Gary Roberts’ men continued their recent good run of results and stretched their unbeaten run to five league games but it was case of what might have been as a late defensive blunder allowed the Pitmen a share of the spoils.

The game in soggy Cannock only survived a mid morning pitch inspection due to the sterling efforts of the Hednesford groundstaff and the home goalkeeper, Ryan Young, but it was worth the effort as both sides contributed to a rousing encounter. City, seeking to put back-to-back league wins together, gave a debut to on-loan St Albans striker Simon Martin who partnered Danny Bloomfield in attack, while Alan Calton was recalled in place of the departed Danny Naisbitt in goal.

City's loan signing Simon Martin, shields the ball from Darren Simkin

The early stages were very even with both sides attempting to play constructively on the heavy pitch, the ball often sticking in the Staffordshire mud. Neither defence was seriously troubled until the 24th minute when Louis Riddle went on one of his trademark mazy runs from centre-field. As he advanced, the Hednesford defenders backed away and suddenly the City winger was inside the penalty area. Sadly the chance came to nothing as Riddle miskicked rather disappointingly.

Rob Miller and Jamie Godbold were behind most of City’s best moments in the first half an hour as the visitors patiently tried to unlock the home defence. Hednesford wasted a decent looking chance in the 33rd minute when former Moor Green striker Nathan Lamey crossed from the left deep to the back post, but Steve Evans was unable to steer his header goalwards despite escaping the attentions of the City defence. A minute later, from a Calton clearance, came the first of several talking points. Bloomfield nipped in between the centre halves, Chris Brindley, unable to cope with Bloomfield’s pace, tugged at the strikers shirt bringing him to the floor when clean through. Two covering defenders probably saved Brindley from being dismissed. The resulting freekick, just outside the box, deflected off the wall and was tipped over for a corner by Young.

Hednesford came close to breaking the deadlock three minutes later. Steve Anthrobus got the better of Stuart Niven out on the left and his cross caused mayhem in the City penalty area. Calton could only get fingertips to it at full stretch and ball was headed back across goal by Evans where the young City keeper reacted well to save at the feet of Lamey at the expense of a corner.

Attention switched to the other end and moments later the combined efforts of Bloomfield and Godbold forced an error from a home defender down near the corner flag. The ball broke for Riddle who saw his goalbound shot deflect off Evans and behind. In fairness, Young may well have had it covered anyway.

Louis Riddle holds off a defender

City were beginning to dictate the play as the tackles flew in but then came the next flashpoint. Lamey raced onto a hopeful punt upfield, Niven appeared to shepherd the ball back to Calton but the home striker followed in, all studs showing and caught the ‘keeper. City’s players, particularly Lewis Baillie, reacted angrily and a pushing and shoving match broke out. As calm broke out, Lamey, for his misdemeanour escaped rather fortunately with just a yellow card.

On the stroke of half-time City had their best chance. Bloomfield got up well to flick on Calton’s clearance. Martin read the situation perfectly, running in behind the Hednesford defence, Bearing down on goal he was able to pick his spot and forced Young to produce a fine stop down to his right to make the save. Alex Gibson was able to beat the sprightly Bloomfield to the rebound.

City nearly made a disastrous start to the second period. Lee Pluck and Calton left the ball for each other allowing Lamey to claim the loose ball and whistle a shot just over the bar. Following this, City were put very much on the back foot and on the hour the Pitmen finally edged ahead. Riddle was harshly penalised for a tackle on Evans. The freekick was headed out for a corner by Matt Langston and from the resulting corner Darren Simkin arrived to power a header past Calton from point blank range. It was a typical Hednesford set-piece goal and had looked on the cards.

Suddenly, things were not going the way of the visitors. Anthrobus clearly handled the ball but won himself a freekick and another chance of an aerial bombardment, much to the astonishment of Langston. However, City did not have to wait long to get on terms again. Barely four minutes after falling behind Evans gifted the ball to Bloomfield who layed an accurate pass into Miller on the right flank. The industrious midfielder took on Carl Palmer and jinked his way into the area whereupon Palmer tugged his shirt and then manhandled him to the floor. The referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. There were no protestations from the Pitmen and Robbie Nightingale blasted home the spot-kick high into the net.

Danny Bloomfield watches as the ball flies past the post

As the bog-like conditions worsened, Anthrobus saw an effort, hit on the turn, fly just wide of Calton’s post through a crowded City penalty area. The home faithful were stunned with less than ten minutes remaining as the visitors grabbed an unexpected lead. Miller’s corner from the right was flicked up in the air by Langston and Riddle leapt, cat-like, to loop a header delightfully into the net.

City were elated but it turned to despair moments later. There seemed little danger as Young booted the ball upfield, with many Hednesford supporters trudging towards the exits. The ball arrived at the feet of Niven who lobbed a difficult looking back pass towards Calton. The keeper attempted a risky first time clearance and missed the ball completely, allowing substitute Mark Danks the easiest of tasks to slide the ball into the unguarded net despite Calton’s best efforts to scramble back.

Despite such a disappointing set-back, City still went in search of goals. With four minutes left on the clock Miller fed Godbold out on the right and the midfielder ghosted inside the box taking advantage of a slip by Les Hines only to see his close range shot find the side-netting. At the other end, Steve Palmer muscled past Miller and saw his 20-yarder fly just wide of the target.

Seconds from the end came the final talking point. Bloomfield intelligently layed the ball off to Godbold who played in substitute Robbie Simpson. As Simpson raced in on goal, the prone Simkin deliberately handled the ball before the City striker was clattered to the floor. Simkin escaped a red card. Stuart Niven’s resulting piledriver of a freekick was right on target and produced a flying save, but wouldn’t have counted anyway because of an infringement in the wall.

Deep in stoppage time, Riddle’s run into the area was halted as he was brought crashing down, but there was no second penalty only the final whistle.

A point away from home is a good result against a physical team like Hednesford, but Gary Roberts and the players were left not surprisingly disappointed with only a point after having the game won with only minutes to play.