Hyde United 2 Hednesford Town 0 - Report

It was the home side that started the better of the two teams with the Pitmen’s 41-year-old stand-in goalkeeper denying Tom Pratt when the ball fell to the striker inside the penalty area in the third minute.

Hyde would go even closer in the 16th minute when Jerome Wright moved forward and his low 20-yard effort hit the inside the post before rebounding away to safety.

Hednesford showed some life at the other end soon afterwards with Reece King seeing a header easily saved before defender Rudy Misambo headed well wide at the far post.

The visitors would be reduced to ten men in the 29th minute when Recce King’s challenge was deemed too strong and he was given his marching orders. Manager Rob Smith was incensed by this and followed his midfielder into the stands soon afterwards.

In the 41st minute the home side broke forward but Veiga made a good block from Wright before making a fantastic fingertip save to turn a Grant Roberts dipping effort over the crossbar.

After an even start to the second half the hosts broke forward in the 58th minute with the ball finding its way to Janni Lipka but his low effort was fired well wide of the upright.

As the minutes ticked on Hednesford started to probe the hosts backline more and won a number of set pieces, however they were unable to really test Peter Crook in the Hyde goal.

In the 68th minute Dan Sweeney controlled a ball forward and his low effort was saved by Crook.

The hosts were becoming increasingly frustrated as the game wore on with Veiga coming to claim two successive corners.

Meanwhile at the other end Hednesford broke forward and Nathan Fox’s low fizzing effort could only find the side netting after 81 minutes.

Hednesford’s resistance was finally broken three minutes later when a deep ball in was left by the Pitmen defence thinking it had gone out only for Kyle Brownhill to keep it alive and cross into Connor Simpson who was able to score from six yards out.

Just as the game was reaching the 90th minute the home side doubled their lead as they broke on the Pitmen and Chib Chilka was able to slot home under Veiga to confirm the three points.

Attendance: 462