Hednesford Town’s defensive frailties were once again exposed as the Pitmen suffered another defeat on the road to further dent their play-off hopes.
The first real chance of the game fell to the Pitmen when Jamie Sheldon got down the right wing in the fourth minute and his cross found a sliding Tony Clarke, but the striker couldn’t get enough on it with the goal gaping.
That would prove to be crucial as Paul Casey’s side fell behind two minutes later when a ball into the Hednesford box picked out Shane Henry who powerfully headed home from the edge of the area.
A good chance came and went in the 15th minute when Gavin Caines rose highest to head a corner down in front of goal with the ball being fired wide by Jamie Matthews.
Five minutes later good interplay down the left saw Courtney Wildin pick out George Forsyth who flashed a header wide.
Back came the home side and after seeing one shot blocked for a corner, Town stopper Lloyd Ransome had to react quickly to keep out a header before Dan Brenan made another timely block.
This would only be a temporary reprieve for the Pitmen though as Brenan was then adjudged to have fouled his man and the home side were awarded a penalty four minutes before halftime with Joseph Tait firing home from 12 yards.
HT: 2-0
The Pitmen boss made two changes at half-time with both Spencer Weir-Daley and Vinny Mukendi being introduced for Tony Clarke and Jamie Sheldon.
It was Mukendi who made an immediate impact as he headed home from six yards out after being picked out by David McDermott in the 53rd minute.
The Pitmen were now on top and Weir-Daley saw a shot saved as Mukendi was proving to be a real handful to the Spennymoor defence.
However all the good work was undone in the 65th minute when a poor goal kick from Ransome fell to Nathan Fisher who brushed off Brenan, rounded the goalkeeper and passed the ball into an empty net.
Ransome was forced into another low save after 77 minutes before the home side extended their lead with six minutes to go when Fisher was on hand to tap home at the far post after Spennymoor broke quickly from their own half.
Hednesford did manage to claw another goal back in the second minute of stoppage time when Mukendi headed home for the second time but it wasn’t to be enough to earn the visitors any points from the game.
Spennymoor Town: Lowson, Griffiths, Watson, Ramshaw, Tait, Curtis, Mitchell, Henry, Taylor (Armstrong 85), Fisher, Anderson (Johnson 77)
Subs not used: Mason, Dawson, Rafferty.
Hednesford Town: Ransome, Haynes, Wildin, McNaught, Brenan, Caines, McDermott (Cartwright 83), Forsyth, Clarke (Mukendi 46), Sheldon (Weir-Daley 46), Matthews
Subs not used: Rowley, Glover
Attendance: 519
Star Man: Vinny Mukendi
Entertainment Rating: Three Stars
