City made two changes to the side that overcame Welling, Lee Collier returning to the side in place of the injured Andy Williams and reserve left-back Luke Scott replacing Adrian Foster, and switched back to the 4-5-1 formation that had worked so well at Folkestone two weeks earlier. On a heavily sanded pitch City almost took the lead after just three minutes when Collier's lobbed shot deceived keeper Gayle and came back of the corner of bar and post. The home side responded with Davis bringing a smart stop out of Ray Johnston but this escape was only temporarily as with nine minutes gone City fell behind. The scorer was no surprise to either side, Davis had claimed all four goals in Hednesford's 4-3 victory at Twerton Park back in October. He collected Airdrie's cross after the midfielder had easily gone past Scott, then turned neatly to fire past Johnston from six yards out. Hednesford's neat Keys Park ground was then enveloped in a heavy fog but through the gloom City battled back strongly. In what was probably their best move of the match after 21 minutes Jason Drysdale, Collier and Jamie Gosling were involved before Iain Harvey was given a shooting chance by Paul Milsom's back flick. Unfortunately, Harvey could not add the final touch to the move, firing a yard over the Town goal. This would be a recurring theme in City's performace, neat approach work spoiled by a poor final ball or shot. Three minutes later a strong run by Gosling ended with him pulling his shot well wide of the goal. Only once before half time did Hednesford threaten to increase their lead, Davis failing to take advantage of a poor Colin Towler header on 42 minutes.

The interval saw Alan Pridham switch things around, Foster and Dan Cleverly replacing Milsom and Scott. The two substitues joined forces up front and City lined up in a more traditional 3-5-2 formation. Before this change began to take effect City almost found themselves two down. A swift break by the Staffordshire side saw Airdrie try his luck from 25 yards out. The rising shot beat Johnston but not the bar and the danger was cleared. City now began to gain the upper hand and were forcing the home side to defend deeper and deeper. Cheered on by their large following behind the goal City forced corner after corner. However, whether it was Drysdale from the right or Gosling from the left the crosses were consistently poor and, with no obvious target like Milsom or attempt to vary the delivery, an equaliser never looked likely. By contrast when the Pitman did break the stranglehold they looked capable of sealing the game with a second goal. In the 57th minute a quick break saw Johnston save superbly from Poston and on the hour the same player fired wide with the goal at his mercy. When City did manage to get a shot on target, as Foster and Collier did in short succession, Gayle was comfortably equal to the efforts. Johston was forced in another fine save from Lancashire's 76th minute shot before City raised themselves for one last assault on the Town goal. A rare quality cross was just intercepted by the excellent Haran with Foster ready to pounce with five minutes remaining and City's top scorer also just failed to reach Thorne's header across goal. Defending for City was now almost forgotten, Thorne staying up front and Drysdale huging the left touchline, all defensive duties forgotten. This approach almost paid dividend in stoppage time only for Gayle to produce an excellent double stop from Foster and Cleverly, and with that chance gone City were left staring relegation firmly in the face once again.