Report: Warrington Town 0-0 Hednesford Town

League leaders Hednesford Town stretched their unbeaten run to nine games with a hard-fought goalless draw at Warrington Town.

It was probably a fair result after an open game that saw both sides have plenty of corners and half-chances, without either ‘keeper making a notably difficult save.

An excellent tackle by James Melhado snuffed out an early chance Hednesford’s Niall Watson, still the Yellows’ top scorer this season after his loan spell.

Then a succession of four corners for the Yellows saw Max Thompson have a shot deflected over the bar.

Reece Daly drove through midfield and fired a low shot wide and then after good work by Joe Rodwell-Grant, Josh Vela’s cross ended in Matty Waters’ header being diverted over the bar.

At the other end, debutant goalkeeper Luke Hewitson adjusted well mid-air to save a deflected Chris Hussey free-kick and then Montel Gibson fired a shot right across goal.

Hussey’s set pieces were a threat for Hednesford, who saw Gibson booked late in the first half for an off-the-ball skirmish with the excellent Evan Gumbs.

Gumbs swung a shot wide early in the second half before at the other end put in a crucial block to deny Ahkeem Rose.

Chances were fewer in the second half as both sides had spells with territory, Rodwell-Grant a threat for the Yellows until he went off on 71 minutes. Hednesford lost skipper Joe Doyle-Charles with 10 minutes to play, stretched off with an apparent knee injury.

The game could have been won at either end late on, Gumbs somehow getting back to challenge Rose who had outpaced him, and then Melhado denied Dan Turner with a crucial challenge in the box.

Max Thompson had a shot routinely saved by Tony Breeden, who also got down well to save from Daly.

Dan Trickett-Smith whistled a shot wide at the other end for Hednesford, who ended the game with a succession of set-pieces, the last of which nearly resulted in Daly pouncing on the counter attack for the Yellows, but for the last ditch intervention of Jamie Morgan that ended the game.

Warrington Town: Hewitson, Melhado, J Doyle, Gumbs, Bourne, Waters, Harris, Vela, Thompson (Brazier 90), Daly, Rodwell-Grant (Morris 72). Unused subs: Lloyd, Shaw, Tweedley.

Hednesford Town: Breeden, Morgan, Taylor, Trickett-Smith, Harrison, Hussey, Watson (Turner 69), Doyle-Charles (Labadie 80), Gibson (McHale 58), Sheaf, Rose. Unused subs: Winter, Parke.

Post-match reaction