> 19.8.2006

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  Hednesford's recent poor opening day form continued as they lost for the third consecutive time on the first day of the season, this time to the much fancied Marine in the Pitmen's inaugural UniBond Premier League game. New man at the helm Phil Starbuck changed his side following last week's pre-season win at Eastwood, with both Steve Brannan and Ross Dyer omitted from the starting line-up.  New boy Darren Alexander made the bench after his midweek switch from Chasetown, meaning no room for a number of squad members, with the number of substitutes limited to three at UniBond Premier level

 After a bright opening, the Pitmen found themselves in a familiar position after ten minutes, when a cross in from the right found Nicky Young at the back post, who had the simple task of steering the ball home past Ryan Young unmarked. Hednesford pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Dave Whittaker and Kyle Perry struggled to make an impact. Indeed, Perry spent much of the first half giving away needless free kicks for fouls on Marine keeper Andy Ralph

The one and only chance of the half came when a flick header from a corner was headed goalwards, only to be cleared off the line by a Marine defender

A chorus of boos from a small section of the crowd reverberated around Keys Park at the break, with the team behind as they had been on so many occasions in the previous season

The home team looked brighter in the second period, but could still not find a way through a solid Marine defence. Starbuck decided on wholesale changes mid way through the half, throwing on Alexander and Ross Dyer up front to add to the attacking threat in place of the ineffective Perry and Phil Hadland, and Dyer did give the Pitmen a better outlet up front with his close control and tricky skills

 It was fellow striker Whittaker who had the best chance to equalise ten minutes from time, picking up the ball after a scramble in the penalty area and turning the ball goal wards, but Ralph made a tremendous save at his near post to keep the big striker at bay

 It was left to Marine to wrap up the points with five minutes remaining, when comical defending from the Pitmen was halted with a late challenge by skipper Danny Jellicoe in the area, allowing substitute Lee Mulvaney to send Young the wrong way to take all three points back to Merseyside

 Not the start we were looking for, I'm afraid, as the Pitmen go to former Southern League sparring partners Grantham Town on Tuesday night in search of that elusive first win of the campaign  cds

Grantham Town  (A)

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    Action from Keys Park: 1. Kyle Perry (left) and Tom Marshall find themselves marked up   2. Martin Ridley attempts to beat his man  3. Dave Whittaker gets stuck in up front

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