Hednesford Town 2 Matlock Town 0 - Report

Although the danger was cleared Matlock did not heed the warning and when Dan Sweeney won a throw in the 6th minute, Kieran Wells was on hand to finish when King headed on a second long throw from Bailey.

Following the goal the first half descended into a rather scrappy midfield battle with few clear cut chances created for either side.

Matlock's shout for a penalty following a collision in the area was turned down by the referee, despite repeated protestations from Jonathan Margetts, who was fortunate to escape a booking.

Dan Sweeney looked like the most likely source of a second goal before the break, twice powerfully cutting into the visitor's area from the left to be denied firstly by keeper Ross Durrant and then by Bradley Beatson at the far post.

HT 1-0

The Pitmen remained on top during the opening exchanges of the second half. The visitors made a double substitution just before the hour mark in a bid to get back into the game.

However in the 60th minute another long throw was flicked onto Kieron Wells who brought the ball down for brother Brad to finish on his Hednesford Town debut.

Moments later Matlock seemed to have no answer to the aerial threat from Bailey's long throws, this time with Kieron Wells heading the cross bar.

The Pitmen had the chance to put the result beyond doubt in the 85th minute when substitute Andre Wright cleverly stole possession playing in Sweeney who dragged his shot wide.

The Pitmen comfortably survived some late pressure from the visitors to move closer to safety and strengthen their mid table position in Evo Stik Premier League.

TEAMS

Hednesford ; Weaver, Vidal (Curley 46), O'Hanlon, Harvey, Gatter, Bailey, Racchi, King, K Wells (Wright 68), Sweeney (Reid 88), B Wells. Subs not used; Hallahan, Veiga

Matlock Town ; Durrant, Beevers, Beatson, Hollingsworth, Wiley, Yates, Blake (Tempest 59) Chettle, Margetts, Williams, Morley (Marshall 59) Subs; Westcarr, Chapell, Taylor

Attendance: 391