A 2-2 draw in the Emirates FA Cup at Rugby set up a Tuesday night replay under the floodlights at Keys Park. The Pitmen were in determined form and dominated the game from the off. Joel Taylor was able to find space down the wing and deliver some dangerous crosses, one of which found Jake Jervis who forced a good save from Paul Hathaway. Dominic McHale went close with a shot from long distance, before skipper Elliot Johnson swept home from six yards in the 24th minute to give the Pitmen a deserved lead. The search for a second goal saw Jervis find the net only to be denied by the linesman’s flag, while a great run and shot from Jack Bearne was saved by Hathaway. In the 44th minute Jervis got on the end of a superb ball from Dan Trickett-Smith and produced a fantastic finish but was once again judged to be offside.
HT 1-0
Six minutes into the second half, Manny Duku waltzed through the Rugby Town defence and rounded the keeper before doubling the Pitmen’s lead from a tight angle. The Pitmen continued to control the game and played some scintillating attacking football, it was no surprise that a third goal came in the 62nd minute when Duku claimed his brace, heading home after a goalmouth scramble. Rugby struggled to offer much going forward, with the Hednesford defence confidently dealing with any attacking threat and the home side enjoying the majority of possession. Two substitutes combined for the Pitmen’s fourth goal, Abdulrasaq Alamu-Tajudeen provided a cross from the right hand side which found Rob Stevenson who fired the ball into the net from inside the area. A lapse in concentration from Hednesford allowed Michael Taylor to bustle his way through the defence and score a late consolation goal for Rugby Town. However, a convincing display from the Pitmen saw them go through to the Third Qualifying Round with a tie away from home at Shifnal Town.
Hednesford Town; Rose, Rowe, Taylor, Johnson, Roberts, Maye, Jervis (Alamu-Tajudeen 80), Trickett-Smith (Stevenson 67), Duku (Gwilt 68), McHale (Spence 53), Bearne (Sutherland 65). Subs not used; Brown, Holness.
Rugby Town; Hathaway, Summerfield, Ahenkorah, Francis, McGrath, Sahota (Fitzharris 71), Arthur, O’Toole (Clements 90), Taylor, Charles (Tucker 90), Nee. Subs not used; Semahimbo, Osoimoejiokhian, Mensah.
