Six goals, two penalties and a sending off, it was certainly an entertaining game for the neutral at Keys Park but one that will have frustrated Hednesford Town supporters following a second half fightback that was to be in vain.
The first period proved to be very much one sided with the away side imposing themselves from the start, going ahead after just six minutes when Billy Daniels fired home.
Two minutes later Hednesford felt they should have had a penalty when Nathan Modest was brought down in the box but the referee waved away the appeals.
The away side continued to press and in the space of 60 seconds Aaron Williams had two chances to double his side’s lead. First his effort at the back post somehow went across the goal and out for a corner before, in the 16th minute, Hednesford’s Tyrone Williams made a good block tackle on the striker.
On the half hour mark Tyrone Williams was in action at the other end as Adam Thomas’ dink over the back line found the defender in an advanced role, but he couldn’t control the ball with just the Nuneaton goalkeeper, Jordan Smith, to beat.
Despite this move it came as no surprise that the visitors doubled their lead after 33 minutes when, following a cleared corner, the ball was played back to Jack Lane who was able to pick his corner from 10 yards out.
Manager Bernard McNally made a double change at half-time as he set his team up in a 4-4-2 formation and it instantly made a difference as first Tyrone Williams saw a snap shot saved, before Thomas fired over the bar after 55 minutes.
The Pitmen were able to reduce the arrears two minutes later when, following a long ball over the top, half-time substitute Danico Johnson fired home from just inside the box for a debut goal.
And the turnaround was completed on the hour mark when, following another long ball, forward Kyle Perry managed to tussle his way past the Nuneaton defence before forcing the ball home from 10 yards.
The good work was undone five minutes later though as the visitors were awarded a penalty following Kennedy Digie’s shirt pull and Rob Duffy made no mistake with the spot kick.
The afternoon went from bad to worse with ten minutes to go when Tom Thorley was forced off with a knee injury and with the home side having used all their substitutes they looked to end the game with ten men.
Hednesford kept going and had a half chance to level two minutes later following a long throw into the box which found Perry, but he nodded his effort just wide of the far post.
Any chance of fightback was ended in the 88th minute though as Phil Trainer was sent off for giving away a second penalty which Duffy dully converted, leaving the Pitmen with just nine players on the pitch for the final few minutes.
Hednesford Town: Crane, Digie, Regan, Bailey, T Williams, Trainer, S Williams (Perry 46), Thorley, Modest (Johnson 46), Thomas, Todd (Ennis 76)
Subs not used: James, Ransome
Nuneaton Town: Smith, Clifton, C Keane, Lane, Morgan, J Keane, Chettle, Byrne, Duffy, Daniels (Dyer 82), Williams (Harewood 70)
Subs not used: Reid, Smith, De La Paz
Attendance 525
Star Man: Kyle Perry
Entertainment Rating: Three Stars
