Hednesford 0 Solihull 0 - Report

Hednesford and Solihull Moors could not be separated as they played out a 0-0 draw at a soaked Keys Park on Saturday.

This was a game short of chances, but high on endeavour on a pitch that proved to be a great leveller for two teams with contrasting fortunes this season.

Solihull arrived unbeaten in the National League North, while the Pitmen had failed to win in their last four outings.

But boss Bernard McNally sprung a surprise when naming his starting XI – leaving top scorer Kyle Perry on the bench to hand a full debut to Danico Johnson, while skipper Ben Bailey took his place in central defence to make his 301st appearance for the Pitmen.

For Solihull, ex-Villa striker Stefan Moore started up front.

Despite the form book, it was the home side who came flying out the blocks with McNally's men almost taking the lead inside five minutes.

Adam Thomas jinked his way into the box and hit a low drive that keeper Ben Siegrist got down well to push away at his near post.

Hednesford enjoyed the lion's share of possession throughout the opening stages.

And they should have taken the lead on the half-hour-mark with forward Ahmed Obeng guilty of one of the misses of the season.

Johnson caught a Moors defender in possession and then rolled the ball invitingly across the six-yard box for his strike partner.

Yet, with the goal at his mercy, the forward somehow managed to side-foot over the bar when it was easier to score.

Undeterred, the home side continued to press with Johnson hitting the base of the post with a cross-cum-shot after bursting down the left flank.

Solihull had to wait until the opening stages of the second half before they registered their first real chance – midfielder Jimmy Armson seeing a strike from 12 yards expertly blocked by Matt Regan.

The game was now a more even affair with the Pitmen threatening again when a brilliant cross-field ball from Paul Ennis found Obeng, who in turn teed up Thomas.

The midfielder took a touch and hit a drive that seemed destined for the top corner, but Villa loanee Siegrist spectacularly pushed the ball away.

Seconds later, the Pitmen again came a whisker away from breaking the deadlock when Sean Williams hit another fine strike from distance that flew inches past the post.

Solihull finally enjoyed a sustained spell of possession in the closing 10 minutes.

But, like Hednesford, they too were lacking a cutting edge in the final third and the game petered out into the draw.

Speaking afterwards, Solihull boss Marcus Bignot was pleased Moors had extended their unbeaten run, but delighted his side had registered their first clean sheet of the season.

McNally, meanwhile, despite admitting his should have won, could draw on the positives after his team out-played a side who look destined to be in the promotion shake-up come May.

"We really took the game to them and took them by surprise," the boss said. "We created some great chances and we just needed that little bit of luck on our side.

"It wasn't to be but the performance, the commitment from the players and the way we went about our jobs we were thrilled with.

"It was a really positive performance – particularly not conceding any goals. It will do us the world of good and give us a lot of confidence."