On Saturday 13th January Hednesford make the relatively short trip to Kidsgrove Athletic for their latest Northern Premier League West Division game. The teams met at Keys Park on the 23rd of August last year with Kidsgrove coming away with the points in a five-goal thriller. Max Dixon had opened the scoring for Hednesford and Josh Thorpe equalised just before half time. Rivel Mardenborough put The Pitmen ahead again early in the second half before Joe Wooley levelled the scores in the 71 st minute. Substitute Aaron Bott scored the winner late on for the visitors.
At the time Kidsgrove were top of the league table but have since slipped out of the play-off places to 8th with 32 points from 22 games. The current form table sees them in 16th spot with six points from six games compared to Hednesford’s 11 from six which sees them in fifth place. After winning their first four home league games of the season, Kidsgrove haven’t recorded a victory there since, drawing two and losing four, the last being a 0-5 local derby defeat to Leek on New Year’s Day. Their leading scorer is Aaron Bott who has eight goals, four in the league and four in the FA Trophy, all against Gresley Rovers and he is followed by Joe Wooley and Josh Thorpe with six each. Competition up front was increased recently by the return of Anthony Malbon who is the club’s all-time leading scorer. He scored 159 goals for Kidsgrove before spells at Hanley, Eccleshall and Stafford Town. Since coming back, he has made seven league appearances plus another three as sub, scoring against Mossley and Trafford.
Hednesford’s injury list shows little sign of improving with just Tom Thorley possibly being available after suffering a bruised shin bone and rolled ankle against Chasetown. New signing Hayden Reeves along with James Carvell both have pulled hamstrings while Sam Griffiths is waiting for a scan. Daniel Gyasi has a torn anterior quad/thigh muscle and is likely to be out for six weeks. Lucas Yeomans’ torn medial meniscus in his knee sees him eight weeks away from returning but on a brighter note, Sam Paddock is back in light training following his broken tibia.
Kidsgrove Athletic play at the Autonet Insurance Stadium, Hollinwood Road, Kidsgrove, Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire ST7 1DQ which is in the Clough Hall area of the town. The bar at the ground will open at 1.30pm for a 3pm kick off and admission is £10 adults, £6 concessions, £2 children.
