Isuzu FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round
Saturday 4th October 2025
Harborough Town 2-0 Hednesford Town
Stephens (12′ Pen), Rose (90+3′)
Attendance – 501
Report – Ben Monti
Photo – RB Media
Ben Stephens’ penalty and Luis Rose’s late strike sealed victory for Harborough Town against a depleted Hednesford Town, sending the Bees into the Isuzu FA Trophy First Round Proper.
After a surprise defeat in the Westerby County Cup on Tuesday night, Harborough were determined to get back to winning ways, evidenced by a strong line-up. With injuries affecting the squad, the Bees recruited 18-year-old Andre Changunda on a month’s loan from League One side Peterborough United. The youngster was immediately thrown into the starting eleven.
On a windy afternoon at the Beehive, the Pitmen travelled with only two outfield substitutes but started brightly. Elliot Taylor smothered Niall Watson’s effort after the forward did superbly to control a long clearance from keeper Tony Breeden. Shortly after, a rare Liam Dolman slip allowed Johnny Edwards to get a shot away, firing wide of the upright.
Moments after receiving a yellow card for pushing, Riley O’Sullivan was clumsily barged off the ball by Kieron Freeman inside the box. Ben Stephens stepped up confidently and sent Breeden the wrong way to put the hosts in front after 12 minutes.
Hednesford responded with a flurry of half-chances. Edwards drilled narrowly wide, Dom McHale saw a long-range effort clear the bar and Jake Jervis tested Taylor before tripping over the ball inside the box.
At the other end, Connor Kennedy curled a shot over after Devon Kelly-Evans and Changunda, linked up well down the right. Subsequently, Dolman picked out O’Sullivan with an excellent long ball, only for the danger to be snuffed out.
The second half resembled the first, in its lack of intensity and cutting edge. The windy conditions perhaps playing a part. Harborough Manager Mitch Austin, suggested, “the wind affected massively.” Josh Walsh surged forward in the midfield and fired over, and Changunda cut in from the left to shoot wide.
For the Pitmen, Edwards again tested Taylor with a clever long-range effort, hoping to catch the shot-stopper off his line, while Jervis slid in at the far post, unable to connect to a threatening ball with an outstretched leg.
With the game fizzling out, substitute Luis Rose proved most likely to find the net. Playing in the pocket, Rose had a couple of sharp moments, going close twice, with one deflected attempt spinning dangerously past the woodwork.
The game was sealed in stoppage time, when Walsh split the defence with a precise pass, sending Rose clear on goal, with the forward guiding the ball into the bottom corner with finesse.
The Bees’ back line stood firm to close out the win and enter Harborough into the hat for the next round. “We did really well. We had a game plan to control possession and I thought we were bob on,” said Austin.
Up next for Harborough is another cup tie, their fourth in succession, as the Bees travel to Greater Manchester next Saturday to take on National League side Altrincham, aiming to reach the FA Cup Proper for the second year running.