Match Reports – Hednesford Town Football Club

Hednesford Town 5-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds

David Chamberlain — Fri, 07 Oct 2022 08:30:03 +0000

Hednesford Town were still looking for their first win of the season as they faced AFC Rushden & Diamonds at Keys Park. It looked like first blood had gone to the Pitmen when Leroy Lita rounded Dean Snedker, putting the ball into the visitors net, only to be denied by the assistant referee’s flag. A Diamond’s corner was headed clear by debutant Keith Lowe allowing Todd Parker to break down the length of the pitch, an excellent defensive tackle halted the midfielder’s progress. The Pitmen took a deserved lead in the 25th minute when a quick free kick from Lita, allowed Adam Livingtone to provide a cross, Kyle Bennett collected a poor clearance and curled a shot around the stranded Diamonds keeper. Before the break Joe Cuff bent a free kick around the wall and inches wide of the post before Snedker got the better of Lita in a one on one. Cuff went close again driving his shot over the crossbar as the Pitmen tried to capitalise further on their dominance.

HT 1-0

An explosive start to the second half, after Tiernan Brook’s split the visiting defence with a direct goal kick, Ryan Nesbitt doubled the Pitmen lead with a well taken solo effort . A good team move from Hednesford with Lita and Nesbitt combining created a chance for Parker which was saved by Snedker. Nesbitt set up his strike partner for a tap in at the far post but Lita was offside. The busy Snedker continued to keep the score down saving again from Lita. Diamonds created a couple of chances with a dangerous cross skimming of the head of Nehemiah Richard-Noel and Brooks made a comfortable save from Miguel Ngwa. A four minute hat trick from veteran Leroy Lita in the last 10 minutes settled the game; Lita‘s first, a left footed strike, came from another Brook’s goal kick and some woeful defending. Two minutes later Cuff flicked on Brook’s kick to Lita who drove home from the left of the area. To round off a wretched afternoon for the visitors Lita hammered home his third goal from distance with Livingstone providing the assist. The late flurry of goals not only highlighted the Pitmens’ dominance of the game but gave them a long awaited and well deserved 5-0 win.

Hednesford Town; Brooks, Ison, Portman, Clements (Wilding 67), Lowe, Parker, Cuff (Nabi 87), Bennett, Lita, Nesbitt (McQuilkin 67), Livingstone. Subs not used; Bailey, Clayton

AFC Rushden & Diamonds; Snedker, Bunga, Hughes, Fossen, Akubuine, Richard-Noel (Cooper 88), Hicks, Agemoh-Davies (Worsfold-Gregg 67), Tee, Ngwa, Hines (Connor 67). Subs not used; Pinto-Leite

Report by Oli Chamberlain

Coalville Town 3-2 Hednesford Town

David Chamberlain — Sun, 25 Sep 2022 09:33:11 +0000

Hednesford Town travelled to Leicestershire to face early season pace setters Coalville Town. The Pitmen were still looking for their first win of the season, while the hosts had lost their last two league games. A week of new arrivals at Keys Park saw Neal Tooth return as Steve Burr’s assistant, while on the playing side Adam Livingstone joined from Stafford Rangers alongside former fan favourite Chris Clements.

Five minutes into the game Leroy Lita scored an excellent goal turning 180 degrees on the edge of the area before driving his shot past Paul White. Todd Parker was floored by a rogue tackle from Connor Smith resulting in a yellow card for the Raven’s midfielder. Smith then shot just over the crossbar going close to tying the score. However, a defence splitting goal kick from Tiernan Brooks found Riley O’Sullivan, who took the ball to the byline and delivered an excellent cross from the left for Lita to finish with a far post header and double the Pitmen’s lead. Sadly O’Sullivan was substituted after getting injured in a challenge with Joe Doyle-Charles. Hednesford took a well deserved two goal lead into the break, looking very solid at the back and with a newly found cutting edge up front.

