4,412 supporters jammed into the ground to see Hednesford follow North Ferriby United’s lead by gaining promotion to the second tier of non-league football.

Goals from Neil Harvey and Jamey Osborne in the first half were enough to see Town over the line despite Mike Norton reducing the arrears in the second period, as FC United were made to rue a third straight Play Off Final defeat.

The Pitmen made the perfect start to the game when they opened the scoring after just 88 seconds. Evo-Stik League Player of the Year Elliott Durrell was able to get to the byeline and his low cross wasn’t dealt with, leaving Harvey with the opportunity to slam the ball home.

In poor weather conditions both sides failed to really play how they would have wanted with the wind dictating where the ball was ending up on more than one occasion.

Despite this Hednesford were able to make it 2-0 on the half hour mark. Michael Lennon pounced on a loose ball in the corner and was able to pick out Harvey who in turn set up Osborne to slot the ball into the corner of the net.

Keys Park was now rocking, although right on the stroke of half-time things could have been quietened a little had Oliver Banks not blazed over when well positioned 12 yards out.

FC did manage to find a way back into the game after 56 minutes though. The visitors were able to win a corner and from the resulting flag kick Norton was given all the time in the world to plant a header into the middle of the goal.

Hednesford were now on the back foot and just three minutes later Matthew Wolfenden struck the crossbar for FC, whilst on the hour mark Banks drilled a free kick just wide of the Hednesford upright.

The game was now end to end and in the 75th minute FC felt they should have had a penalty for an infringement on Norton whilst sixty seconds later Durrell struck the post at the other end following a free kick into the penalty area.

The final few minutes saw few chances for the visitors and it was actually Hednesford who might have extended their lead as first Durrell was denied by Kyle Jacobs before Nathan Woolfe blazed over the bar.

As it was though it wouldn’t matter as Town saw out time to earn their place in the Conference North after a fantastic 2012/13 campaign which saw them lose out on the title only on goal difference.

Following the game Rob Smith was quick to praise his players for the way that they had bounced back from the disappointment of not winning the Northern Premier League last weekend:

“This set of players have been fantastic all year. They have answered everything I’ve asked of them and have done it again today. I asked the lads to go out there and just do it one more time for me and that is exactly what they have done.”

He added:

“I thought we caused them a lot of trouble at the back in the first half but perhaps didn’t exploit it as much as we should have. Then they score and you’re watching the clock, we just never do anything the easy way! Towards the end though I thought we got more into it and were reasonably comfortable.”

Smith meanwhile was looking forward to what lies ahead:

“I think this club deserves to be in Conference North, we are all set up for it. Visiting places like Stockport and AFC Telford is going to be fantastic for all who are involved at the club.”

Hednesford Town:
Crane, Disney, Campion, Bailey, Francis, Macpherson (Melbourne 64), Osborne, Durrell, Harvey (Woolfe 90+3), Lennon (Rey 66), Taylor

FC United Of Manchester:
Worsnop, Jacobs, Neville, Birch (Tierney 77), Scott, Masirika (Cotterill 42), Wolfenden, Banks, Norton, Wright, Mulholland (Greaves 42)

Att: 4,412

Match Action

Photos courtesy of Hednesford Town FC Photos on Facebook
Volume 1 | Volume 2

Words hardly begin to describe the most incident packed of games as 1360 fans packed a raucous Keys Park and the majority wildly celebrated a Hednesford victory which saw Crane gain sweet redemption after Fylde goalkeeper Ben Hinchcliffe levelled the scores at 2-2 in stoppage time with a long ball from inside his own half.

Elliott Durrell, John Disney and Kris Taylor converted their penalties in the shoot out but Crane was the hero, saving two spot kicks from Adam Farrell and Adam Sumner to secure The Pitmen a route to the final against FC United of Manchester on Saturday afternoon.

Fylde took the lead on 24 minutes through Matthew Blinkhorn but a rousing second half performance by Hednesford turned the tables with Durrell and MacPherson both scoring to seemingly win the match for The Pitmen.

There were dramatic scenes as Hinchcliffe equalised in the final seconds of normal time before Durrell coverted a penalty on 98 minutes to give the home side the lead and, after Fylde twice hit the woodwork, Farrell equalised on 105 minutes to send the game to an astonishing penalty shoot out.

