Lowestoft Town 0 Hednesford Town 2 - Report

The Trawlerboys had lost their last two league games and sat in 16th place, 12 points behind Hednesford Town having played a game more.

The Pitmen having also lost their last two league games, were keen not to lose pace with the other play-off chasing teams.

The two sides met at the PRG Stadium, Keys Park on the opening day of the season with goals from Jack Hallahan and Danny Glover taking all three points for the Pitmen.

Hednesford made the better start of the two sides, with both Glover and Osebi Abadaki being thwarted by the linesman's flag in two very tight decisions.

The Pitmen should have taken a seventh minute lead when Izak Reid's cross was put behind, a handball from the subsequent corner gave Glover the opportunity to open the scoring but his effort hit the cross bar and was cleared.

Reece King headed against the woodwork before the Pitmen took a deserved lead in the 16th minute when Glover made amends for his missed penalty glancing the ball past Luis Tibbles from Abadaki's cross.

The Pitmen doubled their lead when goal scorer Glover turned provider, knocking on a clearance from Andy Wycherley for Abadaki to produce a stunning left foot finish.

A heavy challenge on Elliot Hodge who was enjoying the space given to him on the right of the pitch and a header from King cleared off the line were the remaining significant incidents in the first half as the Pitmen took a deserved lead into the break.

HT 0-2

Ben Bailey provided a dangerous long ball into the home area which was cut out allowing Lowestoft to break upfield without producing a decisive final ball.

The home side did have a shout for a penalty turned down when Reed went down in the Pitmen area, before Wycherley made a good save from Louis McIntosh's free kick from the edge of the box following a foul on Marcus Wilkinson.

King had a shot charged down with the visitors asking for a penalty after another alleged handball from the home side.

The Trawlerboys worked hard to cut the deficit but the visitors kept them at arm's length with an assured defensive display, dealing comfortably with numerous corners, much to the annoyance of the home supporters.

The Pitmen held on to take all three points back to Keys Park after a successful away day in an important win which will go some way to ease the disappointment of the last two games.

Lowestoft Town: Tibbles, Ruffles, Curry, Deeks, Cole (C), Tann, Zielonka, Fisk, Reed, McIntosh (Richardson 84), Wilkinson(N'Buque 71) Subs not used; Reynolds, Godbold.

Hednesford Town: Wycherley, Curley, Griffiths, Bailey (C), Gatter, Hallahan, Hodge, King, D Glover, Reid, Abadaki (Jones 74) Subs not used; Fry, Hurst, M Glover, Veiga

Attendance: 384