HT 0-2

Coalville Town made what turned out to be a game changing tactical change at half time, with Andi Thanoj and the experienced Billy Kee replacing Smith and debutant Orrin Pendley. The change in personnel led to a new formation of three at the back and up front. Initially the Pitmen coped with the second half change ,Joe Cuff weaved through the Coalville defence but was unable to land a shot on goal, after being crowded out. A great save from Tiernan Brooks with his legs kept the home home side out. However from the same series of corners Doyle-Charles was able to bundle the ball into Hednesford net. Martin Riley fouled Billy Kee allowing Coalville to equalise in the 81st minute through a brilliantly struck freekick from Andi Thanoj. Minutes later Tim Berridge scored the winning goal for the Ravens with a diving header destroying Hednesford’s promising first half.

Coalville Town; White, Eggleton, Putman, Pendley (Thanoj 46), Robertson, Smith (Kee 46), Shaw, Doyle-Charles, Berridge, Chambers, McGlinchey. Subs not used, Laban, Wilson, Taylor

Hednesford Town; Brooks, Ison, Portman (Birch 92), Bailey, Riley, Clements, Cuff, Parker (Bennett 80), Lita, O’Sullivan (Ebbutt 23), Livingstone. Subs not used; Wilding, Clayton

Report by Oli Chamberlain

Alvechurch 1-0 Hednesford Town

David Chamberlain — Sun, 18 Sep 2022 13:52:54 +0000

With Steve Burr newly installed as manager, Hednesford Town headed to Alvechurch in the Southern League Premier Central. The Pitmen were not only boosted by a new man in the technical area but also welcomed back Ben Bailey reclaiming his number four shirt at the heart of the defence, Mason Birch also made his debut in the right back spot.

The Pitmen made a strong start with Joe Cuff forcing an early save from Dan Jezeph in the home goal. A dream return for Ben Bailey was thwarted when his powerful strike was somehow kept out of the net due to a wonder save from Jezeph. Cuff continued to torment the home defence during the first period linking up dangerously with Leroy Lita on a number of occasions. Riley O’Sullivan’s shot was saved and Lita was flagged offside as the Pitmen were unable to convert their dominance into a goal. Inevitably the good work was undone two minutes before the half time break, when Jack Concannon broke down the left side and delivered a short cross to Ethan Sephton who finished from close range.

HT 1-0

The Pitmen pressed for an equaliser after the break, however the game turned on the hour mark. A wild challenge from Jamie Willets on Harvey Portman gave referee Luke Scott no option other than brandishing a red card at the Alvechurch skipper. Cuff forced another save from the impressive Jezeph as Alvechurch set up defensively to play out the remaining 30 minutes of the game with defender Ben Cassidy replacing the goal provider Concannon. Tireless running from the Alvechurch forwards Danny Waldron and Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton along with intelligent play from midfield allowed the home side to use the pitch effectively and run down the clock. A late freekick 25 yards from goal, taken by Cuff cleared the ground, in a clear sign that despite a much improved performance it was not going to be the Pitmen’s evening.

Alvechurch; Jezeph, Burton, Waldron, Edge, Abbey, Sephton, Williams (Ngbeken 37) , Willets, Carter, Concannon (Cassidy 60), Skeen-Hamilton (Olaloko 90+1). Subs not used; Texiera, Brown.

Hednesford Town; Brooks, Birch (Ebbutt 69), Portman (Riley 74), Bailey, Ison, Rowe, O’Sullivan, Parker, Lita, Bennett (Wilding 76), Cuff. Subs not used; Hirst, Clayton

Hednesford Town 1-3 Long Eaton United

David Chamberlain — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 20:01:37 +0000

Hednesford Town began their Emirates FA Cup campaign, with caretaker bosses Martin Riley and Leroy Lita hoping the game against Long Eaton United would kickstart the Pitmen’s faltering start to the season. Long Eaton had already played three times in the competition, dispatching Sherwood Colliery 3-0 in a replay, before knocking out Quorn 4-1 to reach the First Round Qualifying stage. Two new additions boosted the Pitmen squad in goalkeeper Tiernan Brooks and the returning Chay Tilt.

In the opening 10 minutes Hednesford’s promising start was ended by Long Eaton’s Jack Rogers when he found the net assisted by Reco Fyfe in the 8th minute. The Pitmen’s woes continued as Micah Jebbison finished a cross from wide on the left to double the visitors advantage, again with Fyfe providing the assist. Sam Wilson saved Leroy Lita’s header from Cameron Ebbutt’s cross as the Pitmen fought to get back into the game. Lita was wrestled to the ground in the Long Eaton box however the referee Joel Buckle failed to award a penalty. Wilson made a double save from Lita and then Lewis Hayden and just as the Pitmen looked like they might be able to get a goal back before the break Rogers scored for the visitors to give the Pitmen an up-hill task in the second half.

