A brave fightback by Harrogate came to nothing with Hednesford winning the” battle of the Towns”, courtesy of a late free kick.
The Pitmen made the brighter start and Phil Barnes was called upon to keep out a Paul McCone shot and push away Glenn Walker’s header.
However, Town also had their moments with James Walshaw having a shot cleared off the line from Louis Swain’s cross,before home keeper, Dan Crane,did well to block Walshaw’s downward header.
On the stroke of half time, Lewis Turner brought down Marvin Robinson and Danny Glover fired in the resulting free kick via the underside of the bar, to give Hednesford the lead.
Twenty minutes into the second period, Hednesford doubled their lead when Jamey Osborne finished a fine move with a low 25 yard drive past Barnes.
To their credit,Harrogate staged a tremendous recovery which started when Walshaw slipped his marker, turned on the edge of the area and shot past Crane.
Minutes later Dominic Rowe was on hand to stab in the equaliser after Crane could only palm away Lloyd Kerry’s free kick.
Unfortunately,Hednesford were not to be denied and when Osborne was brought down twenty yards out, Glover again stepped up to curl the free kick into the top corner.
Even so,Town almost snatched a point when Kerry hit the crossbar in the final minute,but ultimately they had to leave, Keys Park, pointless.
Town
1 Barnes 2 Turner, 3 Meynell, 4 Lenighan (Metcalfe 45), 5 Killock, 6 McGurk, 7 Kerry, 8 Nelthorpe, 9 Swain, 10 Walshaw,11 Dean (Rowe 58).
Unused subs 12 Heath, 13 Crook, 14 Bloomer Bookings Turner,Metcalfe.
Attendance 465
By John Harrison
