Following a week of highs and lows, the Pitmen travelled to The War Memorial Stadium to face a strong Stourbridge side. Manager Neil Tooth made four changes to the eleven that started in the weekend’s defeat at Boston Town. Wren, Oji and Rodgers all returned to the side with new signing Tyler Lyttle making his debut at right back.
The home side made a strong start and put the Pitmen under early pressure with a series of corners and free kicks delivering dangerous balls into the area. Matt Dodd, on his return to Stourbridge, was a constant threat with Oji earning an early booking for abruptly ending one of his trademark runs. Hednesford worked hard to keep the score level with some last ditch defending on the goal line and the timely block from Melbourne of a goal bound shot from Dodd.
The inevitable goal came in the 32nd minute when Kris Taylor was robbed of possession with Jordan Archer’s strike beating James Wren and going in off the post.
Ryan Rowe put the ball in the net following another long free kick, only for the goal to be disallowed due to the linesman’s flag.
HT 1-0
The second half followed a similar pattern with Hednesford struggling to get a foothold in the game with Luke Rodgers isolated up front and having to come much deeper to get involved. On the hour Taylor and Lawrie made way for Nadat and Palmer in a bid to get back into the game.
The second goal came from yet another Stourbridge corner in the 62nd minute when Ryan Rowe was able to turn a firm Duggan header into the net.
A shot from Nadat and a decent shout for a penalty when Green went down in the area following a robust challenge were Hednesford’s only genuine chances in the second half as Stourbridge continued to control the game.
James Wren kept the score line down making a superb save acrobatically scooping away a shot which looked destined for the top left corner of the goal. The evening’s frustration was summed up by a late booking for Lewis Wright following a lunge at Dodd.
Stourbridge: Gould, Chrisophorou, Westlake, McCone (C), Duggan, Forde, Dodd, Broadhurst, Archer, Rowe (Hague), J Green (O’Callaghan )
Subs not used: Pierpoint, Cooke, Canavan
Pitmen: Wren, Wright, Melbourne, Taylor (Palmer), Mutton, Oji, Lyttle, Thorley (C), Rodgers, Lawrie (Nadat), D Green (Glover)
Subs not used: Bailey, Veiga
Bookings: Oji, Wright (Hednesford)
Attendance: 683