Rob Smith’s side, so dominant in the regular season, held their nerve in the most glorious fashion to win a match which will live long in the memory of all those who witnessed it.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey, Francis, MacPherson, Osborne (Woolfe 89), Durrell (56, 98), Harvey (Melbourne 89), Lennon, (Rey 99), Taylor

Subs Not Used
O’Connor, Barnes

AFC Fylde
Hinchliffe (90), Denson, Sumner, Hughes (c), Scott, Breeze (Booth 72), Farrell (105), Winter (Dean 76), Blinkhorn (24), M. Barnes, Cooke (McCarthy 87)

Subs Not Used
Dorney, Haslam

Bookings – Scott, Breeze, Blinkhorn, Campion, Harvey

Attendance – 1360
Entertainment Rating – 6 Stars
Star Man – Dave MacPherson

Match Action

Hednesford knew they had to better league leaders North Ferriby United’s result if they were to have any chance of gaining the coveted one automatic place. Although they were able to pick up a fine 2-1 victory at AFC Fylde news elsewhere meant that it turned out to be almost irrelevant.

The Pitmen settled the better of the two sides in the blustery conditions and almost took the lead in the 9th minute, only for Michael Lennon to see his goalbound effort deflected behind for a corner.

It would be Rob Smith’s side who would make the breakthrough on the half hour mark as, following some quick interplay, Elliott Durrell burst forward into the box and finished delightfully right-footed into the far corner of the net from 12 yards.

Just two minutes later and the home side were level. A long throw into the penalty area wasn’t dealt with and just as Dave Macpherson went to clear the ball striker James Dean was able to nip in before him and bundle it home.

Hednesford thought they had regained the lead just four minutes before the break as John Disney slotted home after Durrell had seen an effort saved, only for the offside flag to deny the defender.

As the second half wore on and news of a second goal for Ferriby filtered through to the Hednesford supporters, the game went into a bit of a lull as both sides contemplated the thought of taking on each other again in the play offs in just a few days’ time.

Chances were seemingly at a premium with Lennon for Town and Aaron Fleming for the hosts both misfiring when in front of goal.

The final ten minutes saw Hednesford press forward for the three points just in case there was to be any slip up from Ferriby and both Durrell and Alex Melbourne saw efforts cleared away from in front of goal in the space of a few seconds.

However a winner would arrive for Town in the 85th minute. Substitute Aaron Rey was able to get past his marker before superbly slotting home to send the hordes of travelling supporters into raptures as they hoped for some late drama elsewhere.

In the end though it wasn’t to be and following three minutes of stoppage time the Hednesford team were applauded from the pitch after picking up the runners-up trophy and medals for their fantastic efforts over the course of the last nine months.

Smith must now prepare his team for Tuesday evening’s play off clash with Fylde which will take place at Keys Park, 7.45pm kick off.

AFC Fylde:
Hinchliffe, Haslam, Carden, Taylor, Steel, Dorney, Booth, Winter, Dean, McCarthy, Berry (Fleming 55)

Subs not used: Farrell, Denson, Breeze, Hughes

Hednesford Town:
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey, Francis, Macpherson (Woolfe 64), Osborne (Melbourne 53), Durrell, Harvey, Lennon (Rey 75), Taylor

Subs not used: O’Connor, Barnes

Attendance: 563

Match Action

Hednesford Town won the Birmingham FA Senior Cup in style as they swept aside a Sutton Coldfield Town side in the second half to claim their second trophy in a week and move into Saturday’s league title shoot-out in imperious form.

A superb finish by man of the match Sean O’Connor after a clever one-two with Aaron Rey opened the scoring on 29 minutes and on the stroke of half time a sumptuous left-footed cross by Nathan Woolfe was met by an unstoppable header by Jamey Osborne to double The Pitmen’s lead.

Sutton had started the better side in the opening half hour with Luke Chapman shooting over after eight minutes and Stuart McNaught hooking a shot against the inside of the post seven minutes later but Hednesford’s second goal ended the game as a contest.

O’Connor nodded in his second goal on 59 minutes from close range after Rey headed a Woolfe corner towards goal and, despite a consolation goal for Sutton by Joel Kettle three minutes later, Elliott Durrell confirmed the trophy would be heading to Keys Park when Osborne threaded a perfectly judged ball down the left channel and Hednesford’s top scorer finished confidently.

