Pitmen Hold Conference Harriers As Storm Rolls In
An impressive run-out for Hednesford Town saw The Pitmen hold Football Conference outfit Kidderminster Harriers to a goalless draw at a sodden and stormy Keys Park.
Both defences were on top for the majority of the game but there were a number of flashes of attacking intent from both sides with Jamey Osborne for the hosts and Marvin Johnson for the visitors particularly lively.
New signing Steve Diggin missed a glorious chance for Hednesford on the half hour mark as Paul McCone’s knock down found the striker at the back post, but he side footed wide.
Johnson should have opened the scoring shortly afterwards when he capitalised on a slip by Sam Griffiths but the Harriers winger dragged his shot wide.
McCone headed over from a corner just before the break and while Hednesford continued to push for a goal, Johnson almost caught them out on the counter, but failed to test Dan Crane after half time.
Substitute Alex Melbourne’s cross was inches from finding Paul Sullivan and, as the game began to get stretched and the rain teemed down, Tom Thorley came close again for the home side before Johnson fizzed the game’s best chance at goal only to be denied by the outstretched hand of Dan Crane.
The impressive Danny Glover forced Jasbir Singh into a smart save with three minutes remaining and with the last kick, Alex Melbourne showed superhuman levels of fitness as Hednesford broke quickly from a Kidderminster corner and he threw himself at a panicked Singh clearance only to see the ball fly inches wide.
The referee’s final whistle, as the sun streamed through the clouds, was greeted by a standing ovation for the effort from The Pitmen against their more illustrious opponents.
Hednesford Town
Price (Crane 46), Griffiths (Taylor 46), Campion (c), Bailey (Francis 46), McCone, Thorley, Osborne (Taylor-Boyce 70), Hurst, Glover, Diggin (Sullivan 63), Johnson (Melbourne 53),
Subs Not Used – Thompson
Kidderminster Harriers
Singh, Dunkley, Gowling, Grimes, Gittings, Storer (c), O’Keefe, Johnson, Gash, Read, Styche,
Subs – Williams, Obeng, Blissett, Green, Verma, Hales, Lewis,
Attendance – 313
