Hay Inches From Victorious Debut As Pitmen Share Spoils
Hednesford Town debutant Gary Hay scored within the opening five minutes to give his new side the lead and, but for the width of a post, would have secured victory for The Pitmen in the second half.
Despite recording their second straight home draw, The Pitmen’s unbeaten home run now stands at eighteen matches and the Keys Park outfit sit in fourth position after Tuesday’s results with an encouraging point’s tally of twenty from their opening ten matches.
Rob Smith’s side started quickly and former Chasetown striker Hay opened his Pitmen account with a well-placed header from a deep left footed cross by centre back Chris Shaw on five minutes.
Liam King scooped a shot over the cross bar at the back post for the away side with ten minutes gone and, despite Matlock Town having slightly more possession, Hednesford looked comfortable with their lead.
Christopher Bettney curled a free kick from distance straight at Dan Crane before, on thirty-nine minutes, King found space twenty yards out and his wickedly deflected off the shoulder of Pedro Monteiro and looped into the net.
Cheyenne Dunkley saw a goal disallowed for a push on the stroke of half time and it was The Pitmen who created the best chance of the second period when Chris Clements dummied for Nick Wellecomme to sprint clear and square the ball for Hay who did everything right but saw his shot agonisingly smack theupright.
Matlock looked happy with an away point and, despite the best efforts of substitutes Danny Quinn and Marvin Robinson, Hednesford couldn’t force their customary late goal and the points were shared.
Hednesford Town
Crane, Haynes, Shaw, Monteiro, Dunkley, Denny, Osborne (Clarke 64), Clements, Wellecomme (Robinson 70), Hay (5) (Quinn 75), Campion ©,
Subs Not Used
Gomes, Durrell,
Matlock Town FC
Kennedy, Harcourt, Algar, King (39), Yates, Lukic ©, Bettney (Warne 78)y, Nightingale (Knowles 86), Holmes, Bowler, Davies,
Subs Not Used
Whittingham, Featherstone, Buxton,
Bookings
Clements
Star Man – Gary Hay
Attendance – 463
Entertainment Rating – 3 Stars
Words by Chris Brewerton