The final whistle was greeted with delight by the majority of the 775 inside the Banks’s Stadium and, after the cup was held aloft by captain Darren Campion, thoughts immediately turned to Saturday’s league title deciding weekend when The Pitmen faithful travel to AFC Fylde hoping their team capitalise on dropped points by North Ferriby United which, should Hednesford gain three points, would see Rob Smith record a historic league and cup treble.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey, Barnes, Taylor, Osborne (45) (MacPherson 83), Durrell (76), O’Connor (29, 59) (Lennon 77), Rey, Woolfe (Melbourne 67)

Subs Not Used
Francis, Wright

Sutton Coldfield Town
Evans (Bedford 77), Kettle (62), Keenan, Parson (c), Booth, Male, Sheldon (Bashford 51), McNaught, Ramsey-Dickinson, Edward, Chapman

Subs Not Used
Leek, Bashford

Entertainment Rating – 5 Stars
Star Man – Sean O’Connor
Attendance – 775

Match Action

The Villagers won 1-0 against Chorley but, with Hednesford recording their eighth win in ten matches since losing 3-2 to their title rivals in March, Rob Smith’s team go to Fylde next week needing to win and hoping Ferriby drop points at home to Ashton United.

Durrell’s deflected shot opened the scoring within thirty seconds as the home team heeded their manager’s call to start brightly to ensure the nervous atmosphere around Keys Park didn’t impede their progress.

Within 6 minutes their lead was doubled as open build up play got Harvey into the right hand channel and his shot rolled into the net via another deflection beyond the static Ben Scott.

Hednesford continued to dominate the first half with Ben Bailey seeing his header cleared off the line and Durrell shooting wide when well-placed.

Goalscorer Harvey was carried off after a totally unnecessary tackle by Matthew Telling earned him a deserved red card just before the break, but with the Pitmen supporters hoping for a more convincing win Stocksbridge showed admirable desire in keeping the score down.

Francino Francis made the game safe for Hednesford as he nodded in unchallenged on 51 minutes but the expected rout from the home side failed to materialise despite a sensational passing move ending with Jamey Osborne hitting the post on 65 minutes.

Danny South saw a second yellow for a crude foul on Osborne but the arrears were reduced when Alex Callery’s shot was superbly saved by Dan Crane and Nathan Joynes slotted in the rebound on 69 minutes.

By the end of the game The Pitmen had no less than five attacking players on the pitch but they struggled to open the play up against determined defence.

Durrell easily converted his 13th penalty of the season late on after a Steels defender handled a goal bound shot in the final three minutes and the players were given a standing ovation as they left the Keys Park pitch for what could be the final time this season.

Should North Ferriby win next Saturday to prevent Hednesford catching them at the summit of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division The Pitmen will have a home tie in the play-off semi final against one of either Witton Albion or most likely Fylde on Tuesday 7th May with a possible home play off final on Friday 10th or Saturday 11th May.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion ©, Bailey, Francis (51) (Patterson 63), MacPherson (Woolfe 53), Osborne, Durrell ((1, 87p), Harvey (6) (Rey 45), Lennon, Taylor,

Subs Not Used
Barnes, Melbourne

Stocksbridge Park Steels
Scott, Darker, Turner (Senior 85), Swirad, Haigh ©, Knowles, Coy (Bettney 63), Telling, South, Denton (Joynes 55 (69)), Callery,

Subs Not Used
Davis, Forbes-Swindells

Bookings – Bailey, Darker, Turner, South
Sent Off – Telling, South

Star Man – Elliott Durrell
Entertainment Rating – 4 Stars
Attendance – 706

Match Action

Hednesford Town won the Staffordshire Senior Cup Final in glorious fashion as The Pitmen swept aside Rushall Olympic to claim the trophy for the first time since 1974 with Jamey Osborne turning in a truly memorable man of the match performance.

The young midfielder was a constant threat to The Pics all evening scoring two goals, but every Hednesford player will be proud of the way they played as Rushall had no answer to the powerful and purposeful running by Neil Harvey, Michael Lennon and the imperious Dave MacPherson.

MacPherson had what looked like a valid penalty claim turned down on seven minutes after Harvey was given the freedom of the pitch to play him through on goal and Harvey then forced Chris Gemmell into a full stretch save on 15 minutes.

Kyle Haynes gave Rushall a lead against the run of play in the 20th minute with an outstanding long range strike which would have graced any cup final, but once Ben Bailey equalised from close range, despite MacPherson and Osborne shooting over when well placed for Hednesford and Dave Walker missing two great opportunities just after half time, The Pitmen demolished a tired Pics side.

Osborne scored twice in five minutes after the hour mark with two superbly controlled finishes and was denied a famous hat-trick when he crashed the woodwork from fully 30 yards on 79 minutes.

