It was a five-star performance from Hednesford Town as they overcame a hapless Skelmersdale United to record a comfortable victory at Keys Park.
Any potential nerves about bottom of the table Skelmersdale recording their first away league victory of the season were eased in just the sixth minute as the Pitmen took the lead. After striker Tony Clarke challenged for the ball inside the penalty area it fell kindly to George Washbourne who took it past one defender before firing home.
Hednesford continued their forward movement and added a second goal in the 17th minute when Danny Glover got down the right-hand side and his ball in went all the way to Stuart McNaught whose low shot found the bottom corner.
For all Hednesford’s dominance the away side could have been back in it three minutes later when Ramirez Howarth got in behind the Pitmen defence and after rounding Dan Crane he opted to square it to Jack Watts who saw his shot blocked.
The Pitmen almost added a third in unusual circumstances in the 33rd minute as an attempted cross by Campion seemed to be drifting out, only to land firmly on the woodwork before bouncing behind.
Washbourne meanwhile continued to be a constant menace for the visiting defence and his whipped ball in after 39 minutes was narrowly missed by David McDermott.
A third goal would finally arrive though in the 43rd minute when Glover fired in a free-kick that was spilled and Dan Brenan was able to force the ball home.
HT: 3-0
Although Skelmersdale forced a couple of corners early on in the second period and Watts saw another effort go wide, they offered little in clear cut chances on Crane’s goal.
Instead it would be the Pitmen that would increase their lead in the 58th minute. The hard-working Clarke was able to close down United goalkeeper Chris Cheetham and his attempted clearance fell to Danny Glover who placed his shot into the top corner of the net.
Crane was forced into a low save on the hour mark but it was the home side that continued to press and McNaught should have had a second when he headed a corner over the bar in the 65th minute.
Things went from bad to worse for Skelmersdale in the 70th minute when they were reduced to ten men after Michael Vaughan-Muscat was dismissed for a stamp on McDermott.
Hednesford would make them pay further four minutes later when the industrious Clarke won the ball off a central defender and squared it to David McDermott who was able to fire home from ten yards.
It looked as if Clarke would have his reward in the final minute but he was denied by a fine save from Cheetham as the Pitmen recorded a comfortable victory.
Hednesford Town: Crane, Haynes, Campion, McNaught (Wright 79), Brown, Brenan, Washbourne, Thorley, Glover (Roberts 85), Clarke, McDermott (Mukendi 74)
Subs not used: Ransome, Caines
Skelmersdale United: Cheetham, Howarth (Shacklock 62), McNally (White 62), Jefferies, Grogan, Mooney, Watts, Vaughan-Muscat, Randell, Gillespie, Allan
Subs not used: Callaway, Mason, Bradshaw
Attendance: 318
Star Man: George Washbourne
Entertainment Rating: Five Stars
