Hednesford went into the game with somewhat of a defensive crisis with full-back Matt Curley and central defenders Callam Mendez-Jones and Charlie Gatter all missing through injury – leading to left footed Nathan Fox playing at right-back.

The opening exchanges were quiet but it was the visitors who had the first chance when striker Jason Walker placed his shot wide after breaking through the Pitmen backline in the 14th minute.

Although Hednesford forced a succession of set-pieces they couldn’t find an effort on target meanwhile goalkeeper Josef Bursik saved from Connor Tinnion’s low effort in the 35th minute.

A minute later the Pitmen’s Fox drove forward from full-back but his low effort from 25 yards went just wide of the post.

The visitors saw a good chance come and go in the 38th minute when defender Daniel Wordsworth planted a free header over the crossbar while Bursik was called into action again right on the stroke of halftime to deny Allison after the frontman had broke forward following a neat move.

Hednesford started the second half stronger and should really have gone ahead in the 49th minute but Dan Cockerline took too long to shoot with the goal at his mercy while a minute later Josh Craddock’s effort was blocked before Lewis Archer saw his rebound turned away.

The Pitmen would take the lead in the 54th minute though when Cockerline fed Matt Dodd and the winger was able to pick out Archer with the striker able to slide home an effort from six yards into the net.

Workington responded with a low effort from Tinnion fizzing wide of the upright before Hednesford’s Dodd almost got onto a loose pass back only to be denied by Workington shot stopper Aaran Taylor.

Hednesford would double their lead in the 65th minute when they were awarded a penalty for handball which Jed Davies converted – despite the best efforts of Taylor.

A minute later Bursik had to react quickly again as a freekick wasn’t properly clear and Walker saw a shot saved away.

The Pitmen almost scored a lovely goal in the 69th minute when Archer teed up Cockerline who laid it off to Josh Craddock but his low effort was just kept out by Taylor.

Despite continuing to probe, the visitors would only have one half effort to reduce the arrears with both sides having no further clear-cut chances to add to the scoreline in the last quarter.

Teams:

Hednesford Town: Bursik, Fox, Grimshaw, Griffiths, Galinski, Craddock (King 75), Fitzpatrick (Hollis 71), Archer (Edge 70), Cockerline, Davies, Dodd

Subs not used: Howard, Veiga

Workington AFC: Taylor, Olsen, Rowntree, Wordsworth, Douglas, Mellen, Maguire (Samuel 63), Holt (Hubbold 70), Walker, Allison, Tinnion

Subs not used: Casson, Brown, Tidy

Attendance: 301