Hednesford Town ended their run of poor results with a victory at Ashton United which, had they taken their chances, would have been even more convincing.
Hurst Cross has never been a happy hunting ground for The Pitmen, their last league win there coming back in 2011.
Ashton started the game on the front foot, Pilkington seeing a shot deflected for a corner but it was Hednesford who were to take the game to the home side, taking the lead on 15 minutes when a loose ball out of the home side’s defence was picked up by Danny Glover who found James Lawrie with the ex Altrincham man firing home.
After this it was The Pitmen who dominated the first half, Mbunga seeing a shot saved as was Glover’s follow up. A few minutes later Mbunga made a great run from the half way line, his pass finding Glover who was tackled, with his appeals for a penalty waved away.
Soon after, Lawrie’s corner was headed in by Ben Bailey but disallowed for a foul by Jimmy Mutton which looked harsh to say the least and on 39 minutes Glover’s header from Tom Thorley’s cross was just wide.
Two minutes later, a poor kick out by the Ashton keeper was collected by Mbunga who played in Lawrie only for him to shoot just wide of the far post.
As the half time whistle sounded, Ashton were lucky to go in just one goal behind, with their back four having no answer to Mbunga’s runs.
HT: 0-1
The second half was a more even affair but Mbunga was still causing the home defence problems, a poor touch giving the Ashton keeper a chance to save at his feet.
On 54 minutes James Wren was called upon to keep his side in front before Rob Smith made a substitution, Joe Fitzpatrick replacing Mbunga. Fitzpatrick was soon into the action, his run and pass finding Alex Melbourne, whose first time ball was flicked just wide by Lawrie.
Soon after Hednesford scored a well deserved second, the impressive Sam Oji heading in Tom Thorley’s cross. Shortly after The Pitmen should have had a third when Glover headed wide from Tyler Weir’s cross. Thorley was also denied by a great last gasp tackle by Aaron Chalmers who injured himself in the process and was replaced by Simon Woodford.
In injury time Liam Tomsett grabbed a late consolation for Ashton but Hednesford saw out the remaining few minutes to collect all three points.
Hednesford Town: James Wren, Alex Melbourne, Tyler Weir, Ben Bailey, Jimmy Mutton, Sam Oji, Reece King, Tom Thorley (Capt), Danny Glover, Edjidja Mbunga, James Lawrie.
Subs : Tyler Lyttle, Richard Platt, Jose Veiga, Joe Fitzpatrick (for Mbunga).
Ashton United: Povey, Olapede (Banim), Smalley, Granite, Chalmers (Woodford), Platt, Lees, Tomsett, Johnson, Pilkington (Durnin), Chadwick.
Subs: (not used): Roberts
Men of the Match: Ben Bailey / Sam Oji
Attendance: 154
