

His shot across Belshaw struck the inside of the post and, sadly for the Pitmen, bounced away to safety.

Although Hednesford forced a number of corners and free-kicks in the closing stages Belshaw was not tested.