> 24.3.2008

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Hednesford got back to winning ways this Easter Bank Holiday afternoon, with a well-earned win over fellow mid-table side Matlock Town. In the seventy two hours since the Pitmen's last game, a defeat at Leek Town, manager Phil Starbuck had been bust making changes, bringing in Daniel McLeod from local side Brereton to play at right back, with Liam McDonald moving to the bench. Rory may was dropped from the squad altogether, with Alan Nagington returning to the side. Reece Styche's rehabilitation continued with a place on the bench, with Anthony Maguire coming back in

The Pitmen started brightly enough, forcing Matlock back in the early stages with a number of corners and free kicks. Maguire was in the thick of the action, with two early attempts that came to nothing

With an Arctic wind blowing around Keys Park, there was not much football on display, as the ball bobbled and ballooned in the breeze. The Pitmen adopted a direct route to their game, with a tenth minute Ross Dyer shot just dipping over the bar after being set up by Nagington

Despite fighting the conditions, the Pitmen did produce one decent moment of attacking football in the first half; after some goods work from Ross Dyer, he linked up with Rob Davies and Wayne Dyer to line up Chad Sheppard on the edge of the area. The former Bleus midfielder got hold of the shot, but failed to test Andy Richmond in the Matlock goal

Matlock had shown very little in the attacking third, although the Hednesford defence was on it's toes to keep a hold on the dangerous Simon Barraclough, Matlock's top scorer, who was always looking to exploit one poorly-placed pass

Barraclough did get a shot in on goal on thirty five minutes, testing Paul Evans' reflexes with a drive from the edge of the area - this after he had ghosted inside two Hednesford players from the right

After watching two good efforts rattle the woodwork on Saturday, there was more frustration for the Pitmen three minutes later, with Sheppard again involved, firing in a shot from twenty yards out that bounced off the crossbar

Despite all the good chances, the Pitmen found themselves a goal down a minute later. Ross Adams and Reuben Wiggins-Thomas tangled just inside the area, giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Barraclough fired the ball straight down the centre of the goal to give the visitors an unexpected lead

The Pitmen rallied, and Ross Dyer's flick header missed the target by a narrow margin from a Sheppard free-kick

In the final minute of the half, the Pitmen got their deserved equaliser, also from the penalty spot. Ross Dyer played the ball into Nagington, who was hauled down by Cameron Fearon in the box. Sheppard wrestled the ball from Wayne Dyer to take the spot kick, sending Richmond the wrong way

The momentum they had built continued into the second half, with the first attack of the second period conjuring up a goal for the Pitmen. Rob Davies got everything behind a shot from out on the right, which Richmond could only parry into the path of the onrushing Maguire, who had the task of following the ball into the empty net

There was a loud shout for a second spot-kick five minutes later, when Richmond appeared to rough-house Nagington away from the ball as they chased a ball out of play. The referee, however, was unimpressed

The Pitmen were very much in charge, using the gust to their advantage by attempting to play over the top of the Matlock defence. Ten minutes later, and the tactic worked superbly, with a little help from the elements. A long ball over the top was cleared, but the swirling wind sent the ball back towards the Matlock penalty area, where Ross Dyer was lurking. His close control set up Davies, who nutmegged Richmond with a low shot to score number three

The home side were now in full control of the game, and there could have been more goals to witness. Once again, Ross Dyer was involved, causing havoc down the right before cutting back to Wayne Dyer, whose rising shot cleared the bar

Matlock were devoid of any real penetration up front, with few chances being created. Tom Marshall was very much back to form, with young McLeod having a decent game at right-back

Matlock did manage a late rally as they pushed for a grandstand finish. Paul Evans made a great save to deny Matlock substitute Daniel Williams thirteen minutes form time, followed by a looping effort from Ben Kistell that just missed the far post

Styche and Pedro mate late appearances, but it was to end on a sour note for young Styche, as an aggressive  challenge on him by Ryan Laight on the touchline left him in agony in added time. Liam McDonald came on for him for the final seconds, but the news was not good - a broken fibia putting an end to Styche's season  cds

Stamford (A) 

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Action from Keys Park:  1. Wayne Dyer is shackled by the Leek defence  2. Chad Sheppard sends Andy Richmond the wrong way to equalise   3. high-fives all round as Ross Adams congratulates goalscorer Anthony Maguire

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