Hednesford Town 3 Stafford Rangers 3
Dr Martens League Premier Division
At: Keys Park
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 1319
Duration: first half: 47:22; second half: 50:26
Two late goals, including an injury time equaliser from Darren Simkin, earned Rangers a point from a thrilling local derby. Hednesford held a two goal lead at the break but Tony Eccleston got Rangers back into the with a goal against his former club. However, the home side soon restored their two goal advantage. Paul Kiely narrowed the gap on 88 minutes then deep into injury time Darren Simkin fired a free-kick from 25-yards straight into the back of the net.
The first half was fiercely competitive and littered with fouls. On 3 minutes Davis tried to latch onto a throughball but Price got their just in time and dived bravely at the feet of the Hednesford forward. Davis then crossed deep from the left for the giant Francis to head back across goal and wide. Rangers had their own decent chance of the half on 25 minutes when Kiely fed Lovatt who fired wide from the edge of the area.
Three minutes later the Pitmen opened the scoring. Rae fed Lucas who raced down the left and crossed low into the Rangers six-yard box. Simkin and Price went for the ball with Francis and it ran free for Stewart Airdrie to fire home from a narrow angle. The lead was doubled two minutes later when a free-kick by Price deep into the Hednesford half was clear and the home side broke upfield down the right. Airdrie got in a deep cross to the far post where Neil Davis beat Brindley to the ball and headed home across the face of goal into the opposite side of the net. Moments before the break Hednesford should have made it three. Again on the break Davis and Rae combined as the ball went from left to right and Airdrie got in a deep cross to the far post but Francis completely missed the ball two yards out with only Price to beat.
After the break it was Stafford quickly got control of the game and started to give the home side plenty to think about. Wray crossed deep and Brindley at the far post but he couldn't get in a clear shot. Most of the chances came Rangers way and Brindley outjumped Lake to get in a header at the far post. Heath then had a shot blocked and Simkin fired the rebound over the bar. Lovatt shot wide from 20 yards then on 69 minutes Rangers had the ball in the back of the net but the effort was ruled out for a foul on the keeper. A couple of minutes later, Price made a brillient save to keep out a close range header from Francis. On 73 minutes Boughey crossed from the right and Tony Eccleston headed home against his former club from six yards out. However, Hednesford restored their two goal lead on 77 minutes through Airdrie who got on the end of a defence splitting pass and beat Price from close range.
Rangers quickly responded and Darren Shaw forced Jenkins to make an outstanding save to keep out a fierce shot from the left corner of the area destined for the far side of the net. Five minutes from time Brindley was pushed up front as Ian Painter replaced Eccleston with Howard. The came the dramatic finish. On 88 minutes a cross by Wray from the right was headed down by Brindley for Paul Kiely to stroke the ball past Jenkins from 8 yards. Into injury time there was further action inside the Hednesford area as Kiely and O'Connor were involved in a scramble and Shaw shot into the side netting from a very narrow angle. O'Connor suffered a suspected broken collor bone or dislocation and took no further part in the game. Then in fourth minute of injury time Lake fouled Lovatt 25 yards out and Darren Simkin struck the ball past the wall and straight into the net.
Hednesford Town: Adam Jenkins, Stuart Lake, Richard Lucas (capt), Adam Shakespeare, Ashley Williams, Lee Barrow, Wayne Simpson, Derek Rae, Neil Davis, Kevin Francis, Stewart Airdrie. Subs: Kwik Wale Ajetunnobi (83 mins for Francis), Andrew Brownrigg, Wayne Thomas
Stafford Rangers: Ryan Price, Darren Boughey, Darren Shaw, Stuart Ryder, Chris Brindley, Darren Simkin (capt), shaun Wray, Robert Heath, Tony Eccleston, Paul Kiely, Craig Lovatt. Subs: Joe O’Connor (52 mins for Ryder), Jon Howard (85 mins for Eccleston), Scott Dundas (79 mins for Heath)
Referee: Mr I.K. Scarr
Assistants: Mr J.A. Hughes & Mr A.E. Gopsill
