Smith Calls On Pitmen Fans To Make Journey To Tamworth En Masse ...

Hednesford Town boss Rob Smith has led a rallying call to the Keys Park faithful to fill The Lamb tomorrow afternoon for what really is The Pitmen’s most important game of the season by some distance as they face fellow play-off rivals Tamworth.

An away trip to Tamworth, a ground Hednesford haven’t travelled to for a league match since October 2002, would naturally be regarded as a huge occasion, but add the fact that their play-off place hangs by a thread after a tough two weeks and that Tamworth sit a place above them in fourth, Smith has every right to describe the game in such significant tones.

‘I would ask as many of our supporters as possible to please make the effort to get over to Tamworth on Saturday and really get behind the lads. It will mean a lot to us if we can travel in large numbers and be loud: I think the players will buzz off that atmosphere. Our fans have been superb all season, and when they want to they can really make some noise.

‘It is without doubt our biggest game to date, the fact the teams are local adds to the occasion but the main fact is that the league is so close. However we have had many of these games over the years so the players will not be fazed.’

If the aforementioned situation didn’t make the game important enough, Hednesford also have the home game at Keys Park to avenge when the visitors scored a late headed winner after being awarded a strongly-debated penalty in the first half.

Smith says his players will look to get a result at the Lamb and use it as a springboard in a similar fashion to which Tamworth did after that win at Keys Park – the Lambs went on to win 11 games in a row through Christmas and into the new year.

‘It was an entertaining game at our place but we were devastated to lose in the manner that we did. We just need to ensure we do everything in our power to come away from the Lamb with something. If we do, we can really look forward to the run-in. My boys have worked their socks off for the club this year to get in this position and we can’t wait for the game.’

New signing Jordan Tunnicliffe will go straight into the squad as The Pitmen embark on a final six-game run that will define their season – the outcome of tomorrow’s game, taking place in a raucous atmosphere, is stage one.