Match report courtesy of Nuneaton News;
Nuneaton took three points for the second successive weekend after they overcame a ten-minute blip in the second half to beat Hednesford at Keys Park.
The Boro were quick out of the blocks and were rewarded for their assured start with the opening goal in just the sixth minute.
It was scored by Billy Daniels, his first for the club, but it was very much created by the returning Callum Chettle, as the former Ilkeston man drove through the heart of the midfield before laying it off to Cieron Keane, who in turn found Daniels, who in turn finished superbly.
After winning at Worcester last time out the early goal in this match gave Nuneaton a renewed confidence, and they began to play the ball around nicely.
They were unable to create any clear-cut openings in that time, though, ironically it was when Hednesford started to come back into the match that the second goal did come.
It was scored by Jack Lane as a corner from Chettle was poorly cleared by the home defence, allowing Chettle a second bite at the cherry.
He took full advantage as he slipped a low cross into the box and Lane was on-hand to slot it home past Dan Crane.
Nuneaton were well worth that 2-0 lead at the break and would have been confident of building on it after the restart.
As it turned out it was the home side who came out with their tails up after the break and that 2-0 lead was soon cancelled out as two goals in quick succession before the hour mark levelled things up.
First, debutant Danico Johnson managed to get his foot to the ball in the box, sliding it past Jordan Smith in the process to halve the deficit.
Then, just moments later, former Boro man Kyle Perry drew the sides level as he got his head onto what looked like a poor cross, beating Smith with a cushioned effort that found the inside of the keepers near post.
Nuneaton were completely rattled at this stage and what looked like a certain three points could have been leading to nothing at Keys Park – but football is a funny old game.
That is because, out of the blue, Boro found themselves back in front.
Rob Duffy won what looked like a soft penalty, and then got up to convert it himself, putting Nuneaton back in the lead after a crazy opening 20 minutes of the second half.
The game, understandably so, calmed down somewhat after the flurry of activity, as Nuneaton began to take the sting out of proceedings.
They regained their composure, and their two goal lead again late on, as Rob Duffy scored his second spot-kick of the game in the last minute.
Phil Trainer all but sealed the Hednesford defeat as the former Boro man was sent-off for a second booking in the awarding of the penalty.
NUNEATON TOWN: J.Smith, Clifton, J.Keane, Lane, C.Keane, Morgan, Chettle, Byrne, Daniels (Dyer 82) Williams (Harewood 70), Duffy.
Subs not used: Reid, R.Smith, De La Paz.
HEDNESFORD TOWN: Crane, Digie, Regan, Bailey, Williams, Trainer, Williams (Johnson 46), Thorley, Modest (Perry 46), Thomas, Todd (Ennis 76).
Subs not used: James, Ransome.
Attendance: 525
# | Team | Pd | Pts |
1. | Solihull Moors | 28 | 59 |
2. | North Ferriby United | 28 | 52 |
3. | AFC Fylde | 27 | 52 |
4. | Harrogate Town | 27 | 52 |
5. | Boston United | 30 | 51 |
6. | Nuneaton Town | 29 | 50 |
7. | Alfreton Town | 29 | 40 |
8. | Gainsborough Trinity | 29 | 40 |