Pre-Season Friendly
Keys Park, Hednesford
Tuesday, 23rd July 2019, 7.45pm
Pitmen Show Their Class
One important thing to come out of this game is that Gresley will not face a side as good as Hednesford in their Midland League campaign. Gresley were well beaten by a side whose movement, speed and finishing showed why they are plying their trade two levels higher than their opponents.
Arguably, the best side Gresley have faced for quite a few seasons, were well worth their thumping win at their superb facilities and on this form The Pitmen should be up at the top of their league come next April.
Gresley played well enough and created two or three good chances and scored the goal of the game but Hednesford were just too good with two full backs who were extremely quick breaking forward out of defence and with the Wells brothers, Kieran and Brad, up front who are known for their scoring prowess the visitors were under the cosh from the off.
Gresley manager Gavin Hurren included two new faces to his starting eleven and one very familiar face on the bench. Keeper Dan Crane was away on holiday so Ben Allsop came in, in goal.
Hednesford were in front on 7 minutes when a corner on the left was played short and the ball crossed to the far post where Kieran Wells looped his header back into the middle of the area to be nodded home by Liam Truslove.
Gresley went agonisingly close to levelling just two minutes later. A powerful strike by Jordan Fitzpatrick was tipped underneath of the bar by home keeper Daniel Platt with the ball bouncing out.
One of the new players, Nehemia Zazi played in Paul Sullivan who was unlucky to see his shot fly just over the bar.
Hednesford doubled their lead in somewhat fortuitous circumstances. A ball was played into Gresley’s area which was blocked, and the ricochet landed nicely for Kieran Wells who stabbed the ball home from close in.
The home side added goal number three on 26 minutes. Kieran Wells made a good run down the right and laid the ball across for his brother waiting in the area. Ben Allsop hesitated slightly, and Brad Wells was able to tap home.
Sullivan was looking dangerous in the final third and tested Platt when he turned his marker and fired straight at the keeper.
Gresley handed Hednesford goal number four when Ben Healey brought down Tom Elliott in the area with Ben O’Hanlon converting the spot kick. On the stroke of half-time goal number five arrived when a through ball to Brad Wells was finished with a deft chip over Allsop who was diving at the forward’s feet.
Hurren made several changes at the break with one of them Gresley favourite Jamie Barrett making a welcome return. Unfortunately for Barrett it was not the best of starts because within minutes of coming on to the pitch he stuck out a leg to try and block a shot from the right but could only steer the ball into the net at the near post.
To Gresley’s credit they didn’t let their heads go down and continued to try to press forward but Hednesford almost added another goal when substitute Osebi Abadaki burst through the visitors’ back line only to be denied by a fine block from Allsop.
Gresley substitute Jacob Sturgess went close with a shot which clipped the junction of bar and post.
There was a moment best forgotten when Jack Hallahan’s rash challenge on a Gresley player saw him sent from the pitch with just 4 minutes remaining.
On 87 minutes Gresley got their well-deserved consolation goal and what a goal it was. Sullivan controlled the ball down the left before curling a superb shot into the far corner of the net leaving Platt motionless.
