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Ben Bailey

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Brackley Town (A) 19.9.15

Bernard McNally's first home game back at Keys Park was another one of those 'what could have been' occasions for the Pitmen, who led twice in the evening but allowed visitors Gloucester City to snatch a late leveller to keep the Pitmen in the bottom half of the league table

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Following Saturday's heavy defeat at improving Alfreton Town, McNally resisted the urge to make wholesale changes to his team as he looked to exert his authority over his new charges. Andy Todd was rewarded for a bright cameo appearance against Alfreton with a recall to the starting line-up, replacing former Gloucester man Nathan Modest

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Gloucester had had a similarly spluttering start to the new season, starting proceedings a point behind the Pitmen in the table. A 3-0 defeat at North Ferriby at the weekend had left Tim Harris's men just four points above the drop zone

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An early cross into the box from Todd in the fourth minute saw Sam Avery hack the ball clear under pressure from Kyle Perry at the far post

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Both sides struggled to get a foothold in the game in a scruffy opening fifteen minutes, as the two midfields dominated a poor game with chances at a premium

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An inswinging corner kick from Tom Thorley caused Gloucester keeper Jas Singh a momentary concern on seventeen minutes, with Singh having to stretch to claim the goalbound ball from the midfielder

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Todd went even closer to opening the scoring four minutes later, as Bailey's long throw was headed into the path of Todd by Perry, whose glancing header was blocked by Billy Jones

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From the resultant Thorley corner kick, Kennedy Digie rose highest to glance the ball just wide of the far post

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Another long throw from Bailey caused more problems for Gloucester on twenty-seven minutes, as the Hednesford skipper's ball in found the feet of Digie, who fired straight into the arms of Singh

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The Pitmen's pressure paid off just after the half-hour mark, as Jones was adjudged to have brought down Perry inside the Gloucester penalty area as they challenged for a ball. Perry dusted himself down and coolly slotted the spot-kick past Singh to finally register his first goal for the Pitmen

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Gloucester responded through Connor Thompson, who fired in a speculative effort that Bailey did well to block as it flew towards goal

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The first half had offered little in the way of quality from either side, with Perry's penalty the only bright spot in a poor example of Conference North football

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McNally's half-time team talk seemed to go the way of many of Rob Smith's interval war cries, as the Pitmen once again seemed to struggle to pick up the pace at the start of the second period. Gloucester fired an early warning shot in at the Hednesford goal through Thompson, who headed wide from Jones's deep cross

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The Pitmen failed to heed the warning and allowed Gloucester to equalise with the following attack. A dreadful mix-up at the back saw John Disney and Dave Parton leave a cross to each other, allowing James Bowen to nip in and lift the bouncing ball over the hesitant Parton and into the net

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The Pitmen made an immediate change up front, with Paul Ennis coming on in place of the ineffective Obeng

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Gloucester were level terms for all of six minutes, as Perry's new found confidence was demonstrated as he put the Pitmen back into the lead on fifty-eight minutes. Sean Williams whipped in a free-kick that found the head of Perry, who looped an effort over the head of Singh and into the net

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Ennis almost had an immediate impact on the game with an hour on the clock, running clear of the Tigers defence before being denied by a last-ditch challenge from Avery

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 A flurry of corner kicks for both sides saw both keepers on top of their game to clear any potential danger. Another chance fell at the feet of Ennis on seventy-four minutes, as the forward tried a cheeky chip over the head of Singh that dropped inches wide of the far post

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With eleven minutes left, Marvin Robinson replaced the hard-working Perry, who received a generous reception from the crowd after his evening's goal return

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With seven minutes remaining, the Pitmen made their final change of the evening as Todd was replaced by Modest

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Gloucester turned the screw in the final ten minutes as they went in search of a second equaliser, with Parton called into action with five minutes left to make a great save to deny Thompson with a flying stop

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This saw Gloucester force three successive corner kicks, with the pressure eventually telling with two minutes of the game left. A corner kick from the left found the head of substitute Joe Parker, who headed past Parton from close range to rescue a point

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There was still time for Matt Williams to be presented with a great chance to win the game for Gloucester in added time, as the ball found him just inside the penalty area. However, he couldn't get the ball from under his feet and allowed Tyrone Williams to clear the ball

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A disappointing evening for the Pitmen, who once again allow good points to slip from their grasp due to a lack of professionalism and concentration in defence. Another 'six pointer' looms large for McNally's side on Saturday, as they make the trip to Brackley Town in search of that crucial first win under the new boss

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Hednesford Town: Parton, Disney, Regan, Bailey ©, T. Williams, Thorley, S. Williams, Todd (Modest 83), Perry (Robinson 78), Obeng (Ennis 53), Digie       Subs Unused: Trainer, McQuilkin

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Gloucester City: Singh, Connolly (Parker 70), Jones, Williams, Avery, Hanks, Liddiard, Webb, Thompson (Anorou 62), Symons, Bowen (Hall 79)       Subs Unused: Hamilton, Miller

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