Substitute Aaron Rey and MacPherson completed the rout, sending the travelling throngs of vocal Pitmen supporters at Vale Park into overjoyed celebration at the final whistle.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey (28), Francis (Barnes 51), MacPherson (90), Osborne (64, 69), Durrell, Harvey (Rey 77), Lennon, Woolfe (Melbourne 41)

Subs Not Used
Wright, O’Connor

Rushall Olympic
Gemmell, Haynes (20), Beckett, Tolley, Smith, Thompson, Edmunds (Islam 52), Craddock, Walker (Dovey 77), Obeng (Landell 66), Stephens

Subs Not Used
Daniel, Caines

Bookings – Bailey, Francis, Tolley

Attendance – 575
Entertainment Rating – 5 Stars
Star Man – Jamey Osborne

Match Action

The 2-0 victory leaves both teams locked on 87 points with Rob Smith’s team to play Stocksbridge Park Steels at home this Saturday and AFC Fylde away the following weekend with North Ferriby finishing with two home matches against Chorley and Ashton respectively.

For a fleeting half hour period The Pitmen were technically top of the league in the first half of the match as the travelling hordes of Hednesford supporters soaked up the gorgeous spring sunshine at the picturesque Derbyshire setting and greeted news that Marine had scored an early goal against the leaders with rousing celebration.

Ilkeston belied their mid-table league position in the opening 30 minutes as Hednesford looked somewhat tentative, perhaps summed up by the initial struggles of John Disney, solid as a rock at right back in the last four games, against the pacy Kane Richards on the left wing.

Dan Crane was called upon in the 35th minute to make his first and only save of the afternoon when James Reid fired in a shot from the angle which was brilliantly tipped over the bar but two minutes later it was the away side who took the lead.

An Elliott Durrell corner was headed towards goal by Francino Francis and Ben Bailey helped the ball on only for an Ilkeston defender to clear the attempt off the line, The Pitmen supporters directly behind the goal vociferously appealed and the linesman quickly signalled to the referee that the ball had gone in.

Whilst Ilkeston may have had a complaint about the goal line decision, The Pitmen once again showed why they are currently challenging for the title after the half time break with another solid defensive display and, but for some more luck, could have scored more than the one goal they eventually managed.

Lennon struck the inside of the post with a rasping drive from distance on 47 minutes and saw his follow up clawed away by the goal keeper after MacPherson had headed against the bar three minutes later but Hednesford’s second goal was truly worth waiting for.

Taylor stepped up after a foul had been committed on 84 minutes twenty-two yards out and curled a wondrous shot over the wall and the goalkeeper to cap yet another victory for his team and set up a two game shoot-out starting next Saturday for the title.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion ©, Bailey, Francis, Macpherson, Osborne (Melbourne 85), Durrell (Woolfe 64), Harvey (Rey 71), Lennon, Taylor,

Subs Not Used
Patterson, Barnes

Entertainment Rating – 4 Stars
Star Man – Kris Taylor
Attendance – 529

Match Action

The windy conditions made playing any sort of football difficult as both teams were buffeted by the seemingly gale force weather but a goal in each half sent an impressive Pitmen away following home with their hopes of winning the league still very much alive.

The Buxton manager was sent to the stands for dissent within five minutes of the first whistle before Michael Lennon opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a superb long range shot which, from the corner of the area, flew past Tom Turner into the top corner to set the away side on their way.

Lennon hooked a loose ball into the net off the crossbar on the stroke of half time but saw his second goal of the evening inexplicably ruled out for an infringement and tempers frayed just after the break when a foul in front of the dugouts triggered a melee with both benches and all the outfield players getting involved.

The goal which sealed Hednesford’s victory came on 61 minutes when Jamey Osborne glided past three players and looked to have been hauled down in the box only for the referee to give a free kick right on the edge of the penalty area.

