Hednesford Town were looking to start turning good performances into wins going into a run of home games starting with Royston Town.

The Pitmen made a strong start with Todd Parker and Ryan Nesbitt having shots saved from the same corner. Nesbitt was again denied when Dimitrios Kyriatzis tipped the ball over the cross bar. The industrious Nesbitt won a corner which was headed in at the near post by Ben Bailey in the 12th minute to give the Pitmen a deserved lead. Leroy Lita nearly added to the score minutes later shooting just over the goal. The Pitmen kept knocking on the door for a second goal, with Kyle Bennett and Joe Cuff both going close. A needless shirt pull from Royston’s Daniel Newton gifted the Pitmen a free-kick just outside the area. Joe Cuff sent a low free-kick around the wall and into the net doubling the home sides advantage. An excellent run from Cuff followed, covering almost the length of the pitch and beating numerous. A third goal before half time would have surely killed the game off, however Cuff elected to shoot instead of playing a simple pass to an unmarked Nesbitt, allowing Kyriatzis to make a save.

There was a quick exchange of goals at the start of the second half. Firstly Adam Murray, playing up front after a half time reshuffle, pulled one back for the visitors from close range. Minutes later the Pitmen struck back with a thunderous finish from Chris Clements. In the 73rd minute Royston substitute Jarid Robson reduced the deficit for the visitors to set up a grand stand finish. The Pitmen were left to rue their inability to see off the game when they were cruising at 3-1. During a nervy finish Robson poked home a deflected shot, to give him his second goal and the visitors an unlikely share of the points.

Hednesford Town; Brooks, Ison, Hartley (Cuff 21) Bailey, Lowe, Clements, Nesbitt, Parker, Lita (Anaebonam 46) Bennett (Rowe 82) Livingstone. Subs not used; Ibrahim, Clayton

Royston Town; Kyriatzis, Dasilva (Robson 46), Nakatani-Brown, Mentis, Murray, Newton, Osei-Bonsu (Keane 46), Bell-Toxtle, Bateman (Harness 64) Tshikuna, Furlong. Subs not used; Williams, Bustamante