Hednesford Town 2 Grantham Town 1 - Report
Hednesford Town recorded their third league victory inside a week to move into mid-table as they comfortably saw off Grantham Town despite a late flurry from the visitors.
It would be Grantham who would be quickest out the traps when Jack McGovern fired in an effort inside the opening 60 seconds which forced Hednesford goalkeeper Kieran Preston into a smart low save.
Two minutes later Danny Racchi saw his freekick on target but it was comfortably saved by Sam Andrew in the visitors goal.
It would be Hednesford who would open the scoring in the 19th minute when midfielder Jack Hallahan moved inside before firing a great 25 yard effort into the back of the net via the post.
The Pitmen had now grown into the game and had a great chance to double their lead in the 31st minute when Kieran Wells broke clear but the striker saw his low effort turned away by Andrew.
This would soon be forgotten though as Hednesford added a second goal just two minutes later after a long Ben Bailey throw was played back into the penalty area and Courey Grantham was able to turn and shoot home inside the six yard area.
Grantham had a great chance to reduce the arrears four minutes from halftime when Jordan Adebayo-Smith broke past the last defensive tackle but he dragged his effort well wide when McGovern was open in the centre.
Preston would be called into action early in the second half as he got down low to his left to turn away a sharply driven in freekick.
Some lovely football from the Pitmen in the 51st minute saw Reece King find himself with half a yard inside the penalty area only to see his effort turned over the crossbar.
Hednesford were now well on top and almost added a third goal in the 69th minute when a corner picked out Wells and his sharp header was saved on the line.
Ten minutes from time Preston would be called into action again when McGovern fired in a low shot which was turned away.
Grantham would make the final two minutes of stoppage time a nervy one for the home side when Chris Dawson swept home into the top corner from 12 yards after the Pitmen had failed to clear their lines.
Hednesford would play out time though to record their third league victory in succession for the first time since January 2018.
Attendance: 365
