Woodwork and Lady Luck Deny Pitmen Victory

A fiercely fought game saw both sides draw blanks with Hednesford Town hitting the woodwork on two occasions, as the ball just wouldn’t go in for Bernard McNally’s side.

A hard, bouncy pitch was not conducive to passing football and, as a result, the game was played mostly in the air with the impressive defensive back three of Ben Bailey, Cheyenne Dunkley and Liam Francis dominating for The Pitmen.

In a cagey opening half hour it was Francis who had the best chance, stabbing wide as a stooping header by Tyrone Barnett squirmed from the grasp of Matt Bulman.

Hednesford tested Bulman again on fifty-five minutes when Ross Dyer picked up a Barnett flick-on and stretched but could only direct his shot at the goalkeeper.

Eight minutes later the referee ruled out a Dyer goal after he was ajudged to have fouled Bulman in the process of slotting the ball in; a decision met with howls of derision from the angry travelling Pitmen supporters.

Within a minute of the decision Swindon broke with the best move of the game and, as they attacked with pace, Sam Morris scooped over the bar under pressure.

As the clock ticked onto eighty-five minutes and the home side looked to have earned a good point Hednesford turned the screw and with a slice of luck would no doubt have scored a winner in the dying embers of the game.

First, Adam McGurk headed against the cross bar and Francis headed the resulting corner over the top and two minutes later Swindon’s woodwork led a charmed life as a Ben Bailey throw was flicked on and,after Bulman parried the ball up in the air, the ball looped onto the bar and safely away.

On another day Hednesford would have nicked all three points but only their second draw since McNally took over ramps yet more pressure onto Saturday’s clash with fellow playoff rivals Chippenham Town.

Hednesford Town

Brock, Platt, Wood, Bailey, Francis, Dunkley, Proffitt, Barnett, Dyer, McGurk,

Subs Not Used

Gibson, Clements, Martin, Chapman,

Swindon Supermarine

Bulman, Lapham, D. Allen, C. Allen, Hobbs, Hogan, Cook, Morris, Hopper, Taylor ©, Stanley,

Subs Not Used

Robinson, Bampton, Collier,

Bookings – Craddock, Dyer, Stanley,

Star Man – Ben Bailey

Attendance – 131