A 4th goal in as many games for AJ Warburton saw Avro extend their unbeaten run to 6 league games as The Ro drew 1-1 with Hednesford Town on a cold, Tuesday night in Oldham.
Hednesford Town have ambitions for promotion this season and their start to the game reflected this. They dominated possession and created a couple of early chances. An early free kick for Hednesford saw a couple of chances on goal but the Avro defence stayed strong and prevented any of these attempts from worrying Grant Shenton.
Avro worked their way into the game soon after as they worked their way around the Hednesford press. Kane Wallwork was the first to test the Hednesford keeper as his shot was parried away for a corner to the Ro. It was disappointment from this corner as a free kick was awarded to Hednesford for a foul in the box.
In the 16th minute of the match, Hednesford Town found themselves ahead after an own goal from Deane Smalley. The ever-present Avro defender saw his pass go over Grant Shenton and into the Avro net. Soon after, Hednesford almost found themselves two goals ahead as a corner delivered into the centre of the box forced a great save from Grant Shenton as the header from the Hednesford attack looked destined to end in the back of the net.
Just before the half an hour mark of the game, Avro brought the game back level as AJ Warburton made it 1-1. AJ Warburton carried the ball forwards and played it out wide to Liam Ellis who delivered a great ball back into the box and AJ Warburton was there to meet it to strike home for the 4th consecutive league game.
It was a quiet last 15 minutes to the first half and the sides headed into the break level with the game there for the taking for both sides in the second half.
In the second half, Avro started as the better side, having the majority of possession but not with the reward of any chances as of yet. Liam Ellis was the first Avro player in the book on the evening as he was booked for preventing Hednesford taking a quick free kick.
Avro continued to apply the pressure, and this resulted in consecutive corners for the Ro. Brown in the Hednesford net was out quick to collect the ball, any mistake from this would’ve seen the ball land to Deane Smalley for a tap in.
David Birch and Mike Norton made 2 changes in as many minutes as Avro looked for some fresh legs to continue the pressure on the Hednesford defence. Kane Wallwork and Jack Morrow made way for Jake Cottrell and Sam Davidson.
The crossbar denied Avro twice in the final 10 minutes of the match. AJ Warburton got his shot away and his shot looked destined to curl into the top corner of the net, but this crashed off the crossbar and out for a Hednesford goal kick. Next up to be denied by the crossbar was Chiekh Thiam, he fired a shot towards goal after smart build up play, but once again the crossbar denied Avro taking the lead.
This was how it stayed as Avro were forced to settle for a point on the night despite limiting Hednesford to any chances in the second half.
A reminder that this is the first of 2 midweek games for Avro this week as Friday night football returns to the Vestacare this Friday as we host Bootle.
