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After a
disappointing shut-out against Ashton the previous week, Hednesford hit
the goal trail in spectacular style as they completed a league double
over Mickleover Sports with a six goal demolition of the struggling
Derbyshire side. In the process, they moved joint top of the league
ahead of a busy period in December and January
With
suspensions kicking in all over the pitch, manager Rob smith was forced
into a number of changes to his side; goalkeeper Dan Crane was serving
his one match ban after being sent off at Stocksbridge, and was replaced
by Kidderminster Harriers man Tony Breeden, who was loaned to the Pitmen
for one match only. Pedro Monteiro was also serving his one match ban,
with Ben Bailey coming in in place of the Portuguese centre back. Up
front, twin suspensions for Nick Wellecomme and Marvin Robinson meant
that the forward line of Mark Danks and Gary Hay pretty much picked
itself
Mickleover
started well, looking to earn crucial points after spiralling towards
the relegation zone in recent weeks. Danny Martin struck a goalbound
free kick on three minutes, with the ball eventually hacked clear after
confusion in the Hednesford ranks
Chris
Clements, still topping the scoring charts for the Pitmen, tried his
luck with a trademark free kick on eleven minutes, but got his foot
under the ball and fired well over the crossbar
The away side
thought they had stolen into the lead three minutes later; Tom Kellogg
fired home from close range, only to be denied by an earlier offside
flag
Sports keeper
Damian Clarke was called upon for the first time on nineteen minutes,
making a superb save to tip over Darren Campion's shot, hit with venom
from a free kick twenty five yards out
A flurry of
Hednesford corners and free kicks continued to keep Mickleover on their
toes, as Campion, Clements and Elliott Durrell all threatened. However,
without the height and power of messrs Wellecomme and Robinson, many of
the balls in were competently dealt with by former Stafford defender
Craig McAughtrie
Just after
the half hour mark, Campion scored a fluke goal to put the Pitmen into
the lead; picking up the ball on the left hand edge of the penalty area,
his cross to the back post had a little too much on it that was perhaps
intended, beating all incoming players and beating Clarke low down at
his far post
Hay's
aggressive approach to the game almost saw him in serious trouble with
the referee ten minutes before half time, as he clashed with McAughtrie
and appeared to raise his elbow at the big defender, incurring a yellow
card for his crime when a red could have been shown
As half time
approached, Jamey Osbourne went on a mazy run on the edge of the area,
beating two challenges before firing just wide. In the final minute of
the half, Alex Steadman fired across the face of the Hednesford goal
with a dangerous drive
The Pitmen
came flying out of the traps after half time, and essentially ended the
game as a contest with a quickfire double. On fifty three minutes, Hay's
hard work saw him win the ball out wide, before crossing for Danks, who
brilliantly headed past Clarke via a deflection off the post
Two minutes
later, Hay planted a firm header past Clarke from eight yards out after
Durrell had picked him out with a floated cross
Mickleover's
frustrations came to a head just after the hour mark, as Martin was sent
off for an elbow on Danks, leaving the away side with a mountain to
climb. Buoyed by this, Osbourne unleashed a shot from range that came
back off the crossbar
The Pitmen
relaxed, and Smith afforded changes to his front line in the forms of
Andre Landell, who came on in place of Hay, and Danny Quinn, who
replaced Danks. Ben Jevons was also introduced in midfield as he
replaced Clements, who had had a quiet afternoon by his high standards
Landell made
an impact within a few minutes of coming on, as his pace saw him surge
into the penalty area to get on the end of a Kyle Haynes through ball.
Kellogg crudely tripped the youngster as he got on the ball, and having
already been booked, was promptly shown another yellow card by the
referee, who pointed to the spot. Durrell calmly fired past Clarke
Five minutes
later, Quinn played a superb ball over the top of the Mickleover
defenders, into the path of Jay Denny. He kept his cool to fire past
Clarke from close range and make it five for the Pitmen with ten minutes
remaining
Despite
cruising to a win, the Pitmen could not keep a clean sheet for Breeden
in his one game for the club, as they conceded a soft consolation goal.
Keiran O'Connell was allowed a free run straight through the middle of
the Hednesford defence before firing low past Breeden
Quinn almost
grabbed the goal he craved for so long a minute from time, but his low
shot missed the far post by a yard or so
It was left
to Haynes to complete the scoring in added time, picking up the loose
ball just inside the Mickleover half and advancing on goal, before
letting rip with a superb low strike from fully thirty yards that found
the bottom corner of the net
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