Hednesford Town Football Club - Hednesford Town 0-1 North Ferriby United

North Ferriby United striker Anthony Wilson was the difference at a bitterly cold Keys Park as The Villagers moved to top spot in The Skrill North and their hosts, Hednesford Town, kept their place in the play off places but will be worried by the recent dip in their form and the lack of threat they posed in attack.

Pitmen manager Rob Smith, whose team were flying high only three weeks ago and now look likely to fall away from the title race, was clearly disappointed at the result and admitted that things simply didn’t go his way during the 90 minutes.

‘There was not a great deal between the two teams, just one minute when their winger got a yard of space to put in a good cross. Both defences were on top but we just didn’t offer enough of a threat up front. A couple of months ago when we were flying we’d have got a draw today but that’s the way it goes in this league when you’re struggling and we must carry on.’

An even start to the match saw the defence of both teams marshal the opposing threats of Wilson and Nathan Jarman for North Ferriby and Neil Harvey and Nathan Blissett for Hednesford, with only Jamie Yates for the away side offering any width and pace in attack.

Wilson flicked wide from a Yates cross on 11 minutes before Darren Campion shot weakly at Adam Nicklin for the home side eight minutes later.

Hednesford top scorer Elliott Durrell threatened to light up the contest after 33 minutes when he skipped past the challenges of three North Ferriby defenders only for Blissett to snatch at the loose ball and scuff his shot straight at the keeper.

With only two minutes to go before the interval, the decisive goal came when Wilson battled with Paul McCone and won the initial flick on, Clarke stole a yard on the hitherto impressive Campion and hung up a perfect cross for Wilson to nod past Dan Crane.
In a second half which was played out in similar fashion to the first, North Ferriby defended resolutely in the face of a four man strong Hednesford attack by the end of the game and solidly saw out a victory which leaves them at the summit of The Skrill North.

The Pitmen meanwhile have two midweek training sessions to prepare for the visit of Boston United next Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), McCone, Francis, Taylor, Thompson-Brown, Durrell, Harvey (Woolfe 54), Blissett, Thorley (Lennon 80)

Subs Not Used
Melbourne, MacPherson, Bailey

North Ferriby United
Nicklin, Lisles, Peat, King, Anderson (c), Hone, Clarke, D’Laryea, A Wilson (43) (M Wilson 90+1), Jarman (Kendall 73), Yates (Fry 83)

Subs Not Used
Clayton, Pecora

Bookings – Hone, Lisles, A Wilson

Referee – Mr N Radford
Star Man – Anthony Wilson
Entertainment Rating – 3 Stars
Attendance – 645