Despite relegation the Pitmen continued their good recent home form and ended the season at Keys Park on a high with a convincing win over Needham Market.

A couple of early Pitmen corners and a close effort from Jordan Graham which went narrowly over the bar were perhaps a warning of what was to come from Hednesford Town. Graham got his first goal of the evening in the 23rd with a sharp turn and finish from close range following a goalmouth scramble caused by a long throw-in. The Marketmen replied with two corners which the Pitmen defence comfortably dealt with, before Fenton Heard headed wide from Danny Glover’s cross. An eventful 5 minutes before the half time break saw Hednesford extend their lead, firstly Graham doubled his tally with a thunderous shot from the left side of the penalty area. In the 45th minute the lively Jack Sang put a precision cross into the visitor’s area, allowing captain for the game, Todd Parker to blast home from five yards.

HT 3-0

The second half was a comfortable affair for the Pitmen, Heard went close to scoring a fourth before he turned provider for Danny Glover who forced a fine save from Luke Garnham. A minute later the Pitmen grabbed their fourth goal when a long cross into the box was met by Ethan Patterson who forced the ball home at the far post. Despite a series of corners from the Marketmen, there was no real threat to Rhys Williams’ goal, who had replaced Oli Basey for the closing stages of the game. The Pitmen signed off the home 2022/23 in style in front of an appreciative crowd at Keys Park.

Hednesford Town; Basey (Williams 77), Hartley, Portman, McQuilkin, Kaninda, Patterson, Heard (Agustein 67), Parker, Glover, Graham (Spencer 73), Sang. Sub not used Asomugha

Needham Market; Garnham, Lay, Fraser, Crossthwaite, Chambers, Cullum, Ingram, Williams (Igwebuike 67), Brown, Clark, Page (Morphew 46). Sub not used Hammond