It would be a forgettable afternoon for Hednesford Town as they were well beaten by already relegated Sutton Coldfield Town.
The home side made the perfect start to the game when they went ahead in just the third minute as Chekaine Steele picked out Karl Hawley who had the simple task of tapping the ball into the unguarded net.
Although Danny Glover saw a shot saved it was very much Sutton who were on top and Hawley should really have had a second in the fifth minute, but his fierce shot was blocked.
Hednesford’s Joe Fitzpatrick saw a dipping effort tipped over in the 13th minute before Justin Richards tested the Pitmen’s keeper James Wren four minutes later, after breaking into the box.
The Royals added a second goal in the 19th minute when a corner wasn’t cleared and the ball fell to Richards who fired home past Wren.
Hednesford’s James Lawrie fired well wide in the 26th minute before some nice football from the visitors saw the ball find its way to Tom Thorley who fizzed an effort just over the crossbar.
The final five minutes of the half would see two more good chances fall the way of the hosts with Richards twice being denied by Wren.
HT: 2-0
Sutton started the second half on the front foot and although they forced four corners on the trot they couldn’t take advantage.
Hednesford would be back in it in the 59th minute when Glover nodded the ball down to Anthony Dwyer who confidently rifled a shot into the net.
Sutton went close again in the 65th minute when Wren was again called into action before from the resultant corner the ball found the back of the net again but this time it was ruled out for a foul.
But all the good earlier work from the Pitmen was undone in the 68th minute when a corner from Sutton picked out Lee Smith who had the simple task of heading the ball home from six yards to score against his former side.
Six minutes later Hednesford’s James Fitzgibbon saw a shot saved at the near post before an excellent tackle in the 81st minute denied Glover an almost certain goal.
Glover would be denied again in the 84th minute when a corner picked out the striker but his header was saved on the line.
In the fourth minute of added time the home side would add a fourth goal in somewhat controversial circumstances as although the offside flag was up for an earlier infringement, Hawley’s wonderful curling effort wasn’t ruled out after the referee overruled his assistant.
Hednesford now have to pick themselves up for the trip to play-off chasing Grantham Town on Tuesday evening.
Sutton Coldfield Town: Brown, Lyttle, Flint, Murray (Howell 90), Beresford, O’Callaghan, Steele, Smith, Hawley, McGory (Probert 80), Richards
Subs not used: Wedderburn, Coton
Hednesford Town: Wren, Mendez-Jones, Campion, Rea (Harris 62), Curley, Gatter, Fitzpatrick (Dwyer 56), Thorley, Butlin (Fitzgibbon 56), Glover, Lawrie
Subs not used: King, Veiga
Attendance: 185