HT 0-3

Lita put the ball in the net early in the second half but was denied by the offside flag. The visitors were reduced to ten men when Tyreece Robinson was sent off for a foul on Riley O’Sullivan. Todd Parker had a shot saved by Wilson and Hayden had a shot deflected for a corner but the goal that the Pitmen desperately needed was not forthcoming until it was too late. Lita eventually scored a consolation goal heading home from a corner in the 89th minute.

Hednesford Town; Brooks, Hayden, Webb (Barnes 46, Rashad 81), Portman, Ison, Rowe, Ebbutt (Tilt 53), Parker, Lita, Bennett, O’Sullivan. Subs not used; Wilding, Williams.

Long Eaton United; Wilson, King (Wilson 30), Walker, McGuire, Graham, Robinson, Jebbison (Taylor 61), Gordon, Campbell (Hollis 81), Fyfe, Rogers. Subs not used; Marshall, Parker, Leivers.

Nuneaton Borough 2-1 Hednesford Town

David Chamberlain — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 14:42:03 +0000

The Pitmen travelled to in-form Nuneaton Borough with senior players Leroy Lita and Martin Riley in temporary charge following the resignation of Keenen Meakin-Richards and his management team after Saturday’s defeat against Bedford Town.

Hednesford Town made a good start to the game, pressing the home side hard and gaining the majority of the play in the opening ten minutes. The good work was undone in the 12th minute when an uncharacteristic mistake defensive error, allowed Tyrell Waite to run in on goal, Pitmen keeper Lewis Gwilliams brought Waite down on the edge of the box. Fortunately, Gwilliams was let off with a booking, however Jaden Charles stepped up to curl the freekick around the wall and into the net to give the home side a lead against the run of play.

The Pitmen equalised within three minutes, Harvey Portman intercepted a pass a Nuneaton pass out of defence, supplied Todd Parker who delivered a pass invitingly into the right of the box for Lita to apply a cool finish. The game settled into a good attacking encounter from both sides, marginally shaded by the Pitmen who were finding success with the defensive line high up the pitch, allowing them to pick up the majority of secondary balls and launch an attack. A turn and shot from Riley O’Sullivan, leaving two defenders in his wake, just before the break forced a superb point blank from Boro keeper Tony Breedon.

HT 1-1

The second half continued in the same manner with the Pitmen gaining a greater amount of possession and Nuneaton looking dangerous on the break. As the game reached the final ten minutes Nuneaton delivered a sucker punch which settled the encounter. A diagonal ball into the Pitmen area was collected by the otherwise quiet Mathew Stenson who produced an excellent finish. Hednesford looked like they had equalised when Breedon could only parry Luke Rowe’s driven shot, allowing Numair Rashad to tap in, however the substitute was denied his goal by a dubious offside decision. Moments later Ison’s header grazed the top of the crossbar as the game slipped away from the Pitmen. It was a much improved performance from Hednesford Town, after a difficult start to the season, that did not deserve to come away from the game empty handed.

Nuneaton Borough; Breedon, McWilliams, Charles, Osbourne, Magunda (Rowe-Turner 60), McManus, James (Benbow 65), Dowd (Richards 46), Stenson, Waite, Mancinelli. Subs not used; Master, Noble,

Hednesford Town; Gwilliams, Webb, Portman (Hayden 80), Cameron, Ison, Rowe (Wilding 86), Ebbutt (Rashad 60), Parker, Lita, Bennett, O’Sullivan. Subs not used; Riley, Morley

Nuneaton Borough V Hednesford Town

David Chamberlain — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 08:04:36 +0000

Hednesford Town make a rapid return to league action this afternoon with a difficult trip to take on high flying Nuneaton Borough in another Southern League Central Premier division encounter.

The Pitmen start a new era with experienced ex-football league professionals Leroy Lita and Martin Riley taking the team into the game after the resignation of Keenen Meakin-Richards and his management team on Saturday evening. The 1-2 home loss to Bedford Town had left the Pitmen second bottom of the embryonic league table and without a win in their first five league matches.

