Hednesford Town got back to winning ways in the league, thanks to a score line that didn’t really reflect the dominance the Pitmen displayed over a Mickleover Sports side that almost snatched a draw late on.
Liam McDonald’s side started the game very much on the front foot, with Gurjit Singh seeing a strong effort from the edge of the box palmed away before bustling his way through the Sports defence only to see his effort deflected wide for a corner in just the third minute.
The Pitmen came even closer in the 15th minute when a deep ball in picked out Danny Glover who forced a smart save from Jake Eastwood before the ball was cleared off the line with George Carline unable to turn it home.
Singh again went close in the 22nd minute before Mickleover put together their first real move of the game when Dan Crane came out to smoother a low Andy Dales shot.
Back came the Pitmen and after Joel Logan had curled an effort well over the bar in the 27th minute, Singh again decided to take things into his own hands as he dribbled past three men before dragging his shot well wide from the edge of the box.
The second period followed a similar vein to that of the first with the Pitmen well on top and Singh was unlucky not to open the scoring in the 54th minute when Cohen Bramall got down the left and picked out the striker, but his shot hit the inside of the post and rebounded out to safety.
Hednesford would break the deadlock in the 58th minute though when Michael Williams fired in a low effort that Glover was somehow able to deflect home into the bottom corner of the net.
The Pitmen now sensed a chance to pull further ahead and almost did so in the 66th minute when Singh played in Tom Thorley, but he pulled his shot across goal and agonisingly wide of the far post following a late interception.
This seemed to kick the visitors into action and they forced two free kicks in quick succession near the edge of the Town box, both of which were dealt with.
Back came the home side and after Singh had curled a free kick over the bar in the 80th minute, Carline went even closer six minutes later as his looping header hit the woodwork before being cleared.
Despite their dominance, the Pitmen were almost left to rue those earlier missed chances as first a great defensive header from Calum Flanagan denied the visitors before Williams got back to clear the ball off the line in the 90th minute.
In the end the one goal would be enough for McDonald’s men as they moved up to third place in the league table.
Hednesford Town: Crane, Williams, Bramall, Thorley, Mutton, Flanagan, Logan (Geddes 81), Maye, Glover (Dunkley 70), Carline, Singh
Subs not used: Ransome, Wright, Sammons
Mickleover Sports: Eastwood, Bennett (Burgin 46), Turner, McGrath, Mills, Broadhead, Dales (Belgrave 76), Grocott, Morrison, Baskerville (Litchfield 62), Schofield
Subs not used: Lansdowne, Tolley
Attendance: 356
Star Man: Gurjit Singh
Entertainment Rating: Four Stars
