> 11.9.2006

Phew! At last! Hednesford finally put to bed a number of ghosts that had haunted them for a number of months by chalking up their first win at Keys Park since March - only the fourth time they have won on their own patch in over twelve months

Team news before the game included Martin Ridley dropped out of the side, with Marlon Walters coming in after serving his one match ban. Tom Franklin also came back into the side as a substitute, with Tony Brown dropped

There was an impeccably-observed one minute's silence before the game in honour of Hinckley United's Matt Gadsby, who died playing for the Knitters at the weekend, before game got underway

Cables were straight out of the blocks, with Mark Duffy forcing Ryan Young into an early save. The focus turned on to the Pitmen's Mario Pedro, who was to produce a star turn during the evening, showing the fans what they have been waiting for from the exciting Portuguese player. His tricky curling cross almost sailed into the net, but Cables' Ryan McMahon was equal to it and turned the ball round the post

 Both sides failed to really make the other defence work hard during the rest of the half, with a deflected free kick from Tom Marshall the best of a small number of chances. Indeed, the most action seemed to be from the physios, with Ross Dyer receiving lengthy treatment after a clash with McMahon

On the other side, new boy Karl Bell was substituted after an injury that required a spell off the pitch. Cables almost stole the lead just after the break when Duffy set up Karl Connolly, whose shot went just wide of goal

Franklin replaced Walters just after the restart, and would go on to have the final say in the game on his return to the side. Iain Screaton was well placed to block an effort from Duffy, before Franklin beat three players and lined up a shot, only to be tackled at the last second as he wound up an effort on goal

Pedro was causing mayhem out on the flank, beating Cables players here, there and everywhere.  His cross for Ross Dyer on seventy five minutes almost brought the goal they wanted, but Dyer's shot was weak and was easily saved by McMahon

Just when it looked as though it was to be another frustrating game at the Keys, the Pitmen snatched a late, late winner to send the fans into raptures. One of Screaton's famous long throws was not dealt with by the Prescot defence, allowing Franklin to steal in and head home to send the Pitmen up to third in the league, a place they lost the next night after a number of fixtures   cds

Gedling Town (H) FAC

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Franklin

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