Pre-Season Friendly

> 28.7.2007

Hednesford finally got their pre-season programme up and running with a fine win over Welsh Premier side Rhyl, who used this friendly as a build-up to Thursday's UEFA Cup clash against FC Haka. There were more changes to the Pitmen's starting XI, with a number of senior players missing - the likes of Alan Nagington, Gary Sucharewycz, Paul Robinson and Ross Adams were left out, with a number of youngsters and triallists picked for this one. One man surprisingly pulling on a Hednesford shirt again was Portuguese playmaker Mario Pedro, fresh from a two-match trial at Coca-Cola League One side Walsall

 The Pitmen started well, and took the lead inside the first twenty minutes when a Tom Marshall free kick was not fully cleared, with the ball dropping to Ross Dyer, whose fine volley flew into the roof of the net. Rhyl , starting with their likely eleven that would start against Haka next week, equalised just before the half hour mark when a long throw in from the left evaded Marshall, allowing Lee Hunt to bring the ball down and fire past Rene Gilmartin to level the scores

Rhyl sensed a second goal, and James Brewerton almost provided it, courtesy of an overhead kick from from for Hednesford captain Jimmy Kelly's corner. Hunt could also have added to the goal tally, but his run was checked by Gilmartin, smothering the ball

At the Rhyl end, Pedro was his usual swashbuckling self, having a go from way out but just missing the target, whilst Simon Forsdick also saw a shot just miss the post as the half drew in. Gilmartin again came to Hednesford's rescue just before the break, saving well from an Andy Moran effort

Keenan Meakin-Richards and Rob Hawthorne were both replaced at the break, and ten minutes into the restart, the Pitmen had the lead again. Tim Sanders, one of the half time subs, swung in a corner that Marshall powerfully headed home. It was all going the Pitmen's way just after the hour mark when they were awarded a penalty after Stuart Graves brought down Hednesford captain Dave Macpherson in the box. Sub Reece Styche unfortunately fired tamely at Rhyl keeper John Gann from the spot kick

This let-off allowed Rhyl back into the game a few minutes later. Brewerton had seen his header saved by Gilmartin, but the big Hednesford keeper could do nothing about Hunt's equaliser. A free kick from new signing Carl Ruffer was headed down by Dave Cameron, dropping to Hunt, who turned the ball home from close range

But it was the Pitmen who snatched their first win of pre-season, and ended Rhyl's unbeaten pre-season run, with a winner eleven minutes from time. The busy Styche beat Brewerton all ends up and turned the ball past sub keeper Paul Whitfield to clinch an impressive win for the Pitmen  cds

Wrexham (H)

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