Hednesford Town travelled to Leicestershire to face early season pace setters Coalville Town. The Pitmen were still looking for their first win of the season, while the hosts had lost their last two league games. A week of new arrivals at Keys Park saw Neal Tooth return as Steve Burr’s assistant, while on the playing side Adam Livingstone joined from Stafford Rangers alongside former fan favourite Chris Clements.
Five minutes into the game Leroy Lita scored an excellent goal turning 180 degrees on the edge of the area before driving his shot past Paul White. Todd Parker was floored by a rogue tackle from Connor Smith resulting in a yellow card for the Raven’s midfielder. Smith then shot just over the crossbar going close to tying the score. However, a defence splitting goal kick from Tiernan Brooks found Riley O’Sullivan, who took the ball to the byline and delivered an excellent cross from the left for Lita to finish with a far post header and double the Pitmen’s lead. Sadly O’Sullivan was substituted after getting injured in a challenge with Joe Doyle-Charles. Hednesford took a well deserved two goal lead into the break, looking very solid at the back and with a newly found cutting edge up front.
HT 0-2
Coalville Town made what turned out to be a game changing tactical change at half time, with Andi Thanoj and the experienced Billy Kee replacing Smith and debutant Orrin Pendley. The change in personnel led to a new formation of three at the back and up front. Initially the Pitmen coped with the second half change ,Joe Cuff weaved through the Coalville defence but was unable to land a shot on goal, after being crowded out. A great save from Tiernan Brooks with his legs kept the home home side out. However from the same series of corners Doyle-Charles was able to bundle the ball into Hednesford net. Martin Riley fouled Billy Kee allowing Coalville to equalise in the 81st minute through a brilliantly struck freekick from Andi Thanoj. Minutes later Tim Berridge scored the winning goal for the Ravens with a diving header destroying Hednesford’s promising first half.
Coalville Town; White, Eggleton, Putman, Pendley (Thanoj 46), Robertson, Smith (Kee 46), Shaw, Doyle-Charles, Berridge, Chambers, McGlinchey. Subs not used, Laban, Wilson, Taylor
Hednesford Town; Brooks, Ison, Portman (Birch 92), Bailey, Riley, Clements, Cuff, Parker (Bennett 80), Lita, O’Sullivan (Ebbutt 23), Livingstone. Subs not used; Wilding, Clayton
Report by Oli Chamberlain
