City progressed to the last four of the Dr Martens League Cup with a win over the Pitmen that was more comfortable than the 1-0 score line suggests, however victory came at a price with the Lilywhites’ already threadbare squad faced not only with fresh injury worries but further suspensions as this clash boiled over in the final minutes leaving both sides with only ten men by the end of the game.

With Carl Williams available again after suspension he was drafted straight back into the starting line up in his favoured position on the right of midfield, Rob Nightingale moved across to the centre in place of Stuart Niven in an otherwise unchanged line up from that which drew with Chippenham on Saturday.

Both sides opened cautiously, Rob Nightingale’s whipped free kick from the left, which was headed clear by Chris Gray, the first incident of note some nine minutes in. Hednesford switched play immediately making progress down their left where good work by Nathan Laney presented Gray with a decent shooting opportunity but the former Sutton Coldfield midfielder screwed his shot harmlessly across the face of the goal.

A wind assisted Martin Davies clearance almost led to a City opener after 12 minutes. The alert Danny Bloomfield took advantage of the Pitmen’s hesitancy to race in on Ryan Young forcing the former Hucknall custodian to spill the ball under challenge and present Matt Nolan with a shooting chance, but the Peterborough United loanee saw his fierce low drive from the left hand edge of the box cleared off the line by Ashley Dodd and the danger passed.

Carl Williams had already given glimpses of why he has become such an asset to Gary Roberts’ squad when, from wide on the right, he turned onto his left foot and flighted a perfect near post centre onto the forehead of Rob Miller who had escaped his marker some six yards from goal, but the former Bedford midfielder could get neither power nor direction on his header which drifted wide of Young’s left hand upright.

The Lilywhites had taken an early grip on midfield and moments later Miller was in the thick of the action again, collecting a square pass from Matt Nolan (who had drifted left) he advanced unchallenged towards goal but pulled a 20 yard drive narrowly wide of the right hand post.

As the half hour approached Williams again turned provider, showing superb technique to take down a spiralling Rob Nightingale pass the former Hitchin player again fashioned the space to deliver a telling cross for an on-rushing Bloomfield who flashed a header narrowly over the bar.

City were again experiencing the frustration of recent games where territorial domination failed to convert to goals, on 34 minutes the Lilywhites must have feared it was not to be their night as Matt Nolan’s accurate right wing corner was met by a powerful Lee Pluck header which fizzed past a despairing Young only to crash off the underside of the crossbar allowing the grateful Pitmen to clear.

As the first signs of ill feeling started to creep in Williams was cautioned for a foul on Anthony Maguire.

With the half as good as over City’s slick inter passing carved the visitors back line open again. Having built up patiently down the right hand side through Craig Pope and Williams, Matt Nolan combined with Danny Bloomfield on the edge of the box, the former Bournemouth striker sliding a sublime reverse pass into the path of Rob Nightingale who found himself one-on-one with Young, taking one touch the Lilywhites midfielder steadied himself and smashed the ball goalwards only for the ‘keeper to make a magnificent point blank save to keep the scores level at the interval.

The second half started as the first had ended with City applying the pressure. A perfectly weighted Miller through ball allowed Louis Riddle to accelerate clear of the Pitmen’s rearguard, reaching the bye-line he centred superbly for Nightingale but with the goal at his mercy the Lilywhites’ second highest scorer leant back and skied what appeared to be a straight forward opportunity to break the deadlock.

With the hour mark fast approaching Gary Roberts withdrew Lewis Baillie, an injury doubt before the start of play, and replaced him with Lee Summerscales.

Moments later Hednesford fashioned their best chance of the evening, an excellent diagonal ball from deep, played out by Karl Brown allowed the pacy Damien Charie to run at Craig Pope, using his strength to hold off the City right back the former youth team player unleashed a rising drive which Martin Davies could only parry.

As if stung into action by this near miss City finally found the net in their next attack. Lee Pluck, whose distribution from the back was of high quality throughout, fed Matt Nolan who had come deep to collect, gathering the ball in and turning all in the same movement the former Hitchin marksman threaded an excellent ground pass into the path of Rob Miller who had made yet another trademark burst from midfield, bringing the ball under control with his first touch Miller glided into the left of the area before dispatching his shot into the opposite corner of the net, beyond the reach of Young.

With City eager to press home their advantage the lively Riddle collected the ball in the centre circle before setting out on a mazy run which took him through the inside right channel before cutting into the box where he was dispossessed by Dodd’s challenge, which Mr Culot deemed to be fair despite vociferous protests from players and home supporters alike.

With 25 minutes remaining Gary Roberts made his second change, Robbie Simpson replacing Danny Bloomfield, the City boss was then forced into his third and final substitution some four minutes later when skipper Lee Pluck pulled up after bringing the ball clear with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, allowing Lee Chaffey more than 20 minutes to impress. Barry Powell himself made his first change soon after as Steve Nunn replaced Steve Brannan.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes there was what appeared to be a nasty incident, as Karl Brown challenged Louis Riddle the momentum of the collision forced the Hednesford left back into and over the advertising boards, landing awkwardly on the concrete surround, but fortunately after treatment from both physios he was able to rejoin play.

There then followed a five minute spell when proceedings got out of control. Firstly Chris Gray was carded for a foul on Robbie Simpson, the caution possibly as a result of an accumulation of similar offences rather than this one alone.

Moments later as the ball ran loose in centre field Rob Nightingale challenged Craig Dean. Whilst the City midfielder’s foot appeared high Mr Culot did not warrant the tackle worthy of a foul, Dean however charged Nightingale to the ground and then, viewed from the stand at any rate, appeared to spit at his prone opponent. The situation soon escalated into a mass brawl which then saw Chris Gray fall to the floor clutching his head. All 22 players became involved although a significant number of those were trying their best to calm the situation. Once the dust had settled Mr Culot consulted with first one of his assistants before brandishing a straight red card at Dean, and then the other before dishing out the same punishment to Riddle.

Before play could resume Chris Brindley replaced Aaron Kelter but Hednesford never suggested they had the capacity to mount a comeback. In fact City spurned one further chance to double their lead when Young’s poor clearance was collected by Nightingale whose angled pass to Nolan on the right hand side of the box allowed the Lilywhites’ striker a clear shot on goal which he lashed into the side netting.

City proceeded to play out the remaining minutes without further alarm to book their place in the semi-finals but with some testing league games coming up the additional three match absence of the on-form Louis Riddle (who is already suspended for Saturday’s trip to Stafford) will be a big loss. It can only be hoped that both Lewis Baillie and Lee Pluck are not sidelined for that long.