Kris Taylor stepped up and fired an unstoppable left footed shot past Turner as the vociferous Pitmen support wildly celebrated a goal which sets up their visit to Ilkeston on Saturday, with North Ferriby facing a difficult trip to Marine, as another pivotal match in their season.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey, Francis, Macpherson (Barnes 90), Osborne, Durrell (Woolfe 84), Harvey, Lennon (15) (O’Connor 89), Taylor (61)

Subs Not Used
Rey, Patterson

Buxton
Turner, Black, Green, Istead (c), Palmer, Roberts, Stevens, Towey (Thornhill 79), Morris, Maxfield, Duncum

Subs Not Used
Haggerty, Reed, Lugsden, Muller

Bookings – Bailey, Black, Towey, Maxfield,

Attendance – 298
Entertainment Rating – 3 Stars
Star Man – Ben Bailey

Match Action

Hednesford started with real purpose as Neil Harvey shot over inside 60 seconds, Jamey Osborne cheekily back-heeled wide and Kris Taylor’s free kick hit the wall before the nerves inside Keys Park were settled when an Elliott Durrell free kick was spilled by the goalkeeper into the path of either Alex White or Kevin Burgess who couldn’t help but divert the ball into his own net.

Whitby imposed themselves on the match before the home side’s second goal came ten minutes before the break as Michael Lennon swept the ball past Nicholas Liversedge after the goalkeeper had saved from both Harvey and Durrell.

Whitby had the opportunity either side of half time to halve the deficit as firstly a deep free kick was headed across goal and over the cross bar and then Dan Crane saved instinctively from Steven Snaith two minutes after the break from point blank range.

That block proved vital as, on the hour mark, Durrell worked hard down the right and crossed for Harvey, who powered a superb header into the corner to make the game safe for the home side.

Harvey scored his second goal of the afternoon with an assured finish after Lennon had crashed a shot against the crossbar on 62 minutes, a chance set up by smart play between Jamey Osborne and John Disney as Hednesford began to cruise to an important victory.

Crane ensured The Pitmen kept a clean sheet with a smart save from Graeme Armstrong who was played through the centre of the defence, but The Pitmen comfortably saw out the victory to make it four home wins and three clean sheets in succession.

The Pitmen now face two tricky away fixtures as they travel to Buxton on Wednesday night and then to Ilkeston next Saturday and, as the season reaches its dramatic climax, if Rob Smith’s team can secure maximum points from both those matches their title hopes will be raised even higher.

North Ferriby, a team who have been top for no less than six months of the season, will go into their game away to Matlock Town on Tuesday night fully aware that anything less than a victory would give Hednesford, playing 24 hours later, the opportunity to go clear at the top for the first time with just three matches remaining.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey (7), Francis, Macpherson, Osborne, Durrell (Woolfe 68), Harvey (59, 65) (Rey 77), Lennon (35) (Patterson 71), Taylor,

Subs Not Used
Barnes, O’Connor

Whitby Town
Liversedge, Hassan, Robinson (c), Burgess, White (James 71), McTiernan, Portas, Purewal, Snaith, Armstong (Evans 62), Mulligan,

Subs Not Used
Williams, Farrell, Campbell,

Bookings – Campion

Attendance – 504
Star Man – Kris Taylor
Entertainment Rating – 4 Stars

Match Action

The game was the Keys Park outfit’s last game in hand on their title rivals and, despite Blyth playing the ball round well in midfield, once Harvey had rounded two Spartans defenders with ease and outrageously chipped Mark Cook, Hednesford always looked likely victors.

It was a strong start by Rob Smith’s team as the lively Michael Lennon and Harvey pulled the away team all around the pitch in the opening 20 minutes.

A second goal wasn’t forthcoming until after the break and not before Hednesford’s drop in intensity had allowed their opponents a foothold in the game, but Kris Taylor calmed the nerves around Keys Park with a deflected left footed free kick on 52 minutes.

Dave MacPherson’s half volley from distance was narrowly deflected over before Elliott Durrell’s long range free kick was spilled by Cook into the path of Lennon who finished well to cap a busy performance with a deserved goal on 63 minutes.

Daniel Maguire lobbed over Crane and over the cross bar when clean through to threaten a consolation goal for the visitors, but The Pitmen secured three points which now puts the ball firmly in North Ferriby’s court ahead of Hednesford’s home fixture against Whitby Town on Saturday.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey, Francis, MacPherson, Osborne (Wright 77), Durrell, Harvey (3) (Patterson 66), Lennon (61) (O’Connor 77), Taylor

Subs Not Used
Barnes, Woolfe

Blyth Spartans
Cook, Slaughter, Kendrick, Mellish (Donnelly 74), Buchanan (c), Turnbull, Mason, Hooks (Bert 69), McGorrigan, Maguire, Dale,

Subs Not Used
Grant

Bookings – Buchanan

Star Man – Michael Lennon
Entertainment Rating – 4 Stars
Attendance – 501

Match Action