> 1.1.2007

Well, it had to happen sometime, but not a great game to give up an unbeaten record as the Pitmen lose for the first time in twenty games against league leaders AFC Telford this afternoon

After the 0-0 draw between the sides at the New Bucks Head seven days previously, manager Phil Starbuck made two changes to the side, giving Mario Pedro a start in place of Ross Dyer and replacing the injured Christian Moore with Dave Whittaker

The game started in a typical derby-like atmosphere, with Telford's large away following swelling the gate to a Keys Park league record 3,000 plus. Both sides played the first ten minutes with great caution, having had a good look at each other on Boxing Day

 Pedro, back in the side, was making a number of runs to try and pull Telford out of position. There were also a number of meaty challenges too, with a fair but crunching tackle by Ritchie Butler giving the away fans something to protest

Hednesford's first sight of goal arrived on fourteen minutes when Darren Alexander fired in a shot against his old club that was well saved by Stuart Brock, punching out to Pedro, but his tame header goal wards was easily saved by the Telford keeper

Two minutes later, Whittaker collected the ball on the edge of the area before firing in a rising shot that Brock again fielded well. In between, Telford's expensive duo up front Lee Moore and Steve Foster were once again keeping the Pitmen's defence busy with their trickery and running off the ball, but neither forced Ryan Young into a meaningful save in the first half

On the half hour, skipper Chris White tried his luck with a dipping shot over the bar following one of Pedro's jinking runs and a ball to Phil Hadland, who supplied the cross. Indeed, Hadland was doing a terrific job in nullifying the threat of ex-Pitman Dean Craven, forcing the Bucks left-back into a defensive position for much of the first period

 Iain Screaton also managed to register a shot on goal before the break, but once again Brock was there to save well

And so to the second period - with the pitch cutting up and so far no real bite to proceedings, you kind of knew there would be something about to happen - and it did nine minutes after the restart. A ball cleared by Telford out on their right was chased down by Alexander and a Bucks defender. Alexander slid in a took a part of the ball, but totally pole-axed the player with a two footed challenge, prompting a mass melee involving both benches and most of the players on the park. After calming the situation down, the referee showed Alexander a straight red for the tackle and gave the Pitmen a real headache

 On came the more physical Dyer for the ineffective Pedro, but he could have no say in the winner six minutes later. Moore picked up the ball and ran across the Hednesford penalty area, with four players chasing him. Before anyone could get a challenge in, he fired the ball past Young and into the far corner of the net

Telford enjoyed a period of possession for ten minutes that could have forced a second goal as the Pitmen committed players forward, with Jai Stanley and Moore blasting over the bar

The Pitmen's response was a succession of hopeful balls into the area, one of which was picked out of the air by Brock on eighty minutes. After an altercation with a Hednesford player, Brock kicked out, prompting the referee (via the linesman) to give a penalty to the home side - cue wild celebrations from the home fans

 Alas, Whittaker stepped up and hit a weak spot kick low to Brock's left that the keeper saved with ease. They were almost made to pay for the miss a minute later, but former Hednesford skipper Steve Palmer's deflected shot flew narrowly wide of the far post. Despite a flurry of late corners and free kicks, the Telford defence held firm to record a massive victory in the race for the title  cds

 Whitby Town (A)

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Whittaker

Pedro

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