Hednesford Town 3 Marine 2 - Report

The visitors could’ve been excused for perhaps having their minds on other things at the start of the match after their team coach caught fire as they approached Keys Park – thankfully though no-one was injured and all the kit and supplies were also saved.

In bitterly cold conditions, with continued snow showers, all that either side had to show in the opening exchanges was a long-range effort by James Short which went well over the bar in the fourth minute.

The Pitmen meanwhile saw two long throws from Ben Bailey cause some troubles without testing the visiting goalkeeper.

It would be Marine who would strike first in the 29th minute though when, in the middle of a snowstorm, a ball down the right-wing caught the Pitmen out and Danny Mitchley’s low cross into the box caused confusion with Bailey putting the ball into his own net.

Hednesford did respond though with Matt Curley seeing two shots blocked away in quick succession after the fullback had made good progress.

Marine saw a chance come their way in the 36th minute but Mitchley’s effort was blocked by Sam Oji before Hednesford shot stopper James Wren made a fine save in the 43rd minute to deny Josh Amis from 10 yards out.

The Pitmen would draw themselves level seven minutes into the second half when a ball was played into James Lawrie on the edge of the box and he curled in an effort that took a slight deflection before finding the back of the net.

In the 54th minute Bailey made a fine block to deny Amis before Wren was forced into a low save after fullback Peter Wylie had made a fine forward run.

Hednesford would edge ahead in the 63rd minute as Tom Thorley fired in a shot that was palmed up into the air by Martin Fearon in the Marine goal only for Danny Glover to nod home from six yards out.

Back came the away side though and after Mitchley saw a shot go right across the goal in the 67th minute before Amis was then denied by Wren after breaking through three minutes later.

This would be crucial as Hednesford extended their lead in the 72nd minute when James Fitzgibbon did well to pick out Glover on the edge of the box with the striker able to swivel and shoot home from the edge of the box.

Hednesford should really have put the game to bed ten minutes later as Glover picked out Jordan Graham but he headed the ball against the crossbar from six yards out.

Marine would reduce the arrears in the 86th minute after Michael Brewster picked out Mitchley and the striker fired home from 15 yards out.

Although Marine forced a late corner the Pitmen were able to play out time and record their first league victory at home since New Year’s Day.

Teams

Hednesford Town: Wren, Mendez-Jones, Curley, Bailey (Fitzgibbon 71), Oji, Gatter, Rea (Harris 65), Thorley, Glover, Graham, Lawrie

Subs not used: Butlin, King, Veiga

Marine: Fearon, Wylie, Short, Hughes, Strickland, Smart, Brewster, Field (McGrath 75), Mitchley, Amis, Tongue (Murray 70)

Subs not used: Reid, Baker, Watson

Attendance: 246