Hednesford Town fell to an unexpected heavy defeat to Bromsgrove Sporting, under the floodlights at the Victoria Ground in the BetVictor Premier Central. Sat at the top of the league table, The Pitmen were full of confidence going into the game against the 14th placed Rouslers, but were undone by a below par second half performance.

Tom Elliott had already hit the bar before the hosts took the lead in the 19th minute when Kieran Westwood’s low shot from the right of the area beat Daniel Platt. The Pitmen dominated possession during the remainder of the half and looked to have equalised through Elliott, only to be denied by an offside decision.

HT 1-0

Enoch Andoh conceded a penalty early in the second half with Bromsgrove goalkeeper Tony Breedon stepping up to take the spot kick. Platt made a good save low to his left to keep the Pitmen in the game. A skirmish following the penalty save, saw the referee consult with his assistant before summoning over James Hurst who had been booked in the first half. Hurst remained on the pitch and it began to look like the Pitmen might get something out of the game.

However the hope was short lived as Nathan Hayward got on the end of a long cross and doubled the home side’s lead with an unstoppable strike from the middle of the box. Michael Taylor added a third with another well taken strike from the right as the tide turned empathically against The Pitmen.

Breedon made saves from Tom Fry and Danny Glover before Bromsgrove substitute Richard Gregory’s low  shot from the edge of the area found the back of the net to round off a miserable evening for The Pitmen.

Bromsgrove Sporting; Breedon (c), Westwood, Wilson, Hayward, T Taylor, Lincoln, Mills, Quaynor, McDonald (Gregory 68), M Taylor (Dowd 84), Shorrock. Subs not used; Rankin, Brown, Broadhurst.

Hednesford Town; Platt, Curley, Griffiths, Bailey (c), Morris, Hurst, Hodge (Scott 57), King, Glover, Elliott (Fry 72), Andoh (Wells 57). Subs not used; Brown, Gatter.

Attendance; 845