Pre-Season Friendly

> 28.7.2008

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Hednesford's recent good form continued tonight, with the Pitmen getting a good workout from League Two outfit Macclesfield Town at Keys Park. Manager Dean Edwards continued to use the friendly games to cast his eye over a number of  triallists, with another batch of new names, mostly foreign, linking up with the Pitmen for this game

The game was in severe doubt half an hour before kick off, with a torrential thunderstorm engulfing the Cannock area for a spell, with a lightning bolt hitting the centre circle after the players had come off from their warm-up. However, the storm passed and the game kicked off on time

The Pitmen, looking to continue their form that started with a confident win over Stoke City on Friday night, were off and running early on again here, with Tyrone Barnett, an early scorer against the Potters, going close on just six minutes, but his smart turn and shot was brilliantly saved by Matthew Towns in the Macc goal

The forward threesome that had constantly berated the Stoke defence was once again showing it's potential, with Louie Briscoe also firing in a warning shot, hitting a superb effort from way out that only just missed the target on thirteen minutes

For the visitors, there was little in the way of a cutting edge, with Macclesfield themselves trialling a number of players. New defensive duo Decio Gomes and Ludovic Quistin once again impressed the crowd, picking up where they left off on Friday night. Indeed, after the game, Edwards moved to sign the duo on contract to ward off interest from a number of interested parties present at Keys Park this evening

The Pitmen got the goal their efforts deserved mid-way through the first half. Barnett, looking sharp up front, was the man who grabbed his second goal in two games, managing to control a long ball before taking the ball round the onrushing Towns and pass the ball into the net

However, the Silkmen were back on level terms just a few moments later. Stuart Brock's kick went straight to Macclesfield's summer signing Neil Harvey, who played in the in-form Kristian Dennis - he fired confidently past Brock to continue his scoring form after grabbing a hat-trick against New Mills in the previous game

The away side suddenly had their tails up, and pushed the Pitmen back as they searched for a second goal. In the one brief attack that Hednesford had, Quistin nearly put them back in front, hitting a free kick straight at Towns

The pressure of Macclesfield eventually told four minutes before the break. Dennis again got his name on the scoresheet, hitting a twenty five yard free kick over the wall and past a bemused Brock to give the Silken the lead for the first time

Half time saw the Pitmen give two of their triallists a run, with Tom Marshall making way for Portuguese defender Tomas Montiero and Briscoe giving way for Brazilian triallist Orlando Junior

The home side immediately put Macclesfield under pressure, and were level again just six minutes after the restart. Anthony Maguire's ball in saw Danny Harvey head the ball against the crossbar, with the ball dropping to Ross Dyer, who also hit the bar. In the scramble that ensued, Dyer forced Towns into a save close in, before the ball found it's way to Ross Draper. He wasted no time in driving the ball home to score the equaliser, his second for the club since joining from the 'Dark Side' of the Chase

The Pitmen enjoyed the better of the chances in the second half, with the impressive Gomes having a great chance on seventy minutes, hitting a great shot from long range that missed by inches. Dyer and Barnett continued to be a threat with their pace and control

As it was, however, a number of changes to both sides saw the game peter out into a training match, with another triallist in the form of Igor Vandunen replacing Chad Sheppard with ten minutes to go

Another unbeaten game for Edwards and co. points at some real progress in the past week, with Edwards as good as his word after promising an improvement following defeat at Belper. Colwyn Bay next week will offer a real test of the Pitmen's ability  cds

Colwyn Bay (A) 

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Sheppard

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