HEDNESFORD TOWN 2 WITTON ALBION 2
Team: Kennedy; Coo, Pritchard, Barras, Brownhill; Peers, Lloyd, Brown (Kearney 66), Morning (Evans 73; Warlow & Thornley. Sub n/u Brodie
Man of Match: Rod Thornley att. 554
With five minutes left on the clock Jon Kennedy looked to have done enough when he dived and pushed away a vicious Rory May cross from the left. Unfortunately the ball flew straight at Liam Brownhill who, aware that substitute Alan Nagington was lurking, saw the ball strike him and rebound into the net to give the Pitmen their first point against Albion at the fourth time of asking.
A much larger crowd than normal, boosted by yet another three figure travelling Wittoners, were at the New Cross Keys to witness this encounter and the away following were somewhat justified to be annoyed when in the 6th minute Rod Thornley had the ball in the net following Adam Warlow’s knock-on after Cavell Coo had played a great ball forward, at the worst Thornley looked level with the last defender but up went the assistant referee’s flag. On 12 minutes again a questionable decision as Albion were awarded a free-kick right on the edge of the area when even the home supporter nearest me though the offence was committed inside the box! The end result though was Mark Peers striking the ball over the wall with keeper Ben Scott getting the slightest of touches but the man in black awarded a goal-kick.
In the 20th minute following a nice series of interchange play between Coo and Peers the keeper comfortably held Warlow’s headed attempt. The ball was quickly delivered upfield and when Sam Hall headed on to May the big striker was guilty of a poor finish. Five minutes later though and it was Albion’s top marksman who was in the dock when he screwed his shot wide with the goal seemingly at his mercy following excellent approach work by Thornley and the newly signed man, from across the canal, Adam Morning. Just before the interval Thornley slipped on the pitted surface and caught a couple of home players’ boots into his body for his pains that saw a three minute stoppage to events. Upon the resumption Albion were caught napping on their right with the ball accurately delivered to the far post allowing Ross Dyer to strike firmly past Kennedy.
However the final minute of the allotted add-on time saw Coo, who’d been guilty of allowing the home side too much room for their goal, switched play to the opposite end and burst into the box and played a lovely one-two with Rob Lloyd but was denied when defender Ben Brown hacked the ball off the goal-line, however first to react was ADAM WARLOW to delightfully convert his 20th goal of the season.
With a strong wind blowing it was difficult for both sides to establish a grip during the opening minutes of the second period however on the hour-mark Morning won the ball well and played Thornley in, the striker made a couple of turns but could only send his shot wide of the near left hand upright. Shortly afterwards though in the 64th minute Lloyd showed lovely control before prodding the ball forward for Thornley, initially the chance looked to have gone as defenders covered the gap, however ROD THORNLEY produced an audacious 10 yard toe poke with his right foot and the ball just squirmed inside the left post. The striker’s celebratory dance, duly exaggerating his right toe, was a treat to behold for the Albion masses!
On 71 minutes and from a tight angle Warlow saw his effort parried by Scott and hoofed away from danger by Tom Birch. The 84th minute then saw Peers race to the right side by-line before delivering a low cross that again the keeper could only parry away but no Albion player was following up close enough to capitalise. In the final minute, as Albion kept up their advance play, Peers sent a shot across the face of goal, again the keeper got a touch and again Mr Smith got his decision wrong.
