Hednesford make it into the hat for Monday's second qualifying round draw, as they defeat Evo-Stik Southern Premier League outfit Bedworth United with comparative ease at Keys Park this afternoon

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After sneaking through to the next round of the F.A. Cup last weekend, manager Rob Smith kept faith in the same starting XI that had defeated Nuneaton Griff. Michael Lennon was available again after missing the game due to personal commitments. Jamey Osborne's three-match ban had come to an end also, with the midfielder content with a place amongst the substitutes

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Top scorer Nathan Woolfe was quickest out of the blocks for the hosts, sweeping his side into a third-minute lead with the first chance of the game. Neil Harvey played the ball into the path of Elliott Durrell, whose low cross found Woolfe. He neatly sidestepped a Sam Belcher challenge before firing past Andrew Kemp in the Bedworth goal

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Defender Ben Bailey went close to doubling the Pitmen's lead six minutes later, as he fired a low drive at goal that required a superb flying save from Kemp

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Durrell's form this season has been, at times, as good as at any time in his four years at Keys Park. Another marauding run from the midfielder on eighteen minutes saw him turn Nathan Haines and cross dangerously into the penalty area, but no-one was on hand to turn the teasing ball home and was cleared by Belcher

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Bedworth's best attempt in a slow first half-hour for the Greenbacks saw the impressive Ashley Spencer hit a low shot in at goal from range, with Dan Crane making a smart save down by his post

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Kemp was much the busier of the two keepers during the first half, making yet another stop on thirty-three minutes to turn away a spectacular effort from Dave MacPherson, as the Hednesford skipper connected with Aaron Rey's cross with an overhead kick

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Despite having the better of the possession and chances in the first period, it was the Pitmen who were left hanging on at the end of the half as Bedworth pushed forward. Mitchell Piggot (twice) and Ashley Robinson both tried their luck with long-range efforts that had Crane on his guard

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This upturn in fortunes for the away side continued just after the break, as Bedworth pulled themselves back into the game. Aaron Donaldson - on as a half time substitute for Andrew Spencer - picked the ball up with his first touch, before cutting inside from the left-wing and firing a shot out of reach of Crane and into the net to make it 1-1

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Bedworth's leveller was quickly extinguished by the Pitmen with the next attack, as Ben Bailey grabbed his first goal of the season. Woolfe delivered a superb swinging corner from the left, allowing Bailey to head firmly past Kemp at the far post

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Woolfe should have added to his season's tally on fifty-seven minutes, as Durrell supplied the winger with a clever ball. However, Woolfe failed to connect properly with the ball and shot well wide of goal from a promising position just outside the penalty area

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After opening his account for the Pitmen last week, striker Rey was presented with a glorious opportunity to score in successive games on sixty-two minutes, as he headed Woolfe's cross wide of goal from just a few yards out

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Three minutes later, Durrell capped another fine individual performance with a killer third goal and scored his fifth goal of the campaign. Harvey's presence of mind saw him unselfishly lay the ball into the path of Durrell, who drove the ball confidently past Kemp from the edge of the area

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The third goal seemed to kill off Bedworth's resistance, as the Pitmen dominated the final quarter. On sixty-nine minutes, Harvey looked certain to add to his season's tally as he forced his way in on goal, only to lose his footing at the crucial moment as he was one-on-one with Kemp

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A minute later, Osborne returned to the pitch after his enforced lay-off in place of Woolfe, who had again impressed with his directness down the left-wing. Six minutes later, another goalscorer was replaced as Durrell made way for Michael Lennon

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Harvey and Rey showed their intelligent understanding on eight minutes, linking up well on the edge of the area before Rey registered a shot on goal that was blocked by a stray Bedworth leg

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There was concern around Keys Park on eighty-four minutes after Francino Francis came off worst in a challenge, with the big defender forced off with a knee injury; he was replaced by Sam Barnes

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Harvey was again involved on eighty-six minutes, controlling an Alex Melbourne cross before passing to MacPherson - his off-balance shot failed to worry Kemp as it flew wide of goal

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The final chance of the game actually fell to Bedworth's Piggon, who sliced his sidefoot shot wide of goal from close range when he could have set up a grandstand finish in the final minute

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Monday's draw will once again contain the name of Hednesford Town, with the Pitmen looking for a long-overdue run in a competition they won back in 2004

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Hednesford Town: Crane, Disney, Campion, Bailey, Francis (Barnes 84), MacPherson ©, Melbourne, Durrell (Lennon 76), Harvey, Rey, Woolfe (Osborne 70)       Subs Unused: O’Connor, Hornby

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Bedworth United: Kemp, Tullin ©, Wesley, Haines ▆, Recci, Belcher (Kolodynski 76), Andrew Spencer (Donaldson 45), Ashley Spencer, Piggon, Robinson, Byrne (Keen 66)       Subs Unused: Roper

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