Hednesford Town faced Stourbridge at Keys Park for the third encounter this season. The Pitmen won the first league encounter at the War Memorial Stadium with penalties from Courtney Richards and Andre Landell, before the Glassboys exacted revenge, dumping the home side out of the Birmingham Senior Cup in November.
Keenen Meakin-Richards made several changes to the Pitmen eleven, with new signing Leroy Lita making his debut, Yohann Zohore started for the first time, Harvey Portman was recalled in place of the injured Luke Ward and Josh Webb returned to the line up after a lengthy spell out through injury.
Each side had a good opportunity to take the lead in the opening 15 minutes, Riley O’Sullivan had an effort saved before former-Pitman Reece Styche headed wide. The home side took the lead on 18 minutes when Lita latched onto a weak header intended for the Glassboys’ keeper, rounding Price and clinically slotting the ball home. Stourbridge almost found a way back in five minutes later, this time Styche putting the ball wide from a freekick delivered by another former Hednesford player Ben O’Hanlon. With both sides looking dangerous an entertaining match was developing at Keys Park, Lita got behind the defence setting up Zohore whose shot was blocked, Styche had a penalty appeal dismissed by the referee before Stourbridge hit the woodwork. During added time before the break, the Pitmen were awarded a freekick on the edge of the area, Reece Flanagan delivered a pile driver of a freekick, which was worthy of a goal, when Price parried the ball Lita was alert to the situation heading the ball into the net to double the lead.
HT 2-0
Oliver Basey made a good save early in the second half as the Glassboys looked for a lifeline. The sucker-punch came on the hour mark, when Lita sprung the offside trap, ran at goal before smashing an unstoppable shot into the net to claim the match ball, completing his debut hat trick for the club. The third goal was decisive in a very open game with both sides creating chances, Glassboys substitute Cook scrambled the ball over the line from a corner in the 73rd minute for a consolation goal, O’Sullivan was booked for handling as the ball went in. However, the two goal cushion was more than enough for the Pitmen to control the game with some tactically wise substitutions and despite the referee adding six minutes to the end of the game, and take the three points that claimed the league double and took Hednesford above Stourbridge in the league table.
Hednesford Town; Basey, Hayden, Webb, Portman, Ison, Flanagan, O’Sullivan (Riley 81), Parker, Lita, Smith (Bennett 61), Zohore (Cater 55). Subs not used; Tilt, Williams.
Stourbridge; Price, Vaughan, Wilson, Hull, Rowe-Turner (Rowley 61), Forsyth, Knights, McQuilkin, Styche, Brown (Cook 37), O’Hanlon (Moran 61). Subs not used; Solly, Smith.
Attendance 519
