Hednesford Town were unable to make it three wins on the bounce at home in all competitions after being pegged back during the second half in a game where both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
After defeating Hyde 4-1 the previous weekend and Tamworth 2-1 in the Birmingham Senior Cup in midweek, The Pitmen were looking to once again utilise home advantage as they entertained Bradford Park Avenue, writes Scott Smith.
It was the visitors who started the livelier of the two teams and they almost took the lead inside the opening 60 seconds as striker Chib Chilaka saw his headed effort pushed onto the crossbar by Town goalkeeper Dan Crane.
But it was Hednesford that struck first though in the fifth minute, when a Tom Thorley cross was knocked down to Marvin Robinson and the experienced striker shot home from six-yards out to net his second goal of the season.
Although the visitors had plenty of possession, they did little with it and, but for a handful of free kicks and corners, the Town defence was rarely troubled.
Four minutes before the break the home side nearly doubled their lead when James Crowther saw his scuffed effort just pushed away for a corner by Avenue keeper John Danby. This spurred Town on and they ended the half the stronger team, forcing a number of corners before the halftime whistle arrived.
Hednesford almost made it 2-0 nine minutes into the second period as Ben Bailey bundled an effort towards goal, which was cleared off the line by Billy Priestly with the home side appealing that the defender had used his arm to stop the ball finding the back of the net.
Just before the hour mark a good chance arrived for Avenue substitute Richard Marshall as he got on the end of a cross at the back post but his header just went wide of the goal. Bailey was then called into action, making a brave block in the 69th minute as substitute Lamin Colley tried to fire into the far corner after a good combination of passes with Marshall.
The visitors continued to press forward at regular intervals and it came as no surprise when they equalised in the 72nd minute. A cross into the Town box found the unmarked Priestly, who powered his effort home past Crane and into the net.
In the final 15 minutes both sides pushed forward in search of a winner but, in truth, neither tested the opposing goalkeeper with Crane having to make a simple collection of a headed effort whilst at the other end Bailey saw a long range effort almost deceive Danby, but the Avenue custodian gathered the ball at the third attempt.
On the face of it a draw was a fair result and Hednesford now have another break from league action as in midweek they travel to Walsall Wood in the Staffordshire Senior Cup on Tuesday 21st October, 7.45pm kick-off.
Hednesford Town: Crane, Ashmore, Campion, Bailey, Westwood, Crowther, Osborne, Robinson (Melbourne 63), Glover, Diggin (Peers 74), Thorley
Subs not used: Love, Walker, Price
Bradford Park Avenue: Danby, Lever, Heaton, Rea, Qualter, Priestly, Colbeck (Colley 63), Howarth, Chilaka, Walker (Marshall 46), Frost (Barraclough 56)
Subs not used: Black, Price
Attendance: 504
Star Man: Ben Bailey
Entertainment Rating: Two Stars