Nuneaton Borough struggled in the league last season and it looked at one point as though they may have got relegated but they ended the season in 16th place. This season has been a completely different story so far with four wins out of five leaving them second place in the table just a point behind leaders Coalville Town. Nuneaton lost their first game 3-2 away at Leiston in a match that contained four penalties and three red cards, but since then have reeled off 3-1 home wins against Royston Town and Barwell, and away wins against Basford United (4-0) and Redditch United (2-1). Their last game was on Saturday against Redditch and two goals in the last ten minutes earned them the three points. The 14 goals they have already scored this season have been scored by ten different players.

Nuneaton have retained a number of players from last season in goalkeeper Tony Breeden, centre back and captain Scott McManus, defenders Joe Magunda, Jaden Charles and Chukwuemeka Beejer, midfielders Charlie Dowd, Revarnelle James, Cameron McWilliams, Aaron Forde and Shaquille Master, and striker Luke Benbow. Leaving the club since the end of last season are top scorer Anthony Dwyer (Basford), Chris Clements (Stafford), Greg Kaziboni (St Ives), Louis Baker (AFC Telford) and Damien McCrory (Grantham).

The club have also signed some excellent players to add to an experienced squad and incomings over the summer are goalkeeper Liam Castle (Barwell), defenders Chris Cox and Lathaniel Rowe-Turner (Stourbridge), midfielders Ryan Beswick (Tamworth), Prince Mancinelli (Belper), Cain Noble (Shepshed) and Louis Malandjou (Stafford) and strikers Tyrell Waite (Tamworth), Matty Stenson (Halifax) and Kane Richards (Basford). Nuneaton are managed by the highly experienced Jimmy Ginnelly. He has been in charge since December 2018 after spending eight years at local and divisional rivals Barwell.

It should certainly be an interesting game this afternoon as Nuneaton look for a fifth straight win and the Pitmen start life under the caretaker management of Leroy Lita and Martin Riley.

Ground address: Nuneaton Borough FC, Liberty Way, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 6RR

Hednesford Town 1-2 Bedford Town

David Chamberlain — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 08:32:44 +0000

Bedford Town visited Keys Park hoping to make a vast improvement on last week’s 8-1 hammering at the hands of Tamworth. The Pitmen were still looking for their first win of the season following a 1-0 loss at Stratford Town. After five minutes Drew Richardson headed the ball into the net from an offside position for the visitors. A tame shot from Hugh Alban Jones rolled into Lewis Gwilliams’ hands as the Eagles showed early attacking intent. Riley O’Sullivan headed over from close range following a right-wing cross from Josh Webb in reply, after good build-up play from the Pitmen.

The visitors took the lead in the 27th minute when a shot from the left by Callum Donnelly found the corner of the net. Joe Cuff scuffed a shot on the turn that was easy enough for Alex Street to deal with. With half time fast approaching Joe Cuff beat two defenders on the edge of the box and fired home to equalise for the Pitmen. Tyrone Lewthwaite hit back with an almost immediate reply for Bedford to take the wind out of the home side’s sails. Alex Street lost the ball from a free kick but O’Sullivan blazed over from a tight angle before the break.

HT 1-2

The Pitmen came out early for the second half fired up, Kyle Bennett had a goal bound shot blocked from Lewis Hayden’s cross. Leroy Lita was just inches wide from scoring from Todd Parker’s pass, as the Pitmen battled to get back into the game. A free kick won by Lita and taken by Cuff deflected off the wall and was collected by Street. Lita headed over from a tantalising cross, before Bedford were able to clear their lines after a goalmouth scramble. Gwilliams made a good save from a freekick late on and despite the Pitmen’s dominance in the second half a goal was not forthcoming.

Sadly, this marked the last game under the management of Keenen Meakin-Richards, Graham Deakin and Jemiah Richards, following their post-match resignation. They leave with the thanks and appreciation of everyone at Hednesford Town for their commitment and work ethic, for their engagement with supporters and for the progress and stability they have established during their tenure.

Hednesford Town; Gwilliams, Webb, Manton (Hayden 46), Cameron, Ison, Wilding (Rashad 76), O’Sullivan (Rowe 63), Parker, Lita, Bennett, Cuff. Subs not used; Riley, Ebbutt.

