By Steve Dadd & Pete Pavey

23rd September 2001

Weymouth made their first visit to the Cross Keys Stadium, home of Hednesford, a team who, to the casual observer, is in freefall.

Weymouth welcomed back Alex Browne to the starting line up, although Jason Rowbotham was obvious by his absence, and Ryan Cross is still suffering from a calf strain. Play started at a furious pace with the Pitmen closing Weymouth down and generally running the Terras ragged. Simon Browne headed a Neil Davis header off the line after Potter had been caught in no mans land from a cross.

Weymouth's first attack saw Philips feed Rawlinson on the right; he crossed to Laws who rose above his marker but headed past the post. With a quarter of an hour gone Neil Davies hit a low shot that was easily gathered by Potter. Potter threw out to Waldock who played the ball across the park to Hale, Hale charged down the left flank passed inside to Hutchinson who sent a glorious ball across the face of goal to the oncoming Rawlinson, with an open goal at his mercy, he blasted over from five yards. Five minutes later Robinson had the ball in the back of the net but the ref's assistant ruled him offside.

The hard working Rawlinson won the ball off his marker and crossed from the by line, Rowbotham climbed well but headed over. With half hour on the clock, Neil Davies burst through but a brilliant tackle from Alex Browne robbed the Pitmen's No. 10 of a scoring chance and set up another Weymouth attack.

Graham Lancashire was booked for a foul on the hard working Hutchinson, but the ensuing free kick was wasted, at the other end Potter made a great one handed save to deny Stuart Lake.

Hednesford took the deserved lead after 35 minutes although the build up was in some bizarre circumstances. With Phillips driving forward, Stuart Lake hit a hard ball back to his keeper, the keeper managed to clear the danger but not until the had gone at least a foot over the line, Weymouth were awarded a throw in instead of a corner, the assistant referee was well off the pace and the ref was unsighted. From the throw Hednesford cleared their lines with a hoof up field to Stewart Airdrie, Matt Hale showed him too much of the inside and he was past him, unleashing a powerful drive from 15 yards, Potter had no chance.

Weymouth were awarded a free kick just outside of the area on 39 minutes, Rowbo's curling effort just brushed the upright.
 
Hednesford 1 Weymouth 0
 
This was not pretty football, there were too many mistakes from both sides as passes went astray and Weymouth were living off scraps from a pretty ineffective long ball game.

Michael Dean replaced David Laws for the second half who had sustained a rib injury. The Pitmen carried on where they had left off from the first half and Potter had to be on his toes to punch clear a high cross on 46 minutes, but the home side went 2 up after Weymouth had conceded a free kick just outside the area, from the set piece Graham Lancashire (who seemed to be in an offside position) glanced the ball home. On the hour a Rowbo curling free kick was on target but the keeper threw himself at the ball and cleared the danger.

Weymouth looked to prise open the Hednesford defence but their final ball let them down. Hutchinson made space for himself in the area, crossed to Phillips who was charging in, but some how from 3 yards out and an open goal he blasted wide.

On 65 minutes Weymouth finally found the back of the net, Danny Potter's long goal kick found Rowbo who chipped the advancing keeper. Hednesford who had looked strong and in command suddenly went to jelly and from then on Weymouth were totally in the driving seat. Alex Browne rose well from a corner but his header hit the cross bar and Rowbo got on the end of a Rawlinson run and cross, but his shot was straight at the keeper. On 70 minutes Michael Dean made the pass of the match, in his own half and on the right flank, he received the ball looked up and put the ball at the running feet of Hale a good 35 yards away on the left flank, Matty crossed the ball to the advancing Phillips whose header was on target but was pushed over by the keeper. Two minutes later Michael Dean pushed forward and sent in a crisp cross, with the keeper beaten somehow Phillips missed the goal with his header. 

Weymouth equalised on 75 minutes, Robinson crossed the ball to the awaiting Phillips who poked the ball under the Pitmen's gloveman.

Hednesford's desperation was obvious when they brought on the clumsy Kevin Francis, his addition to the home sides forward line was immediate, as he took out one of his own players from a cross. 

The small band of Weymouth supporters were now in raptures as the game had been turned on its head and Weymouth looked for all their worth championship contenders.

The Terras took the lead after Hutchinson and Hale combined on the left, Hutchinson's cross from tight to the by line was met by Phillips who coolly slotted home. With Weymouth camped in the Pitmen's area it was only a matter of time before they scored again, Dean clipped a short ball through to Rawlinson in the area but Lake punched the ball away, the referee pointed to the spot and Simon Browne sent the keeper the wrong way. It was now one of those games that you did not want to end but Mr. Mariner put Hednesford out of their misery with less than a minute of time added on.