It’s just six weeks since Chasetown visited Keys Park to play Hednesford Town in a Northern Premier League West game but on Saturday 21st September they return, this time for an Isuzu FA Trophy Second Qualifying Round game.
The first meeting this season between the two clubs ended all square at 1-1, Jack Langston equalising for Chasetown after skipper Elliott Johnson had given Hednesford the lead. The league’s highest attendance of the season, 2,620 watched the game.
Both teams navigated difficult games in the First Qualifying Round of the competition. The Pitmen beat Quorn 4-1 at Keys Park in front of 1,014 fans, Jack Bearne (2), Jake Jervis and Dom McHale scoring and The Scholars beat Grimsby Borough 3-2 on penalties after the game ended 2-2 at the end of 90 minutes. Kieron Fenton and Luke Yates found the net while 121 people watched.
Hednesford’s leading scorer this season is Manny Duku with eight goals, however six of these have come in the FA Cup and two in the league so he is yet to get off the mark in the FA Trophy. Jack Langston is Chasetown’s top marksman, and he has scored six times, all in the league which makes him the leading scorer in the Division alongside Congleton’s Max McCarthy.
Following the midweek games Hednesford dropped to eighth in the league table following wins for Kidsgrove Athletic, Avro and Widnes while Chasetown remained in 12th spot after their game against Newcastle Town was postponed as their opponents had an FA Cup replay at Scunthorpe.
Dom McHale left the field early in the second half on Tuesday with a recurrence of an injury but is expected to be fit with Josh Endall also available and Dan Sparkes nearing fitness.
Steve King is looking forward to the game and said, “I felt we didn’t do ourselves justice in the Bank Holiday game, but it was a fair result, so we look forward to Saturday’s game”.
Usual admission prices apply on Saturday, £11 adults, £8 concessions and disabled with carer, £3 13-17, £3 10-12 accompanied by an adult, free for U10s is accompanied by an adult. Parking is £3 cash only although matchday tickets and parking can be booked in advance via the Fanbase app. Gates open at 12.30pm for a 3pm kick off. Remember, season tickets are not valid for this game.
If the game ends in a draw after 90 minutes the game will be decided by a penalty shootout.
