Hednesford Town Football Club - Hednesford Town 3-2 Leamington

Hednesford Town showed, on more than one occasion last season, that The Pitmen will play to the final whistle and never give in, but the comeback those present at Keys Park witnessed last night is undoubtedly another to add to a growing list and will live long in the memory.

After a bright start by Hednesford, Leamington, to their credit, played superbly in the first half, with a strong and controlled performance that meant the home side were simply second best.

Goals mid-way through the first half came from a superb half volley by Lee Chilton and a deflected chip from Stefan Moore and these silenced the boisterous Keys Park faithful with Hednesford’s best chance coming after a delicious Elliott Durrell cross caused havoc in the Leamington area.

Rob Smith made two vital changes at half time with the combative Dave MacPherson and left winger Nathan Woolfe entering the fray and while Leamington sat back, dangerously content to defend their two-goal advantage, the comeback stirred in the 73rd minute.

Jamey Osborne, given much more attacking freedom by the terrier-like MacPherson, glided effortlessly past three tackles and squared it for Woolfe to sidefoot in and within six minutes Durrell swept in an equaliser.

Keys Park was absolutely rocking at this point and, spurred on by the near-constant support at the Heath Hayes End ‘sucking’ the ball into the net, substitute Aaron Rey struck on 88 minutes to wrap up an outstanding three points for The Pitmen.

Hednesford Town
Crane, Disney, Campion (c), Bailey, Francis, Taylor (MacPherson 45), Osborne, Durrell (79), Harvey, Riley (Rey 64 (89)), Thompson-Brown (Woolfe 45 (73))

Subs Not Used
Melbourne, Barnes

Leamington
Breeden, Mace, Morley (c), Magunda, Daly, McCone, Dodd, Adkins, S Moore (34) (Towers 85), Johnson (L Moore 78), Chilton (26)

Subs Not Used
Naylor, Green, Fenney

Bookings – Campion, Thompson-Brown, Woolfe, Dodd,

Entertainment Rating – 5 Stars
Star Man – Dave MacPherson
Attendance – 708