Hednesford 3 Leamington 2: Brakes stunned as late revival digs Pitmen out of hole

But having struggled to get into the game, Hednesford laid siege to Tony Breeden’s goal in the second half to leave the visiting faithful with that familiar sinking feeling associated with this corner of Staffordshire.

Moore crashed in a shot on the half-volley that clattered the bar, while Paul McCone had a header cleared off the line before Brakes stunned the vocal home crowd in the 26th minute. Moore showed good strength before laying the ball off for Lee Chilton to crash in a low drive that fizzed past Dan Crane.

McCone got in another headed effort which was saved, while Hednesford almost equalised when Durrell’s hopeful ball from the right bounced dangerously in front of goal before a combination of Breeden and McCone forced it out for a corner.

Brakes moved further in front 11 minutes before the break when Dodd dispossessed Thompson-Brown before setting up a quick counter-attack which ended with Moore’s deflected shot taking a deflection and looping over Crane.

Ricky Johnson had a chance to add a third moments before half-time but was unable to keep his header down.

The home side came out firing after the interval but Leamington continued to look dangerous on the counter, with an exchange of passes between Chilton and Johnson ending in a shot across goal from the midfielder that evaded the far post.

The hosts’ attacks became more frequent as Brakes began to tire and Breeden parried a dangerous free-kick away for a corner, while half-time replacement Dave Macpherson blasted over the bar after a scramble inside the penalty area.

A Hednesford goal seemed inevitable and it arrived with 17 minutes left when a low cross from the left found its way to the back post where substitute Nathan Woolfe could not miss.

Elliott Durrell drove in a low shot from the edge of the box to level in the 79th minute and, with the home support behind them, there was only going to be one outcome.

The winner duly arrived two minutes from time when a ball in from the left was not cleared and Aaron Rey took advantage, smashing a shot back across goal and into the far corner.

Jamey Osbourne was inches from adding gloss to the scoreline with a curling effort that was deflected on to the far post, but Brakes were out of gas, leaving The Pitmen to celebrate a stunning turnaround.

HEDNESFORD: Dan Crane, John Disney, Darren Campion, Ben Bailey, Francino Francis, Kris Taylor (Nathan Woolfe, 46), Jamey Osbourne, Elliott Durrell, Neil Harvey, Wayne Riley (Aaron Rey, 62), Robbie Thompson-Brown (Dave Macpherson, 46). Subs not used: Alex Melbourne, Sam Barnes.

BRAKES: Tony Breeden, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Joe Magunda, Liam Daly, Paul McCone, Matt Dodd, Sam Adkins, Stefan Moore (Jamie Towers, 85), Ricky Johnson (Lee Moore, 78), Lee Chilton. Subs not used: Martyn Naylor, Josh Green, Lewis Fenney.