Express & Star

Hednesford Town 1 Grantham Town 3 - Report

Following on quickly from recent cup successes, The Pitmen returned to Evo-Stik Premier League action at Keys Park against fifth placed Grantham Town.

Published

Manager Rob Smith was able to recall Reece King who was unavailable against Mickleover Sports in the FA Trophy as well as handing a start to Danny Glover with Joey Butlin and Adriel George making way.

Following an uneventful opening spell, Hednesford began to put together a good spell of possession.

Darren Campion found himself in yards of space from a long ball out of defence, but his attempted chip was comfortably gathered by Kieran Preston in the Grantham goal.

The opening goal came against the run of play in the 22nd minute when a corner from the left was headed home by Danny Meadows at the far post.

Lee Shaw fired into the roof of the net to add a second goal six minutes later when the Gingerbreads broke quickly following a Hednesford corner.

Injured Grantham skipper Stefan Galinski was replaced by Matt Baker, while Steele replaced Oji in a tactical re-shuffle for the Pitmen.

The second half began with Hednesford in the ascendency and putting the Grantham defence under pressure.

In the 55th minute a long throw from Bailey on the left found Checkaine Steele who was able to reduce the deficit sliding home at the far post.

Half time substitute James Lawrie added some trickery and invention to the Pitmen attack, with an audacious lob from the half way line drifting wide of the post with Kieran Preston off his line.

Against the run of play the Gingerbreads made the decisive move when a Meadows' cross was chested down by Hempenstall for Lee Shaw to guide home for his second of the night.

It took a late save from James Wren to keep the score down and deny Shaw his hat trick.

Teams

Pitmen: Wren, Melbourne, Campion, Bailey, Mutton, Oji (Steele 40),Fitzpatrick(Lawrie 46)Thorley, Glover, Graham, King

Subs not used : Butlin, Fitzgibbon, George,

Grantham Town: Preston, Potts, Luto, Lewis, Galinski(Baker 38)Hollingsworth, Meadows, Wright(Curtis 90)Hempenstall, Shaw, Burrows(Thompson 85)

Subs: McMenemy, Curtis, Thompson, Dasalou, Baker