> 24.11.2007

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The Pitmen will take stock after this one and freely admit this was a game of two points dropped rather than one gained, as Lincoln snatched a point from Keys Park this afternoon to leave the Pitmen's season teetering on the average. Manager Phil Starbuck made changes to the side that beat Kendal the previous week, with Chris Hanna moving back to Walsall after his loan spell ended. Alan Nagington came in to replace him, with youngster Harry Hambleton, formerly of Tamworth, making up the bench. Sébastian Arnolin also returned to the side in place of the suspended Neil Brisco

After a bright opening from the visiting side, the Pitmen took the initiative and took and early lead through top scorer Ross Dyer. A good move involving Wayne Dyer, Nagington and the Hednesford youngster saw him lead home from close range

Back came Lincoln, who had lost manager - and former Hednesford number two - John Ramshaw the previous week, came back at the Pitmen, and it was another man connected with the club last season who snatched an equaliser on fourteen minutes. Justin Jenkins, who failed to score whilst at Keys Park, levelled the game with a crisp shot from the edge of the area that flew past Rene Gilmartin   cds

It got worse for the hosts, as Lincoln took the lead twelve minutes later. A free kick on the Lincoln left from Chris Garvey was headed in by defender Ben Brown, to add to the Pitmen's defensive woes once more

The game was end to end stuff as the Pitmen looked to get back into the game - Anthony Maguire's rasping shot flew wide, before Gilmartin had to save from Garvey. The ball fell to Ben Good, but he fortunately missed his kick as it dropped to him 

Jenkins almost put Lincoln out of sight eight minutes from half time, after an awful error by Gilmartin saw the ball fall towards the big striker. He failed to connect with the ball, however, and the ball ran to safety

the Pitmen did get their equaliser before the break, and it was the exciting Ross Dyer who carved out the chance five minutes from the break, whipping in a cross that Maguire could not miss from with a sidefoot home

The returning Steve Palmer replaced Arnolin at the break to add some steel to the midfield area, but it was the rangy Wayne Dyer who got stuck in at the start of the second period, getting involved in a bit of handbags with former Pitman Iain Screaton. Both were booked for their part 

Ross Dyer was having another one of those imperious games, controlling everything that moved forward in black and white. His fine header was saved by the highly-rated Lincoln keeper Ben Scott on the hour, before the Lincoln number one denied Hednesford's main man again just a minute later as he threatened to burst through

Dyer could have had a hat-trick by now, as he did against Stamford a few weeks ago, but the ball just wasn't falling for him today as he missed a simple chance to score after being set up by Chris Adam by getting mixed up in controlling the ball with the goal gaping in front of him

Then - a familiar sight from last season. Yes, the sight of Ritchie Butler being sent off for an over-zealous challenge, this time in a Lincoln United shirt, right in front of Starbuck and his bench on Maguire. A well-deserved dismissal for a player who has no future in the sport 

The Pitmen attempted to gain an immediate advantage with the extra man, with Chad Sheppard's header cleared off the line as Lincoln hung on. And yet, Palmer had to spare Hednesford's blushes late on by clearing a late effort from goal after a shot had beaten Gilmartin

In the first minute of added time, Wayne Dyer's earlier yellow card came back to haunt him. A tackle on Screaton was warranted only a talking to by the referee, but the big midfielder kept on at the referee until the official had no choice but to sent the Montserratt International off for dissent  cds

Ilkeston Town (A) 

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