.

.

13.2.2010

Barnett 52, 77, 84 

.

Next Game

Bernard McNally's influence on his new club continues to bear fruit, with the Pitmen extending their unbeaten run to three games courtesy of this Tyrone Barnett-inspired performance at the Hand Stadium

New signings Liam Francis and Josh Craddock, who joined the Pitmen this week from Redditch United and Halesowen Town respectively, both walked straight into the team, with Darren Alexander and Sam Adkins making way for the duo. there was also a change at left-back, with Aaron Gibson restored to the number three shirt in favour of Zak Martin

After a battling performance against Halesowen the previous week, the away side started confidently, with Craddock laying down an early marker with a powerful drive that Clevedon keeper Danny Greaves saved well, although the ball had taken a nick off defender Gary Colbourne en route

The home side responded well, with Nan Baah testing Stuart Brock's reflexes on thirteen minutes; his header was turned over the crossbar for a corner kick, with the same player getting his head to the resultant corner but again found the Hednesford number one in commanding form, saving low at the near post

The recently-returned Decio Gomes was showing signs early on of the form that earned him the rave reviews at the start of last season, organising his young defence and playing with his trademark swagger

Clevedon's Phil Hartnup probably should have done better with a great chance just before the half hour mark, playing a one-two with Craig Loxton on the edge of the area, but his weak cross-cum-shot was easily fielded by Brock

Four minutes later, Elliott Durrell - who seems to have responded positively to the change of management - broke Clevedon's flimsy offside trap after being played in by Craddock, but appeared to lose his footing at the vital moment and only managed to toe-poke the ball wide of the post

The Pitmen were starting to win the 50-50 balls in midfield and dominate possession, with Craddock looking impressive in the centre of the park. He attempted a long-range shot that Greaves watched over the bar on thirty nine minutes, with skipper Sean Platt missing everyone out with a low driven cross sixty seconds later

Ross Dyer, whose goal touch seem to have deserted him in recent weeks, came closest to opening the scoring towards the end of the half, getting on the end of a Durrell cross with a header but watched as Greaves turned the ball away for a corner

Half time almost came at the wrong time for the visitors, as they had built up a real head of steam in the final fifteen minutes. No matter though, as McNally's half time tram talk seemed to have the desired effect. After Francis had beaten Greaves to a free kick but headed wide, Platt's Rory Delap-style throw-in found the head of Barnett, who got in above his marker to head firmly past Greaves via a deflection off the crossbar on fifty two minutes

Loxton had an immediate chance to level the game once more, but he only succeeded in firing straight at Brock from fifteen yards out

And that was about as good as it got for the hosts, as Clevedon's Chris Hartland was sent off soon after for a second bookable offence after a poorly-timed challenge on Gomes. Indeed, Clevedon's physical approach was punished by the referee Mr. Turner on a number of occasions in the second half, with three players going into the book in quick succession for fouls

With the opposition down to ten men, it became one-way traffic for the remainder of the game, as Hednesford pushed forward in search of the killer second goal. Barnett could have wrapped it up on sixty four minutes, getting his head to a Gibson cross, but this time heading high over the bar

Barnett was giving Clevedon nightmares with his movement and pace, and it was little surprise it was he who grabbed his second goal with thirteen minutes remaining. After picking up the ball from Craddock, he turned Sam Main confidently, before bending the ball away from Greaves and into the top far corner of the net - a beauty of a goal

Clevedon did get the ball in the net with ten minutes remaining - Baah netted after Brock had spilled Matt Walsh's free kick, but was adjudged to have been in an offside position

With six minutes remaining, Barnett completed a fantastic hat-trick to cap an excellent team performance. Durrell - who had been superb in a free role - fired in a long-range shot that Greaves could not hold, allowing Barnett to pounce on the loose ball and fire home from close range

Durrell could have completed a perfect day in the final minutes, but Greaves made a great save to deny the Hednesford number seven

There was just time for another new player to make an entrance, with recent signing from Buxton Dorryll Proffitt coming on for the impressive Craddock for a late run

All in all, a great win for the Pitmen, who will be harbouring ambitions of gate-crashing the play-offs with a consistent run of games in the next few weeks. There are certainly enough games left to do so, but will McNally have the resources to make such a run? We shall see cds

..

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

3

.

.

Proffitt

.

.

0

.

Craddock

.15

.

.16

.

.17

.

..

.

..

Images / Information (unless accredited), are © Copyright Pitmenweb 1999-2010                                                                                                         Fixtures & Results 2009-2010