> 16.12.2006

Phil Starbuck's side etched their names into Hednesford Town history today with another win that now means that the side has gone nineteen games unbeaten, breaking the previous record set by John Baldwin's side in 1994-1995. There was two changes to the side, with Dave Whittaker dropped to the bench in favour of Mario Pedro, and Darren Alexander's injury seeing him make way for Ross Dyer

 It was Dyer who almost opened the scoring after a few seconds. sending in a warning shot that warmed the keeper's hands. Not to worry, as from a second minute corner from Ross Adams, Iain Screaton headed home to set the ball rolling in front of another very healthy crowd

 Lincoln had no answer to the Pitmen's early onslaught, with Christian Moore, Dyer and Phil Hadland all trying their luck. However, Lincoln have crept up the Unibond Premier despite being arguably the worst supported side in the division, and almost got an equaliser on eight minutes. Lincoln's free kick drifted across to Brendan McDaid, who found time and head the ball goalwards, but it sailed just wide of the far post

This spell of pressure bore fruit a minute later when Adams' backward header fell well short, allowing Sean Cann to take up the gift and fire past Young from eighteen yards out

 The hosts took time to settle again, but came back strongly as the break drew nearer. Mario Pedro's long-range shot just cleared the crossbar, before another Adams corner found Gary Sucharewycz, but his bullet header bounced wide of the far post

 It was the consistent supply of corners from Adams that produced what turned out to be the winner on thirty eight minutes, swinging in another excellent delivery that appeared to beat everyone in the box and sail into the net untouched; this was confirmed at half time after Sucharewycz admitted that the ball was already over the line when he hammered it into the net

Sucharewycz had another chance just before the break, heading wide from yet another Adams corner, before loanee Terry Henshaw, who returns to Burton Albion on Monday, tried his luck with a cross-shot

The excellent Dyer took centre stage in the second half with a number of superb touches. Firstly, a typical Dyer run from the half way line saw him take on a number of Lincoln players before seeing his shot come off the foot of the post; then his skills took him past three Lincoln players before his weak shot was saved by Mario Zaccardi

Only once did Ryan Young have to come to the Pitmen's rescue, shutting down the space for Sam Mullarney to move into and allowing the Hednesford defence to dispossess the Lincoln substitute. Dyer again went on one of his mazy runs late on, before crossing to Moore, who rolled the ball to Pedro - Pedro's shot sailed high over the bar. In the final minute

Dyer could have snatched his well-earned goal, but elected to shoot to the near post, where he fired wide. And so the Pitmen march on to Telford on Boxing Day, where they will attempt to take top spot from their local rivals in front of what will no doubt be a bumper crowd   cds

 AFC Telford United (A)

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