Following on quickly from their recent cup successes, The Pitmen returned to Evo-Stik Premier League action at Keys Park on Tuesday evening against fifth placed Grantham Town.
Manager Rob Smith was able to recall midfielder Reece King who was unavailable against Mickleover Sports in the FA Trophy, as well as handing a start to Danny Glover with Joey Butlin and Adriel George making way.
Following an uneventful opening spell, Hednesford began to put together a good spell of possession. Darren Campion found himself in yards of space following a long ball out of defence, but his attempted chip was comfortably gathered by Kieran Preston in the Grantham goal.
The opening goal came against the run of play in the 22nd minute when a corner from the left was headed back across goal by Danny Meadows at the far post with the unfortunate Reece King turning the ball into his own net.
Lee Shaw fired into the roof of the net to add a second goal six minutes later when the Gingerbreads broke quickly following a Hednesford corner.
Injured Grantham skipper Stefan Galinski was replaced by Matt Baker, while Steele replaced Oji in a tactical reshuffle for the Pitmen.
HT: 0-2
The second half began with Hednesford in the ascendancy and putting the Grantham defence under pressure.
In the 55th minute a long throw from Bailey on the left found Chekaine Steele who was able to reduce the deficit by sliding the ball home at the far post.
Half time substitute James Lawrie added some trickery and invention to the Pitmen attack and saw an audacious lob from the half way line drift wide of the post with Kieran Preston off his line.
Against the run of play the Gingerbreads made the decisive move when Meadows’ cross was chested down by Hempenstall for Shaw to guide home his second of the night.
It took a late save from James Wren to keep the score down and deny Shaw his hat trick.
Hednesford Town: Wren, Melbourne, Campion, Bailey, Mutton, Oji (Steele 40), Fitzpatrick (Lawrie 46) Thorley, Glover, Graham, King
Subs not used: Butlin, Fitzgibbon, George
Grantham Town: Preston, Potts, Luto, Lewis, Galinski (Baker 38), Hollingsworth, Meadows, Wright (Curtis 90), Hempenstall, Shaw, Burrows (Thompson 85)
Subs not used: McMenemy, Dasalou
Attendance: 299
