> 3.11.2007

.

For the second year in a row, the Pitmen fail to make the first round proper of the F.A. Trophy after an undeserved defeat against fellow UniBond Premier side Guiseley this afternoon at Keys Park. Manager Phil Starbuck named all three of his new signings in the starting XI, with Neil Brisco allowing Ross Adams to return to his favoured right back slot, Sébastian Arnolin replacing the cup-tied Chad Sheppard and Chris Hanna playing up front in favour of Linden Dovey

The Pitmen were straight into their stride from the whistle, pushing a lethargic-looking Guiseley side back in search of an early goal. New boy Arnolin immediately looked at home on the ball, playing a part in the home side's first attack that saw another newbee, Brisco, play the ball to the in-form Ross Dyer, who tested Guiseley keeper Steve Dickinson with a shot 

It was all Hednesford in the early stages, as they forced a number of corners, all taken by Arnolin. Last week's goal hero David Brown could have added to his brace against Stamford, but fired high and wide, before beating his marker with a darting run and pulling the ball across towards Dyer, who just failed to connect to the ball as he ran in

The Pitmen struck the crossbar for the first time on twelve minutes as skipper Tom Marshall ventured forward. His header from an Arnolin corner crashed against the crossbar as the hosts pressed in search of a goal

Arnolin was at the centre of everything the Pitmen were creating, with a number of neat passes on top of his set-piece responsibilities. He was next to go close for Hednesford on eighteen minutes, but saw Dickinson make a fine save to keep out his free kick

Alan Nagington, playing in an unfamiliar role out wide, could have opened his account for the Pitmen on twenty one minutes, but Dickinson again denied the home side, turning the little striker's effort away

Finally, the pressure told, with the Pitmen going in front two minutes later. Arnolin found space out on the right to drive into the area, before drilling a cross towards the back post. Before the onrushing Dyer could get a toe to the ball, Guiseley's John Swift turned the ball into his own net from close range, although the announcer credited the goal to Dyer originally

Despite having had all of the game, the Pitmen's old defensive woes came back to haunt them almost immediately. From a corner on the left, James Hanson rose highest to nod the ball past Rene Gilmartin to equalise just before the half hour mark

Ross Adams thought he had given the Pitmen the lead again ten minutes before the break, but a foul on Dickinson prior to Adams scoring saw the goal ruled out

After Guiseley had no doubt given a rocket at half time by manager Terry Dolan at the break, they emerged far more confident, playing like a side that sits third in the UniBond Premier League. Hanson tested Gilmartin with a shot from the edge of the area, before Richard Dunning made Gilmartin make a superb diving save to his left

Dickinson continued to deny the Pitmen with a fine performance, denying both Brown and Dyer in a two minute spell. He could only watch, however, as Nagington fired in a goalbound shot that took a deflection off a defender and dipped wide of the post

Guiseley went in front just after the hour mark, with the Pitmen's aerial failings costing them dearly once again. Dunning's cross found Marc Smith unmarked, allowing him to beat Gilmartin with a glancing header

The Pitmen pushed forward in search of an equaliser, and the busy Wayne Dyer fed off an Arnolin ball to fire in a shot that Dickinson was equal to. Dyer made another lung-bursting run into the area five minutes later, but hit a tired-looking shot straight at Dickinson

Sometimes, people just don't learn their lessons, even after two warnings, as the Pitmen nearly conceded a third goal from a header by Hanson that flew narrowly wide

There was still time left for a late Pitmen flurry, with Linden Dovey, Nagington and Dyer all having late chances to clinch a replay. As it was, the 2004 winners were out again well before the turn of the year, and must now concentrate on a play-off place with the league all that's left for this season  cds

Witton Albion (A) 

.15

Action from Keys Park ; 1. 'Robbo' and 'Masha' up for an early corner kick  2. Ross Dyer. one of three players to hit the woodwork for the Pitmen  3. Sébastian Arnolin (no. 8) is congratulated after playing his part in the Pitmen's goal

Images / Information (unless accredited), are © Copyright Pitmenweb 1999-2009                                                                                                         Fixtures & Results 2007-2008