> 13.10.2007

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 Well, so much for that little run of form! The Pitmen's five match unbeaten stretch was undone in dramatic circumstances this afternoon, as local rivals Rushall put the very poor Pitmen to the sword, knocking them out of this season's F.A. Cup and setting up a clash at Blue Square Premier York City

Injuries from last week's win against Ossett continued to bite, with the Pitmen struggling even to fill their bench. In came youth team players Adam Fussell and Ryan Edwards to make up the numbers, with a handful of walking wounded starting the game, making it  a far from ideal situation

You got the feeling it was going to be Rushall's day from the start, and it took them only seven minutes to get their noses in front. AFC Telford's Gary Birch, on loan to the Pics for another month, got on and fired in a shot that was well saved by Rene Gilmartin. His follow-up header was also saved by the tall keeper, but the third effort did find the net

The Pitmen were struggling to make an impact on the game, and a weak Tom Ward header dropped wide after being fed by Ross Dyer. Dyer himself was next to worry Rushall, also heading wide

The away side almost got themselves level through a former Hednesford favourite five minutes before the break, when Mario Pedro's cross was diverted towards his own goal by Lee Barrow. He was fortunate that Rushall keeper Tony Breeden was on hand to turn the ball away

Hednesford started the second half well, with the disappointing Pedro finally making his mark on the game by getting on the end of a Dyer ball before firing just over the bar

The Pitmen's injury curse struck again just five minutes into the restart with Paul Robinson making way, having suffered an injury in the early stages of the game. On came Edwards for his debut in his place

Dyer was trying his best to get the Pitmen back on level terms, racing onto Heath's pass, but firing over the bar with a shot that deflected off his shin following a defender's challenge

Despite all of the Pitmen's possession, they were failing to create any real chances. Indeed, Breeden's only save of the game had been from his own man - Barrow. The Pics looked more likely to score again, as they continually hit the Pitmen on the counter attack. Sean Dowdall could have sealed it with twenty five minutes left, but Gilmartin was quickly out to deal with his effort

Former Stafford man Richard Beale headed over the bar for Rushall, before Tom Marshall tried to fumble the ball past Breeden in a goalmouth scramble. He also forced Breeden into a great stop from a long range shot as the away side started to get desperate inside the last ten minutes

Their desperation turned to despair with seven minutes remaining, when Dowdall settled the game, turning the ball home from a Lee Gough cross

Danny Blair came on for Ward, but it was all too little, too late, as the Southern League Midlands side claimed a famous victory over their higher level local rivals, and a sniff of the first round proper cds

Buxton (H) 

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