Pitmen Prevail Against Tamworth As Glover Scores Extra Time Winner …

Hednesford Town negotiated a tough test against fellow Vanarama Conference North outfit Tamworth and gained revenge for their semi-final defeat in the same Birmingham Senior Cup competition last season.

The Pitmen had more of the opportunities throughout the match with Marvin Robinson rolling back the years as he kept the Tamworth defence busy, while Steve Diggin and, when making an important cameo off the bench, Danny Glover, formed the fulcrum of the attacking movement up front.

It was Glover who scored the winning goal shortly after the restart in the second period of extra time, heading a perfectly judged Tom Thorley free kick into the net, but praise must also go to Ben Bailey, absolutely immense at centre half and also scorer of Hednesford’s opening goal, this time from a Jamey Osborne corner seven minutes before the half time break.

Tamworth threatened intermittently on the break with the impressive Kevin Thornton equalising on the hour mark as he capitalised on a Jamie Crowther mistake and the Lambs could have won the game inside 90 minutes when Dan Crane made a superb low save from substitute Kayden Jackson with eight minutes to go.

Raaj Gill, in the Tamworth goal, showed equally brilliant reflexes from a deflected Glover free kick with six minutes remaining and Diggin twice came close to settling the match in normal time before Hednesford showed that little bit more desire in the extra half an hour – no surprise from a Rob Smith team who are deservedly in the hat for the second round draw.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Ashmore, Campion (c), Bailey (37), Crowther, Love (Melbourne 71), Osborne (peers 93), Sullivan (Glover 66 (106)), Robinson, Diggin, Thorley,

Subs Not Used: Price

Tamworth
Gill, Smith, Trainer, Vidal, Jackson, Green (c), Taylor, Clarke, Amenku, Thornton (59) (James 97), Daniels (Morrell 105),

Subs Not Used : Preston

Bookings: Diggin, Trainer, Vidal, Thornton,

Entertainment Rating: 4 Stars

Star Man: Ben Bailey