> 28.10.2006

  Following their midweek exit from the F.A. Trophy, Hednesford got back on track by recording their twelfth game in a row without defeat in the UniBond Premier League thanks to a sparkling first half showing this afternoon. Manager Phil Starbuck kept faith in the same eleven that had battled with Halesowen over two games last week, changing his personnel on the bench by including the fit-again Dave Whittaker

And what a start it was for the home side, who came flying out of the blocks from the whistle. After three minutes, they almost took the lead when Darren Alexander's header from a right wing cross crashed against the crossbar

A number of Hednesford set-pieces cranked up the pressure, which eventually told on eleven minutes. The ball was fed to Mario Pedro, who cut in from his right wing position by dancing round two challenges as if they never existed, before placing a wonderful curling shot beyond Frickley keeper Jon Hood's grasp - a splendid opener from the bang in-form Portuguese star

The hosts continued to have the better of the game, with loud appeals for a penalty when Iain Screaton appeared to be manhandled in the area as he went to meet Chad Sheppard's corner kick. The Hednesford pressure was too much for some of the Frickley players, who started to lose their discipline

  After another foul on the edge of the area, Sheppard was given  the chance to score his  third goal for Hednesford by firing through the Frickley wall to find the corner of the net and put the home side two up

Hood was the second keeper in a week to walk away from a major incident still lucky to be on the pitch, after being booked a couple of minutes later for handling the ball outside the area after chasing down a back pass. This time, Sheppard's free kick came to nothing

 At the break, it seemed all plain sailing, but how the Pitmen nearly threw it all way in the second period as they allowed Frickley back into the game. New signing Paul Palmer could have dragged them back into it, but saw an effort flash wide, before a comical error by the Pitmen's defence gave the visitors a lifeline just after the hour mark

 Ryan Young and Tom Marshall failed to communicate at a free kick, gifting the ball to Robert Pell six yards out and allowing the former Rotherham man to roll the ball into the empty net

 Frickley sensed a comeback, and it was only the dogged defending of the likes of Ross Adams that kept the Pitmen in front as the minutes ticked away. Young was then called upon in the dying minutes to produce a catalogue of outstanding saves, the first the pick of the bunch in the final minute of normal time, turning the ball over the bar with his arm after throwing himself in front of the shot

Two more important saves low down at his post also saved the team, and more importantly, repaid his debt after the earlier howler. Another three points, but boy did the Pitmen have to earn them late on  cds

Matlock Town (A)

.15

Action from Keys Park: 1. it's guess the player as Terry Henshaw fires a shot in  2. Ross Adams makes a move   3. It's there! Mario Pedro receives the plaudits after opening the scoring

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