PREVIEW: Hednesford Town (A)
Where:
Keys Park, Pitmen Way, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 2DZ
When:
Saturday 7th of September 2024 (3pm KO)
After a record-setting run in the FA Trophy last season, Quorn have a difficult start to the competition this weekend. A trip to NPL West Division big-spenders Hednesford Town awaits the Reds.
Quorn’s Form:
Unbeaten in our first four league games, attention now turns to the FA Trophy. Results so far have seen an opening day rout of Sutton Coldfield Town, a draw at Long Eaton United, plus a 0-0 draw at home to Anstey Nomads on Bank Holiday Monday and a 2-0 win away to Racing Club Warwick at the weekend. The only blot on the copy book so far this season was a 4-0 defeat away to Cleethorpes Town in the FA Cup.
Hednesford Town’s Form:
The Pitmen have made an impressive start to the season, after a summer of heavy investment. The Staffordshire based side have won all five of their away matches, but just one of their three home games. In NPL action they started off with a 3-2 win at home to Vauxhall Motors, followed by a 2-0 win away to Nantwich Town. A 2-1 defeat at home to Kidsgrove Athletic was followed by a 6-2 victory at Runcorn Linnets. Their most recent NPL match was a 1-1 draw at home to Chasetown in front of a bumper 2,620 crowd.
Hednesford have already amassed three wins away from home in the FA Cup, most recently winning 6-1 away to Melton Town on Saturday. Previous rounds have seen a 4-1 win at Racing Club Warwick, and a 1-0 win at Worcester Raiders.
One to Watch:
Striker Rob Stevenson might be a familiar name to Reds supporters. The prolific forward was part of the Leek Town side that ran away with the West Division last season, providing 21 goals in that season, winning the Golden Boot for the division on the way. He played 90 minutes for the Blues in our 4-2 FA Trophy win over Leek Town at Farley Way. Stevenson has already scored four time for the Pitmen this season. He has been joined at Keys Park by his former Leek Town strike partner Daniel Trickett-Smith.
Last Time:
This looks to be just the second competitive meeting of the two sides, having met in the FA Trophy First Qualifying Round in 2008. That match was also at Keys Park, and saw the home side victorious by a scoreline of 3-1. Ross Dyer opened the scoring for the hosts in the third minute. Justin Jenkins levelled the score in the 25th minute, before Tyrone Barnett decided the tie in the 71st minute. Dyer added his second in the 87th minute.
Tickets:
Adults - £11.00, Concession - £8.00, U18 - £3, Under 13 - Free (with a paying adult)
Travel:
From the A38, M69 or M42 join the A5 and head towards Brownhills passing a restaurant called The Terrace on the left.
Continue along A5 towards Cannock going straight over one large island.
At the next island take the right exit signposted ‘Hednesford’ passing a large pub called ‘The Turf’ on the left.
Follow this road until reaching an island, (Five Ways Island), take the second exit, the B4154, through Heath Hayes village and straight over a small island.
On reaching the next island, ‘Cross Keys Island’, take the right turn signposted ‘Keys Park’.
At the next island turn right S/P Stadium, continue past houses, Keys Park Stadium is through the gate and on the left.