Glover’s brace puts the Pitmen through to Cup Final –
The Pitmen faced a youthful Stoke City side in the first of a trio of semi-finals, hoping to book a place in the Staffordshire Senior Cup Final.
A frenetic opening from both sides saw Stoke almost open the scoring in the first minute with Jordan Greenidge forcing a smart low save from James Wren in the Pitmen goal. Ryan Hill was next to go close to breaking the deadlock when his effort clipped the crossbar.
However, it would be Hednesford who took the lead in the 14th minute when Danny Glover fired home at the far post from James Lawrie’s corner.
Despite having the advantage the Pitmen lived dangerously against an enterprising Stoke side, with a smart move finding Greenidge on the left who was denied by the woodwork.
Both teams continued to threaten in an entertaining first half, with Bursik denying Glover the opportunity to extend the lead before the break following some neat work from Joe Fitzpatrick.
HT 1-0
The second half began in a similar vein to the first with Stoke’s pace and precise passing asking questions of the home side. Half-time substitute Jarvis sent a dangerous ball across the Pitmen area which evaded his teammates. In the 59th minute a Pemberton cross came back off the crossbar to make it a hat trick of near misses for the visitors.
The Pitmen defended resolutely and played some intelligent football when in possession of the ball. A run and cross on the right wing from Tom Thorley gave Glover the chance to extend the lead but his headed effort drifted wide of the post.
From a Hednesford corner referee Mr Yates judged that Callam Mendez-Jones was brought down by the unfortunate Greenidge and awarded a penalty. Danny Glover claimed his brace from the spot with a crisp finish low to the right of Josef Bursik in the 79th minute to send the Pitmen through to the Final at the Bet365 Stadium.
Hednesford Town : Wren, Thorley, Campion (Gatter 67), Bailey, Mendez-Jones, King, Rea, Fitzpatrick, Glover (Butlin 82), Lawrie, Fitzgibbon (Dwyer 57)
Subs : Oji, Veiga
Stoke City : Bursik, Pemberton, McJannet, Da Silva (Ayoola 58), Forrester (Niakate 77), Collins, Hill, Shenton, Greenidge, Twyford, Szereto (Jarvis 46)
Subs : Wara, Allen.
Attendance : 257