Bedford Town; Street, Moloney, Warburton, Pennell, Richardson, Alban Jones, Donnelly (Setchell 71), Tomlinson, Lewthwaite (Granville 78), Brooks (Sanders 88), Butterworth. Subs not used; Keeble.

Report by Oli Chamberlain

Stratford Town 1-0 Hednesford Town

David Chamberlain — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 08:41:22 +0000

The Pitmen travelled to Stratford Town seeking their first win of the season. The Bards having an identical record of two draws and a defeat before the start of play. They were boosted by the debut of new signing, the vastly experienced Adam Rooney, while for the Pitmen Joe Cuff served the final match of his suspension and Josh Webb replaced Lewis Hayden.

The Pitmen dominated the opening spell of the first half as they did for many passages of the game without producing an end product. Despite a series of corners and free kicks the Pitmen were unable to break the deadlock. An early warning sign came in the 24th minute when Adam Rooney came within inches of connecting with a cross from Jamie Molyneux for the Bards.

Minutes later Riley O’Sullivan found Lita in the area, who appeared to be fouled although a penalty was not awarded. Rooney held the ball up well, laying a pass off to Molyneux, who squared for former Pitman Ash Sammons to lash the ball into the net on the half hour mark, the goal stood despite a hint of handball during the build up. William Dawes came close to adding to the score, when he fired over the bar on a breakaway attack.

HT 1-0

After the break O’Sullivan had a close range strike cleared off the line as the Pitmen fought to get back in the game. With Stratford happy to sit back, soak up pressure and hit on the break, the afternoon became a frustrating one for the Hednesford. Ultimately the possession did not translate into chances, Luke Rowe had a shot saved while Cameron Ebbutt and Kyle Bennett shot over the cross bar in stoppage time.

For the second season running Hednesford Town lost by a single goal at Knights Lane, scored by Sammons on each occasion.

Stratford Town; O’Brien, Turner, Endall, Sammons, McCone, O’Neill, Molyneux, Hawker, Rooney, Grocott, Dawes (Miles 79) Subs not used; Lafferty, Monaghan, Zito, Sanderson-Ellis.

Hednesford Town; Gwilliams, Webb, Portman (Manton 79), Cameron, Ison, Wilding (Rashad 73), Rowe, Parker, Lita (Ebbutt 62), O’Sullivan, Bennett. Subs not used; Riley, Williams.

Hednesford Town 0-0 Stourbridge

David Chamberlain — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:50:24 +0000

The Pitmen and the Glassboys renewed their rivalry under the floodlights at Keys Park in a hard fought stalemate. The visitors had the best of the opening twenty minutes in a physical and at times scrappy encounter, Rackeem Reid was regularly finding space on the left for Stourbridge, giving Lewis Hayden plenty to think about. Hayden was shown the first yellow card of the match after 19 minutes after bringing Reid down on a couple of occasions.

Leroy Lita was flagged offside after Kyle Bennett played him into the Stourbridge area, this seemed to be a turning point in the game after which the Pitmen were the better side. Glassboys’ skipper Lee Vaughan saw yellow for a foul on Sam Wilding. Moments later Vaughan was lucky to remain on the pitch, when he pulled Riley O’Sullivan to the ground. Bennett’s freekick was cleared for a corner from which a desperate goal line clearance frustrated the Pitmen, keeping the game goalless.

HT 0-0

During the interval, both managers had identical thoughts about the vulnerability of their booked right backs, with both Hayden and Vaughan replaced by Josh Webb and Chris Knight respectively. A strong start to the second half for the Pitmen saw the troublesome Reid earn a yellow card for a late challenge on Lewis Gwilliams, before the referee denied a penalty shout when Lita went down in the box. The Pitmen continued to press and most of the play was in the Stourbridge half, Lita found the net on 56 minutes but was thwarted by the offside flag.

