Debutant Lee Whittington - signed from Harrogate Town 24 hours earlier - scored a Beckhamesque 40-yarder but Hednesford had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Matlock Town after a late qualiser.
Mario Pedro squandered a great chance to give the Pitmen the lead when Ross Adams sent a great pass from the left into the middle where Pedro was unmarked.
Unfortunately he made a complete hash of controlling the ball and with only the keeper to beat he allowed the ball to hit his knee.
The Matlock keeper Andy Richmond then left his area to clear the ball up field but he pulled his kick to his right wing where Whittington was standing.
The former Harrogate man saw the keeper was struggling to get back and, with a well hit shot, he placed the ball over the full back and the keeper to score a goal from 40 yards.
His 23rd minute goal will be talked about for many years to come.
Matlock pushed forward in an attempt to draw level and Cropper was unlucky when his 27th minute effort hit the post when he only had Rene Gilmartin standing in his way.
A chance fell to Linden Dovey straight after the start of the second half but, as he was about to shoot, a defender managed to put his foot in and concede the corner.
Marshall was well placed to keep Matlock out in the 54th minute when he headed clear from under the crossbar a dangerous cross sent in from the left wing.
With one eye on next Saturday’s match at Rushall, Phil Starbuck took Dovey off in the 57th minute and gave a run out to Danny Blair.
He was soon in action when he slipped a ball through for Steve Palmer who failed to hit the target.
Matlock drew level in the 88th minute when Woolliscroft scuffed his clearance, the ball fell to Matlock sub Steve Taylor whose shot across Gilmartin hit the post and rebounded back into play for Steve Warne to score into an empty net.
Hednesford Town: Gilmartin, Dyer, Adams, Woolliscroft, Marshall, Simms, Pedro, Palmer, Dovey (Blair 57), Heath, Whittington (Sanders 80).
Sub not used: Brown.
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