HEDNESFORD TOWN will host Midlands rivals Rushall Olympic in a Northern Premier League clash on Monday – and both sides will want to improve on their weekend display.
The Pics should have beaten 10-man Stockton on Saturday – but confusion at the back let in the side from the north-east to score from the penalty spot and claim a 2-2.
It was a result that cost Rushall top spot – with FC United of Manchester taking their place.
Pics manager Ian Long told the club’s X account: “I had to speak to the players harshly after that.
“It should’ve been three points, I don’t know if they had one eye on the Hednesford game.
“As for the penalty, it was the same as Tyrone Mings did for Aston Villa last season.”
The game was decided when a Rushall defender thought the ball had gone out of play and touched the ball to set it for a goal-kick.
Kevin Hayes sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to earn Stockton a draw.
Alex Moore and Fenton Heard had put the Pics 2-1 ahead.
But Hednesford lost for the second game running – going down 1-0 at Morpeth.
Manager Gavin Hurren admitted it was a frustrating game – after coming up without a goal again.
He told the club’s official YouTube channel: “It was really frustrating. I got a positive reaction after the midweek defeat. I thought we played really well first half and were fully in control of the game. But again, when you come to teams who set up the way they did, we need to be more clinical in the final third. It’s a simple as that.
“Those opportunities, great opportunities, we’ve got to do better. We flattered to deceive, especially in the second half where we huffed and puffed.
“If you give them them a lifeline, whatever it is, we’ll get punished.”
Hurren looked ahead to the Bank Holiday game and said: “Rushall are in form. They’ve got a lot of players that know each other and it’s a big old derby, isn’t it?
“So we’ve got to dust ourselves off. I believe if we control the game the way we do, especially first half, but take the chances whew we’re ahead of the game, we’ll see teams off, but it’s got to be better.”
