Blackpool`s Bloomfield Road (Peter Gill)
In non-League football, the FA Cup is always a `Holy Grail` and the anticipation of clubs to make the First Round and draw a Football League side with the help of those famous numbered balls.
So, who did Hednesford Town draw? You’ve guessed it – Conference rivals Southport - but with a good crowd expected John Baldwin and the club`s new co-owner were rubbing their hands.
Mind you the Pitmen had lost a particularly good player in former Crystal Palace forward Steve Taylor but had signed Tony Hemmings from Macclesfield Town, so a slight change to the shape of the side was also needed as Hednesford had recently been beaten by Southport in a league game.
Southport started the game on the front foot and goalkeeper Scott Cooksey was in action within minutes of the start and so too were the defenders looking after Southport’s Rod McDonald as it became clear that he thrived for the long ball.
Defenders Andy Comyn and Paul Carty were both desperately trying hard to cope with this tactic, but Hednesford weathered the storm and slowly got their game together.
Colin Lambert rode a couple of tackles passed to Tyrone Streete who in turn released the ball to that man Joe O’Connor, who sent in a low cross for Keith Russell to put the ball past Billy Stewart which put the Pitmen ahead to the delight of the home fans.
The game changed with that goal and the home side were now in control and it was Southport’s keeper Stewart who was being kept busy and the threat coming from new signing Hemmings.
O’Connor and Russell were also getting in on the act as they piled on the pressure but, as with most football, you have to take your chances when on top and sure enough Southport were making breaking runs from deep and it needed a quick response from the Pitmen.
Hednesford got onto the front foot and could have scored a second had Streete connected with a great Carty cross, but the half-time whistle came without any more chances but at least the home side were in front.
The second half saw Hednesford come out and force the play and Southport keeper Stewart was soon in action keeping them in the game. That was until that man again O’Connor pounced on a slack defending to nip in and put the ball into the visitors’ net with the home supporters in full voice.
Amongst all the excitement there was something happening that no player from either side could do anything about as the fog started to descend around Keys Park and the home side had fingers crossed it would not get any worse as the game entered its final minutes.
A lack of concentration from the home side saw Southport grab a lifeline but it was too late to save the game and put the Pitmen in the hat for the Second Round.
The draw was a tough one - away to League Two club Blackpool at their famous Bloomfield Road ground.
John Ball and I travelled up the M6, passing coaches and minibusses all decked out with the black and white club colours hoping for at best a good performance in this, the club’ first appearance against a Second Division club in the Second Round.
This was not going to be a just turn-up game as Hednesford gave as good as they got, and the hosts slowly became more and more frustrated and even more so when Blackpool had chances through Chris Malkin and Tony Ellis, only to see keeper Cooksey in fine form again.
It was now Hednesford’s turn to assert some pressure with Russell and Hemmings sending in some decent crosses but no player able to get on the end of them.
Blackpool again went looking for that elusive goal and when Ellis unleashed a 25-yard drive it looked like they had found it only to see Cooksey make a great save tipping the ball onto the post and out for a corner.
The game was becoming now more even as the visitors began to believe they could get something out of the game, despite losing midfield players Steve Devine just on half-time.
The home fans were not happy and showed that as Blackpool left the field at the break to a chorus of boos, while the Hednesford team were cheered off for their part by their fans tucked in at the far end of the ground.
The second half saw a more end-to-end encounter with both sides having their chances, but keeper Cooksey kept the Pitmen in the game with another great save from the head of Malkin.
In all football you will get a good chance in a tight game, and it fell to the Pitmen’s top scorer and legend Joe O’Connor who, after good work by Russell and Stuart Lake, had the simple task of tapping the ball into the net with just 2 minutes to go to the joy of the travelling fans who celebrated along with the players.
John Ball tells me those final minutes seemed to last forever as Blackpool threw in all but the kitchen sink but could not change the outcome - a great win for Hednesford and a place in the Third Round for the first time in which they were drawn at home to another Second Division side, York City.
Despite a sell-out crowd and the media, including the TV, the game had to be postponed and for the first time both sides would know who they would face as the draw was made on the Monday lunchtime a few hours before kick-off and the prize was going to be a trip to the Riverside to play Bryan Robson’s Middlesbrough in the Fourth Round.
With that prospect, the game had even more of an edge to it.
The game itself was not a classic but that is sometimes the case when so much is at stake.
York did have the best of the early exchanges and keeper Scott Cooksey was once again at his best, saving very well from two early efforts.
York’s trio of Paul Stephenson, Neil Tolson and Gary Bull were always threatening and again Cooksey had to tip over a header from Bull as Hednesford tried to settle the game down.
Again, possession counts for nothing as Hednesford proved when midfielder, Stuart Lake, burst clear and attempted to chip the goalkeeper from fully 40 yards.
The game was now opening up for both sides and a spate of bookings did spoil the momentum with both sides showing a little bit too much muscle at times.
Then came the deciding factor in the game when in the York goalmouth, Paul Carty’s shot was handled on the line by Gary Himsworth.
The referee had no hesitation pointing to the spot and also issued a red card to the defender.
Keith Russell kept his composure and dispatched the penalty in fine style into the bottom corner of the net and the Pitmen were to go in 1-0 up at half-time.
In the second half the Pitmen’s defence in which former Aston Villa and West Brom defender, Andy Comyn, and Wayne Simpson were outstanding, kept the York forwards at bay, hard as they tried to break them down.
It looked like York were going to get their equaliser but Hednesford held out and booked their place in history and a trip to the Riverside Stadium.
The players left the pitch to rapturous applause from the home fans and a great gesture from the York fans, who clapped them off as well.
(Micky Taylor`s excellent book `Non-League Football - A Roller Coaster Ride To Beat Any` is available to buy from Amazon priced £12.99 (Kindle version £3.99. All proceeds to Cancer Research)
Most clubs are looking for volunteers. Find out more on the button below:
www.PitchingInVolunteers.co.ukAll the news and results in one place.
REGISTER