Pre-Season Friendly

> 12.7.2008

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Hednesford's 2008-2009 pre-season campaign got off to a start this afternoon at Keys Park, with Coca-Cola League One neighbours inflicting defeat on new boss Dean Edwards' side. However, Edwards will have taken plenty of positives from this performance against the Saddlers

With seven players making their Hednesford debuts, and two players returning to the club in the forms of Les Hines and Nicky Carter, there were plenty of new faces and names to identify for the Pitmen faithful

In a first half played at a fairly pedestrian pace, the Saddlers lined up with a number of their first choice back line, so chances were at a premium for the Pitmen

New boy Jermaine Clarke was the first Pitmen player to really make an impact, getting involved in a keenly-fought duel with Anthony Gerrard in the Walsall defence. However, the referee put paid to Clarke's chances of impressing by penalising the big striker on more than one occasion early on for over-aggressive play

Walsall as an attacking force were reliant on burly number ten Jabo Iberhe as a focal point, but for all his brute force, he could not find a finish to match his strength. On three occasions in the first half hour, Iberhe fashioned good chances for himself, only to waste each one with poor efforts on goal

For the Pitmen, there were plenty of bright spots, with Chad Sheppard knuckling down in midfield with an aggressive, competent display. New signing Louie Briscoe also impressed the masses, producing two surging runs from left to right in a matter of moments during the latter stages of the half, but on neither occasion tested Saddlers number one Clayton Ince

Ross Dyer continued his fine form of the last campaign with another hardworking display in the first period, switching wings with Briscoe in an attempt to open the visitor's defence

Walsall made wholesale changes at the break, with former Hednesford loanee Rene Gilmartin replacing Ince in the Saddlers goal. They also beefed up their attack with first team regulars Troy Deeney, Alex Nicholls and Ishmael Demontagnac. For the Pitmen, Tyrone Barnett replaced Clarke to make his Hednesford debut

The Saddlers were immediately a different team on the attack, with Demontagnac causing the new look defence problems straightaway with his direct running

Eight minutes after the restart, the away side took the lead, with Danny Harvey dispossessed by Nicholls. In his desperation to rectify the error, Harvey brought down  Nicholls, giving away a penalty. Nicholls got up to take the kick, firing high to Stuart Brock's left to open the scoring

The Pitmen continued to plug away, with Briscoe and Sheppard still enjoying fine games. Dyer 's attempted shot from the edge of the area was blocked, as was a goalbound effort from Briscoe after another one of his direct runs

Walsall had their tails up, and Demontagnac was causing havoc in and around the penalty area. He grabbed the Saddlers' second goal nineteen minutes from time. After controlling the ball, he made room for himself by using his pace and trickery before firing past Brock

Gilmartin almost gifted the Pitmen a lifeline two minutes later, dropping a Briscoe cross at the feet of the onrushing Dyer and substitute Luke Findley, but neither could find a way past a stubborn Walsall rearguard

Demontagnac capped a fine second half cameo with Walsall's third goal ten minutes from time, playing a quick one-two with Nicholls before turning Hines inside out and turning the ball home 

All in all, a good workout for both sides, with Edwards likely to have been impressed with a number of individuals who will have given him something to think about ahead of the trip to Belper on Saturday   cds

Belper Town (A) 

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Action from Keys Park: 1. Ross Dyer fights for the ball   2. new signing Andy Jones, who took the captain's armband on his debut  3. the impressive Chad Sheppard gets stuck in, in front of new manager Dean Edwards

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