The home side enjoyed all the early possession, Hednesford’s Michael Clarke and Drenis Bala combining well to come close on several occasions. Bala was just beaten to the ball by Staffordshire ‘Keeper Lee Miller from a well timed Clarke cross in the 3rd minute, then shot just wide ten minutes later.
Jamie Pointon came closest for Staffordshire in the 29th minute as the visitors tried to gain their own momentum. His low shot went just wide of Courtney Belford’s left post.
The best chance of the half fell to Ed Ansah whose shot from midway into the half rattled the crossbar of Miller’s goal, just minutes before the Staffordshire ‘Keeper was forced to leave the pitch with an injured hand, replaced by Stafford Rangers’ Danny Allen.
One of Allen’s first tasks was to collect the ball out of his net as Westwood’s strike came just 8 minutes into the second half, a low shot from just inside the penalty box.
Meanwhile, Belford was having a solid performance in the opposite goal; Pointon’s powerful 56th minute volley saved by the Nuneaton ‘keeper, then a diving save 10 minutes later prevented Jordan Nadat from getting his name on the scoresheet.
Birmingham’s defence stayed firm too; a vital tackle from Gareth Dean keeping Birmingham’s hopes of a second round tie against either Shropshire or East Riding alive. However, their fate could have been sealed if one of the many chances created in the in the final 20 minutes could have been converted.
A scramble in the Staffordshire penalty box ended with Jake Murrall’s shot saved by Allen in the 76th minute. John Ashfall who replaced Westwood should have got a goal of his own but his choice to pass inside the box to Dion Barrett instead of shoot proved costly two minutes later.
Sutton’s Josh Orhivnu could have bagged a brace in the last three minutes, but instead shot straight at Allen with his first then hit the side netting with his second chance.
Team Spokesman, Steve Poole said the side were relieved to get their first game – and a win – under their belts:
“For the first game of the season we stumbled and stuttered at times. However the result is what matters here so we can move into Round 2 and the league season looking to improve."
Birmingham need wait only a week for their next chance to improve; they travel to Raunds Town, Northamptonshire in the first group fixture of the Midland Counties Youth Championships on Sunday 14th October.
SQUAD IN FULL: Courtney BELFORD (Nueaton Borough / Griff FC), Michael CLARKE (Hednesford Town FC), Gareth DEAN (Nueaton Borough FC), Adam ROGERS (Highgate United FC), Richard DUNLEAVY (Burton Albion FC), Eliott FENN (Sutton Coldfield Town / AFC Wulfrunians FC), Dion BARRETT (Coventry Sphinx FC), Jake MURRALL (Sutton Coldfield Town FC), Ed ANSAH (Hednesford Town FC), Drenis BALA (Hednesford Town FC), Daniel WESTWOOD (Burton Albion FC)
SUBS: Adam SHELLEY (Sutton Coldfield Town FC), John ASHFALL (Sutton Colfield Town FC) – on for Westwood ‘70, Josh ORHIVNU (Sutton Coldfield Town FC) – on for Bala ‘37, Karl LANGE (Tipton Town FC), Kieran CLARKE (Sutton Coldfield Town FC), Chris MILNER (Sutton Colfield Town FC).