The Pitmen delivered a late show against a stubborn resistance from the visitors Worcester Raiders at Keys Park to progress to the next round of the Emirates FA Cup. A quick start from Hednesford saw three blocked shots in the opening minute and a claim for a penalty waved away by the referee. A controversial moment came in the fifth minute when the otherwise impressive Raiders’ keeper Charlie Emery came out of his goal and wiped out Rob Stevenson, with the referee opting to only show a yellow card. Kory Roberts went close from a corner, before skipper Elliot Johnson just failed to make connection with a cross from Dan Sparkes, while Emery was at hand to make a double save from first Stevenson and then from Dominic McHale. Another good shout for a penalty to the Pitmen was dismissed, as the home side were dominant. During the first period the Pitmen were guilty of perhaps trying to walk the ball into the net as the half ended goalless.
HT 0-0
In the second half most of the attacking play came from Hednesford, who despite their superior possession were finding it increasingly difficult to produce a killer final ball as Worcester gave a good account of themselves in defence. Dan Trickett-Smith went close on a couple of occasions firstly seeing an effort tipped over by Emery before shooting inches wide of the upright. The game turned in the 84th minute when a disgraceful foul from Jordan Murphy on Jack Bearne earned the Raiders’ skipper a straight red card. The breakthrough came in the 88th minute when a deflected shot from McHale finally beat Emery to give the Pitmen a hard earned victory.
Hednesford Town; Brown, Rowe, Sparkes, Johnson, Roberts, Holness, Trickett-Smith (Spence 75), Alamu-Tajudeen (Bearne 75), Stevenson (Duku 75), McHale (Taylor 88), Sutherland (Jervis 63). Subs not used; Barnes-Homer, Rose.
Worcester Raiders; Emery, Ferron, Dyde, Noke, Wood (Whitton 25), Hill, Olaloko (Deards 82), Cresswell, Murphy, Cottrill, Sanogo (Okora 69). Subs not used; Taylor Bradley, Moran, Clay.
Attendance; 788
