Hednesford Town 1 Witton Albion 0 - Report and pictures

The visitors almost struck first in just the second minute but Anthony Gardner fired his effort wide from 12 yards.

In the 10 th minute another half chance fell the way of Witton but Steven Tames was unable to keep his effort down as it went well over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later Edjidja Mbunga did well for the Pitmen as he cut inside before seeing a low effort palmed away by Witton goalkeeper Calvin Hare.

In the 15 th minute Albion had the ball in the net but Rob Hopley was deemed to have been offside.

While seven minutes later the striker was denied thanks to a great block from Town’s Jim Mutton.

Mbunga was in the action again in the 37 th minute but his cross shot was saved by Hare before Mutton saw an excellent half volley palmed away by the visiting goalkeeper right on the stroke of halftime.

Hednesford started the second half on the front foot with Tom Thorley seeing a shot blocked wide in the 52 nd minute before seeing another effort blocked.

Seven minutes later Mbunbga was denied again when a corner into the box found its way to the striker who saw his header cleared off the line.

In the 60 th minute a short Pitmen corner saw Thorley cut inside and his stinging effort was turned away by Hare.

Meanwhile at the other end there was little to report with Witton being restricted to one long range effort from Hopley which went well over.

In the 63 rd minute Mbunga saw another effort saved before Danny Glover fired the resulting corner over the crossbar.

James Wren, in the Pitmen goal, was almost called into action eight minutes later but the low effort from Will Jones nestled only into the side netting

A good opening arrived for the Pitmen in the 73 rd minute when Glover broke forward but just as he went to shoot the ball bounced up off him and the chance was gone.

Hednesford went close again three minutes later only for Jordan Graham to see his deflected effort hit the post with Hare well beaten.

The Pitmen continued to put on the pressure and eventually found a breakthrough in the 78 th minute when some great football saw Thorley play the ball into Tyler Weir who finished smartly under the advancing goalkeeper.

In the first minute of stoppage time Wren got a fingertip on a Jones shot that went across the Pitmen goal and out for a corner. But although there was some late pressure from the visitors in the end it counted for nothing as Hednesford held on.

Teams

Hednesford Town: Wren, Melbourne, Weir, Bailey, Mutton, Oji (Fitzpatrick 71), King, Thorley, Glover, Mbunga (Butlin 74), Collins (Graham 61) Subs not used: Steele, Veiga

Witton Albion: Hare, Gardener, McKenna (Devine 57), Wilson, Brown, Ryan (Jones 50), Foley, Owens, Hopley, Tames (Haywood 67), Williams Subs not used: Nedley, Reid

Attendance: 457