Hednesford on the march with another home victory

Sep 30 2008

Hednesford Town 2 Ashton United 1

THE PITMEN maintained their 100% home League record after defeating fourth placed Ashton United at Keys Park in a highly entertaining game. In the opening minute Terry Smith the visiting Keeper was forced into a full length diving save to parry away Tyrone Barnett’s strike from the edge of the box.

The Referee turned down two good claims for an early penalty. In the third minute Ross Dyer broke into the Ashton penalty area only to be brought down by a firm challenge. The referee indicated that the defender had won the ball, two minutes later he signalled that the ball had hit an Ashton players head when a pass by Barnett to Durrell appeared to hit a defender's arm inside the penalty area.

Mark Briggs hit a corner kick direct to Ross Dyer who placed a header down towards the left hand post where Terry Smith made another diving save to concede another corner. Smith was in action moments later when Danny Harvey forced the keeper to make a good save after he headed Sean Platt’s free kick towards the goal.

Briggs tried his luck with a 25 yard shot after Elliott Durrell had battled for the ball before making a short pass to Dyer who in turn played a square pass for Briggs to hit towards goal. Dyer attempted another header at the back post from a deep cross from Sean Platt.

Decio Gomes did well to win the ball off Ian Fitzpatrick as he tried to break clear but the Ashton forward showed that he was not happy by hacking the Pitmen’s Portuguese defender down to the ground. The Referee showed him a yellow card for his trouble.

Despite the Pitmen enjoying most of the play it was the visitors who first had the ball in the net but the goal was disallowed as Ian Fitzpatrick had handled the ball before hitting a firm strike past Danny Woodhall after Tom Marshall’s defensive slip had allowed the Ashton striker the space for the shot.

The Pitmen continued to pile on the pressure. A weak effort by Dyer from 25 yards was easily saved by Terry Smith then Barnett headed wide an Asa Charlton cross. Dyer went close again after receiving a short pass from Platt.

The opening goal of the game came in the 41st minute when Sean Platt sent a cross in from the right wing which Elliott Durrell headed onto Ross Draper who placed a header against the post, the ball then bounced down back over the line. In case there were any doubts about the goal the Pitmen captain made sure by smashing the ball into the back of the net.

Durrell went close a minute later when he crashed a shot from the edge of the box onto the crossbar. Durrell was in action early in the second half when another firm shot was to hot for Terry Smith to hold onto. Mark Briggs started the move by sending a long pass up the right wing which Barnett controlled before slipping the ball infield to Durrell, Briggs continued his run to follow up Durrell’s’ shot but his effort was deflected away for a corner.

Ashton’s Robbie Talbot tried his luck when he turned to hit a 25 yard shot which had Danny Woodhall scrambling back in an attempt to get back to make a save but luck was on his side as the ball went just wide of the right hand post

The Pitmen extended their lead in the 57thminute when Draper won a midfield challenge and laid the ball forward for Durrell. The Pitmen midfielder took the ball on and from 20 yards hit an unstoppable shot past Smith.

The two goal lead only lasted two minutes as Robbie Talbot tapped in on the line after good approach work on the right by Ian Fitzpatrick who created the chance by getting past the usually reliable Decio Gomes.

Mark Briggs had a chance to restore the two goal lead shortly after when he was left open on the left but he placed his shot wide of the right hand post.

In the 70th minute a high clearance by Tom Marshall was headed on by Tyrone Barnett. Ross Dyer anticipated the flick on and raced to take the ball towards goal but with a defender closing him down he had a heavy touch on the ball and the opportunity to strike the ball towards goal was lost.

A chipped shot by Liam Ralph went close of the right hand post and a Haydn Eames corner was headed just over the crossbar by Ian Kearney. Ashton’s substitute Lee Connell was cautioned in the 83rd minute for tackling Durrell from behind.

The aerial battle continued to be won by the Pitmen and towards the end of the game Asa Charlton’s cross to the back post was headed back across the goal by Dyer towards Barnett who had to stretch for the ball but his header went over the crossbar.

Hednesford Town

Woodhall,Platt, Cowley, Gomes, Harvey, Marshall,Briggs, Durrell, Barnett, Dyer, Draper. Subs not used: Hall, Sheppard, Morris, Maguire, O’Reilly

Ashton United

T.Smith, Rose, Ralph, Eames, Kearney, Frost, O’Neill (Connell 45), B.Smith (Richards 45), Talbot ( Richards 45), Fitzpatrick (Caldecott 69), Howard.

Subs not used: Middleton, Mullen

Referee Mr J.Simpson (Telford)

Attendance 408 -