> 10.9.2007

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Hednesford's season continues to disintegrate before our very eyes as the Pitmen are beaten for the fourth straight game by newly promoted Eastwood Town at Keys Park this evening. Manager Phil Starbuck, clearly a man under pressure to turn things around, brought back Keenan Meakin-Richards, replacing Tom Ward, into the starting line-up after Saturday's horror show up at Gateshead, but surprisingly made only one more change, with Dominic Heath returning to the side in place of Danny Blair

Unfortunately, the Saturday afternoon hangover continued at the start of this clash, with UniBond Premier new boys Eastwood lapping up the confusion and lack of cohesion in the Hednesford defence to striker an early blow. After Tony Howells had fired a warning shot just over the bar, they took the lead on ten minutes; Ross Dyer lost possession as he looked to take the ball out of midfield, allowing Chris Swinscoe to play a through ball to Howells, who left the Hednesford defence standing to slot past Rene Gilmartin

It was all Eastwood in the first quarter, with Gilmartin at full stretch to deny Lindon Meikle's long range effort

The Pitmen finally stirred, with Dyer setting up former Eastwood hot-shot Peter Knox on fifteen minutes, but his effort was nowhere near on target

Dyer was also involved in the scoring chances, turning well and forcing Eastwood keeper Ian Deakin into a fine save two minutes later as the home side started to get into their stride

A 'feature' of this season's form has been far too much in the line of defensive errors, and basic ones at that. This was further illustrated when Meakin-Richards headed a simple clearance straight to Meikle, who miscontrolled the ball and allowed Gilmartin to deal with the threat

Back came the Pitmen, and Knox tested Deakin once more with a snap shot on twenty seven minutes

However, just as on Saturday, the Pitmen could not get to the break to assess their chances, conceding a second goal five minutes from half time. Once again, more confusion in the ranks, this time from a corner, allowed Jay Smedley to turn the ball home from inside the six yard box. There was time for a third, but Swinscoe's shot right at the end of the first period just missed the post

After what was no doubt a very stern lecture at the break, the Pitmen emerged in the second half looking for an early breakthrough. Simon Forsdick, who had been approached by AFC Telford United the previous day, played a part in setting up Dyer, but Deakin rushed out to deny the teenager a shot on goal

Deakin had to be on his toes again on fifty four minutes to deny Hednesford skipper Dave Macpherson by smothering the ball at his feet. By this point, the disappointing Meakin-Richards had been replaced by perennial substitute Chris Adam to add more attacking influence to proceedings

Chances continued to come and go; Knox again tested Deakin, but a had a clearer sight of goal earlier in the move and decided against a shot. Adam, also tested the Eastwood number one as the Pitmen sensed that crucial goal that may get them back into it 

Dyer, who once again had plenty of chances but failed to turn any into goals, hit the outside of the post fifteen minutes from the end after good work by Tom Marshall, before Eastwood wrapped up the game with ten minutes to go

Howells danced past his marker to bear down on Gilmartin, and slot home his second goal of the night. At this point, a number of disgruntled supporters decided they had seen enough and left

The only event they missed was Marshall hitting the woodwork late on, but it was too little, too late. Saturday's F.A. Cup clash with Midland Alliance Stratford Town is now crucial in the future of Phil Starbuck's management career at Keys Park. An upset there could mean a parting of the ways  cds

Stratford Town (H) FAC

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