Dean Edwards and his shell-shocked players must be wondering if they have smashed a series of mirrors, or run over a number of black cats as their woeful run of form continued with another heavy defeat this afternoon, with Ossett taking all three points back to East Yorkshire to leave the Pitmen's promotion ambitions in tatters

 

Such a shocking run of form normally justifies a wielding of the axe, but with such a small squad to choose from Edwards merely tinkered with his line-up with Sam Hall filling in for Sean Platt at right-back, allowing Mark Briggs to return in midfield. Otherwise, it was the same XI that had started the game on Tuesday night at North Ferriby United

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Mid-table Ossett have been in fine recent form, with only one defeat in their last six league games ahead of today's trip to Keys Park. Manager Simon Collins made only one change to the side that had drawn against Cammell Laird last weekend as Simon Baldry came in for Ross Hardaker in defence 

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There was plenty to admire about the Pitmen's approach to the game early on as they played some neat football, with Briggs and Tuesday's goalscorer Elliott Durrell at the heart of everything good going forward. However, there was a spark missing, and for the first quarter, their efforts were wasted

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Two good crosses from Anthony Maguire from the left were the highlights of a disappointing first quarter to the game, with neither cross converted by Tyrone Barnett or Ross Dyer. Ossett were resolute in their defending and did a good job in shackling the movements of Durrell inside the penalty area

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Indeed, it was the visiting side that had the first real sight of goal on the half-hour mark, with Andy Lee getting away down the left before firing a shot that Danny Woodhall watched just wide of his post

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This was to be the Pitmen's first and only warning, as Ossett took the lead with their second attack of the game. Yet again, there were question marks as to Woodhall's handling of the situation - as there had been on two occasions on Tuesday night - as he watched Aiden Savory cross from the left, allowing the ball to dip into the net with no Ossett player in attendance. Another poor goal conceded, another hole to dig themselves out of

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With the fans growing impatient with Hednesford's lack of discipline and loss of confidence, they started to get on the player's backs. Dyer responded with a great chance to equalise, getting in on the end of a wonderful cross from Briggs but somehow heading onto the crossbar when it looked easier to score

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Despite the scoreline, there were a few bright points, with Decio Gomes dominating at the back, looking much more the player he was at the start of the campaign. Danny Harvey was also excellent at the back, whilst skipper Ross Draper was trying his best to fire up a limp midfield with typical gusto

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Edwards' team talk, however Churchillian he wanted it to be, once again turned out to be a damp squib, as once again, the Pitmen conceded an early goal in the second half - a period in the game they appear to have become susceptible to goals. Tom Greaves picked the ball up before showing the home defence a clean pair of heels and firing past Woodhall, who had been left exposed

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The lack of confidence was clear in the Pitmen's game, as once again, passes were going astray and the key players were going missing. Barnett, Durrell and Dyer were all playing on the periphery of the game, but contributing very little. It was Draper who had the Pitmen's best chance to get back into the game, but his effort on fifty-five minutes was shepherded away for a corner kick

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Dyer finally sparked into life eight minutes later, picking up a clever through ball from Durrell, but panicked at the crucial moment, and fired wide of goal

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On came strikers Luke Edwards and Duane Darby, replacing Harvey and Durrell respectively. Darby, who has created an impact since arriving last month, was alert to get in a shot soon after coming on. A ball from Briggs gave the veteran striker his chance, with Darby turning and firing towards goal, only for a defender to block the shot as it headed for the corner

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The Pitmen committed more men forward as they looked for an unlikely scoring frenzy in the final quarter. However, they played right into Ossett's hands, and a killer third goal was always going to be a possibility. Ten minutes from time, Savory grabbed his second goal, firing in a shot that once again Woodhall failed to deal with effectively with the ball inching over the line after the shot had hit Woodhall en route to goal. Edwards will be asking serious questions of his stand-in goalkeeper tonight and will be wondering if Stateside Stuart Brock will return to claim his number one jersey back

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The final ten minutes saw Ossett holding firm as the Pitmen went for broke in attempting to get anything from the game. Briggs, one of Hednesford's better players on a poor day, tried his luck with a long-range effort that came back off the post. Barnett also went close for the Pitmen late on, but it was too little, too late

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It's all looking very grim for the Pitmen and their supporters at present, and with a recent record worse than the teams in the bottom four, a play-off place looks highly unlikely at present. The next win looks a mile off at the moment, with the players' confidence seemingly in tatters. With a trip to mid-table Marine in the offing next weekend, we may have to wait a little longer for that elusive win

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Hednesford Town: Woodhall, S. Hall, Maguire, Gomes, Harvey (Edwards 62), Marshall, Briggs, Durrell (Darby 65), Barnett, Dyer, Draper ©        Subs Unused: Lewis, Gill, Cowley

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Ossett Town: Lamb, Hay, Tonks, C. Hall, Riordan, Daly, Baldry (Thornton 67), O'Brien, Greaves, Savory (Davidson 88), Lee     Subs Unused: Hardaker, Gundhill, Cane

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