> 31.3.2008

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 The Pitmen's run of successive wins was brought to a frustrating halt this evening, as Whitby made the long journey form the north east to claim a point at Keys Park this evening. Manager Phil Starbuck declined the opportunity to change his line-up, sticking with the same squad that had beaten Stamford on Saturday

The home side came out of the blocks quickly, and immediately went on the offensive. Top scorer Ross Dyer got on the end of a Chad Sheppard ball in the first minute, but his goalbound header was cleared away for a corner

Dyer almost scored from the Pitmen's second good opportunity on six minutes, running onto a Ross Adams through ball and taking the ball around Whitby keeper Mark Bell. His effort, however, was put into the side netting

Everything positive for the home side  was going through Dyer, and he could have opened the scoring on fifteen minutes after Alan Nagington had set him up; however, he dithered on the ball and only succeeded in firing at a Whitby defender

Rob Davies, who scored with a superb long range strike on Saturday, almost got in on the goalscoring act again, picking up a ball from Nagington but fired narrowly over the bar

The away side responded, and Karl Charlton almost gave them the lead mid-way through the half. His shot came back off the post and bounced along the goal-line, with Paul Evans scrambling back to grab the ball before any Whitby player could force the ball home

A glorious double opportunity fell to Ross Dyer ten minutes before half time, with him firing straight at Bell from a good position, followed by an effort that sailed high and wide of goal a minute later

Nagington's goal drought continued with another frustrating evening in front of goal; his best effort of the first half came after Anthony Maguire had crossed for him to fire wide of goal

it was all Hednesford, as they closed the half on the attack. Maguire's spectacular attempt was saved by Bell, with the ball dropping to Davies. His shot was cleared by the experienced Lee Nogan

On came Paul Robinson at the break after his recent injury woes, replacing the inexperienced Daniel McLeod, thus forcing a defensive reshuffle. It nearly backfired just two minutes into the restart, as Tony Hackworth's cross found Brumwell, who fired wide of Evans' goal

The Pitmen came back into the game, as they searched for their first half form. On came David Brown, with Chad Sheppard making way. The youngster almost repeated his cameo against Stamford by firing a shot just over the bar only moments after coming on

Wayne Dyer's through ball found Nagington running clear of the Whitby defence, but the little striker's  close range effort was well saved by Bell just after the hour mark

Bell was coming into his own as the half wore on, denying Ross Dyer with a smart save with eleven minutes remaining. At the other end, Brumwell's shot was saved by Evans, as the game became stretched

Nagington's night of frustration came to a head in the last five minutes, as Bell brilliantly turned away the former Leek man's shot away from goal. He followed that up with an equally brilliant save to deny the dangerous David Brown

The Pitmen could sense a late goal, and substitute Mario Pedro had a great chance to win it for the hosts. After dancing around two challenges, the Portuguese winger pulled the trigger, but fired over the bar with the goal begging

You got the impression it was not going to be your night when you see the goalkeeper save with his face, and that is exactly what bell did to deny Ross Dyer in the final minute. Wayne Dyer's ball through to his namesake saw the youngster fire the ball towards goal, only to be denied by Bell, who had rushed out to deny Dyer   cds

Guiseley (A) 

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