There was further disappointment at Keys Park as Coalville Town handed the Pitmen a comprehensive beating. Andy Wycherley pulled out of the game with a recurring injury during the warm-up meaning that Jose Veiga continued in goal for Hednesford.
It was a familiar pattern once the game kicked off with the Pitmen having the bulk of possession without creating any clear-cut chances. In the 20th minute, somewhat against the run of play, Luke Shaw opened the scoring for the visitors with a low drive from the left of the area. The goal provided a turning point for the Ravens who largely dominated the rest of the game. Joe Doyle-Charles saw an effort go wide of the post before Tim Berridge doubled Coalville’s lead with a wonder strike in the 34th minute. The Pitmen rallied in the closing minutes of the half without finding the net.
HT 0-2
An early goal from the Pitmen may have made a contest of the second half and there was some hope when Saul Deeney tipped over Dan Sweeney’s effort after the re-start; however, the all-important goal went the other way. When Jose Veiga made a great save in the 50th minute from Luke Shaw, Billy Kee was on hand to tuck away the rebound and put the game out of the Pitmen’s reach. Although the Pitmen toiled to get a consolation goal, in reality it was Coalville who came closest to adding to the score line.
Pitmen; Veiga, Griffiths, Lycett, Bailey, Mendez-Jones, Smith (Sweeney 46), Cater, Hallahan, Thompson, Dodds (Woakes 68), Turner. Subs not used; Dawes, Preston, Campbell-Gordon.
Coalville Town; Deeney, Thomas, Taylor, Eggleston, Robertson, Towers (Ogunmekan 87), Shaw (Dean 83), Doyle-Charles, Berridge (Smith 72), Kee, McGlinchey. Subs not; Bowles, Pierpoint.
Attendance 311