One former Pitman replaced another as Reece Styche came on for Reece King just before the hour mark. The Pitmen stood up well to any attacking movement from Stourbridge, and continued to ask questions of the defensively minded visitors. A series of freekicks awarded to the Pitmen seemed like the best opportunity to grab the elusive winning goal, with both Lewis Ison and Nathan Cameron getting close to connecting with Bennett’s deliveries. A fine far post delivery from open play from Bennett was left unfinished as Lita and O’Sullivan hindered each other, in what was possibly the best chance of the match. As the game drew to a close Styche won a freekick on the edge of the box which went out for a corner, from which Styche executed an acrobatic overhead kick without connecting with the ball, allowing the Pitmen to clear their lines.

After the game Keenen Meakin-Richards commented; “It was a good physical game, not a lot of chances were created by either side. They dominated for the first 20 minutes, causing us problems with the diagonal balls and then after that is was us, particularly in the second half. We stopped them from playing and got into really good areas just lacking the end product. We take the positives from it we worked hard, were solid and the variety of our game was good, it is just about ensuring the details are right in the final third and we have too much quality in the squad for it not to shine through”.

Hednesford Town; Gwilliams, Hayden (Webb 46), Portman, Cameron, Ison, Wilding, Rowe, Parker, Lita, Bennett (Ebbutt 91), O’Sullivan. Subs not used; Rashad, Manton, Williams

Stourbridge; Price, Vaughan (Knight 46), Wilson, Gittings, Kettle, Hull, King (Styche 58), Moore, Cowley, Knights, Reid. Subs not used; Worley, Moran, Koita

Attendance 548

Mickleover 1-1 Hednesford Town

David Chamberlain — Sun, 14 Aug 2022 18:25:29 +0000

Hednesford Town made their first visit to Mickleover in four years on Saturday afternoon for their opening away game of the Southern League Premier Central season. The Pitmen with new signing Nathan Cameron making his debut looked to get off the mark following the opening day defeat at home to Redditch United, while Mickleover were hoping to build on their 2-2 draw at King’s Langley. John McGrath’s Mickleover side finished in 12th place last season in the Northern Premier League, before their close season lateral move into the central division.

Mickleover struck in the 2nd minute when Mason Warren picked up a loose throw from goalkeeper Lewis Gwilliams, setting up Stuart Beavon to strike home from the edge of the area. Soon after Andy Dales had a shot on Hednesford’s goal that was deflected for a corner. Lewis Hayden attempted to play the ball to Leroy Lita who appeared to be pushed to the ground, with the referee waving play on. Kyle Bennett sent a free kick to the far post, Nathan Cameron’s header was stopped by Mickleover keeper Johnathan Hedge. Elliott Reeves rounded Gwilliams but from a tight angle angle hit the side netting. Elliot Walker’s fierce tackle on Harvey Portman resulted in the first yellow card of the game. A Sports’ corner saw Gwilliams make a good save from James Butler just before half time.

HT 1-0

At the start of the second half Phil Watt became the second Mickleover player to recieve a yellow card for a shirt pull. The Pitmen improved vastly on their first half performance as they searched for an equaliser. Kyle Bennett hit the ball over the crossbar from 10 yards, and Nathan Cameron showed his danger at set pieces when he headed the ball just over from a freekick. Todd Parker’s defence splitting pass allowed Riley O’Sullivan weaved past Walker and threaded an inch perfect ball to Leroy Lita who duly equalised with a tap in on 69 minutes. In response Warren drilled a shot over the bar for Mickleover in the 91st minute Elliot Reeves narrowly missed with a header. A draw was a fair result in a hard fought encounter between two strong sides, on an incredibly hot day with temperatures reaching 34 degrees at pitch level.

After the game manager Keenen Meakin-Richards commented; “In two games this season we have played two good halves of football, the first against Redditch and the second half today. We have to make these spells when we are controlling the game last longer, be mentally strong and pay attention to details. Mickleover are a good strong side and will not lose many games at home this season.”

Mickleover; Hedge, Walker, Dolan (Chettle 65), Wilson, Butler, Watt, Bateman, Warren, Reeves, Beavon (Marshall 65), Dales (Fankwe 62). Subs not use Davidson-Miller, Mann

Hednesford Town; Gwilliams, Hayden, Portman, Cameron, Ison, Wilding, O’Sullivan (Manton 90), Parker, Lita, Bennett (Morley 84) Ebbutt (Rowe 60) Subs not used; Rashad, Williams

Report by Oli Chamberlain