> 6.10.2007

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   Hednesford continued their recent good form with a well-earned win over high-flying Ossett Town at Keys Park this afternoon. With former skipper Steve Palmer in contention after his move back to Keys Park this week, there were changes to the side that had dumped Blue Square North Alfreton Town out of the F.A. Cup in midweek; Linden Dovey returned after being cup-tied, in place of Dave Macpherson, who is likely to leave the club after Palmer's re-signing

The Pitmen started well, buoyed by their upset in midweek. Dovey did well to win an early 50/50 ball, playing it to Mario Pedro, whose shot was saved by Ossett keeper Piotr Skiba

Skiba looked uneasy in the opening exchanges, making a couple of handling errors. Tom ward was presented with a chance on eight minutes following a Skiba fumble, but his effort cleared the bar

No matter, as the Pitmen went into the lead two minutes later. The ball was fed to Pedro out on the right, who skipped past Ossett's Lee Stratford, before firing past Skiba at his near post. In truth, Skiba should have done better at guarding his near post from such a tight angle

The home side continued to dominate, looking for a second goal against an Ossett side struggling to get into the game. Ward flashed a shot wide, whilst Paul Robinson's header was hacked off the line by Stratford on eighteen minutes. From that melee, Ward had another chance cleared as the Pitmen turned the screw

It was the in-form Chris Adam that added to the host's lead just before the half hour; Skiba once again was to blame, making a real hash of a Pedro cross under pressure from Gordon Simms, allowing the ball to drop to Adam, whose control and volley was first class, firing confidently home

Any hopes of further goals for the Pitmen were dashed in a mad ten minute spell, as three players were substituted due to injury. Alan Nagington went off with what looked like a knee injury after a clash in the penalty area, replaced by the returning Palmer. He was followed into the treatment room  by Adam, who overstretched after taking the ball down the wing, and Ward, who also pulled up after making a run

The Pitmen still pressed forward, however, and Ross Adams almost wriggled his way through three challenges at the end of the first half, but his progress was halted as he shaped to shoot

Even half time failed to stop the Pitmen streaming forward, with them going further into the lead just two minutes after the restart. Pedro and Palmer combined at a free kick, with Pedro's cross finding Robinson charging into the six yard box - his close range volley into the net earned him his first goal for the Pitmen

Tim Sanders, one of the early replacements, was enjoying his first real run-out for the Pitmen, playing some intelligent balls through the midfield area. He almost capped it with a superb goal mid-way through the second half, curling a shot goalwards, but watched as Skiba partially redeemed himself for his first half horror show by making a fine fingertip save

For Ossett? Not a lot really, although they did play plenty of good football in spells, and did threaten to snatch a goal on seventy minutes. Lee Tuck tested Rene Gilmartin twice in the space of a minute, but the Hednesford keeper was equal to both shots

Sam Hall, another substitute, was playing slightly out of position on the left wing, but he got involved with a low effort that Skiba did well to hold fifteen minutes from the end 

As it was, it was Ossett who scored the final goal, with ten minutes remaining. Tuck's scuffed shot was enough to take the ball past Gilmartin and give Ossett a consolation goal to take home

In injury time, Hall chased down a lost cause, and in a tussle with Stratford, ended up falling heavily at the side of the pitch. It was later confirmed as a broken wrist, further depleting an already depleted side

But all in all, a very comprehensive win for the Pitmen, against a side that had impressed in the UniBond Premier recently. They take their good form to Matlock on Tuesday night, and will need as many fit players as is possible to cover for all of the injuries suffered in today's clash  cds

Matlock Town (A) 

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Action from Keys Park:  1. Goal! Mario Pedro is congratulated by Tom Ward after his opener  2. Another one! Ward celebrates again, this time with goalscorer Chris Adam  3. the returning Steve Palmer gets stuck in

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