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16.10.2010

Campbell 50, Southern 89

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Next Game

The cup competitions continue to frustrate all associated with Hednesford Town, as the Pitmen follow up their early F.A. Cup exit with the same problem in the F.A. Trophy, as Whitby snatch a late, late winner to progress to the next qualifying round

With loanee Danny Carey-Bertram cup-tied, manager Rob Smith took the opportunity to give new signing Marvin Robinson a debut following his move from Evo-Stik Premier side Nantwich Town. He was one of a number of changes to the side, with fellow new signing Gavin Hurren coming straight into the team at the expense of Alfie Carter. Aaron Gibson was also restored to the staring XI, with Jimmy Turner dropped an likely to be on his way out of Keys Park. Chris Clements had recovered from the injury that kept him out against Oxford last week, as he replaced Cheyenne Dunkley. There were two new faces amongst the substitutes, with Simon Brown and Darren Campion named amongst the replacements

A cloudburst just before kick off greeted the arriving supporters, with the wet weather leaving the surface slippy as the two teams kicked off. The hosts were quickest to adapt to the awkward conditions, with Kyle Patterson into the action in the first five minutes

On three minutes, the former LA Galaxy man forced Whitby's stand-in keeper Nick Liversedge into a fine save after the forward had latched onto a fine Chris Clements through ball and fired across him

A minute later, Patterson muscled his way through to he ball before firing in a low shot with his left foot that Liversedge again made a good save to turn the ball away from goal

Jamey Osbourne was struggling to get a foot into the game as the first half progressed, with a number of meaty challenges on the young playmaker that went unpunished

Clements, on the other hand, was having a good game, as he sprayed the ball around the pitch in an attempt to get the Pitmen going. One superb ball over the top saw Marvin Robinson appear to get the better of his marker, only to be pulled back by the referee for an innocuous foul as he shaped to shoot

Centre back Liam Francis went close to opening the scoring on the half hour mark, as  Hurren sent over a cross from the left which was flicked on by Ben Bailey into the path of his defensive partner; however, his flick header missed the far post by inches

Whitby had offered very little in the way of an attacking threat, although Jimmy Beadle, with fifteen goals already this term, hit a long range effort that forced Dan Crane into a fine save on thirty four minutes

New boy Robinson was impressing the more knowledgeable supporters at Keys Park with his play up front, giving Whitby problems with his height and power, but showing an intelligence to bring the likes of Patterson and Clements into the game. His knock-down on forty minutes fell to Clements, whose long range shot lacked direction and ended up sailing into the car park at the Hednesford end

A reasonable first half showing from the Pitmen was undone by the players after Smith's half time team talk, as they were made to pay for a slow restart with Whitby taking the lead. Beadle was the provider for the Yorkshire side, holding the ball up with his back to goal, before slipping the ball into the path of the onrushing Andy Campbell, who curled the ball into the top corner of the net - Hednesford supporters were left questioning their defence's part in the goal, with Whitby allowed to score with consummate ease

With some 'supporters' starting to voice their concerns rather graphically, Hednesford attempted an immediate response, with Clements again involved with a run across the area that was checked by Ibby Hassan. Clements picked himself up and took the free kick, but fired straight into the Seasiders' wall

Clements and Robinson combined on the hour mark to present Patterson with the perfect chance to put the Pitmen back on level terms. Clements' ball up to Robinson saw the big striker flick the ball on into the path of his partner, with Patterson holding off Hassan's challenge to fire past Liversedge from twelve yards out

Despite this boost, this was about as good as it got for the Pitmen, as Whitby enjoyed the better of the final quarter. Beadle continued to show why he had been Whitby's star man this term, making another run from midfield on sixty four minutes to steal the ball from Francis and hit a shot that Crane saved well

Beadle went agonisingly close to giving Whitby the lead once again on seventy minutes, hitting a rasping drive that beat Crane at his near post, but came back off the foot of the far post

Osbourne's frustrating game was ended by Smith a minute later, as he was replaced by new boy Brown. The signing from Corby went out onto the right wing, with Aaron Gibson pushing further forward on the left into the space vacated by Osbourne

Both sides had the ball in the net in a five minute spell, with Patterson's sidefooted effort closely followed by Andrew Leeson's clever finish in being disallowed by offside flags - Patterson's in particular looked harsh, as he appeared to be level when Gibson played the ball in

Patterson's game was ended with ten minutes remaining, with Alfie Carter replacing him up front as Smith looked to power and physical presence to win the game

Clements had two good chances to win the game for the hosts in the final five minutes, hitting identical efforts from range narrowly over the bar on both occasions, with Liversedge struggling across his goal to see the second one inches over the upright

Whitby themselves continued to threaten, and with a minute to go, snatched the all-important winner to put the Pitmen out of the Trophy at the first hurdle for the second successive season. Hackworth's run down the right saw him get the better of Gibson before squaring the ball to substitute Dave Southern, who sidefooted past Crane from three yards out

It was too late for the Pitmen to launch another attack, with Campion introduced late on to add a threat down the left. The damage was already done - the Pitmen were out and the problems keep mounting for Smith and Larry Chambers  cds

Mins On

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90

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Brown

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80

Carter

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20

Osbourne

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      Hurren

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Action from Keys Park:  1. Jamey Osbourne tries to find a way through  2. skipper Sean Platt swings in a free kick  3. Goal! Number 10 Kyle Patterson and Marvin Robinson celebrate  4. Chris Clements takes a late free kick

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