Venue: The Town Ground, Mayfield Road, Heanor, Derbyshire
Competition: NCEL Premier Division
Referee: Mr. Michael Scriven
Scorers:
Jay Cooper (1), Nathan Benger (4), Greg Marriott (19), Oliver Naylor (25, 29), Adrian Hawes (59), Jason Gregory (74)
We were advised before kick off that a good friend, and contributor to the maggie's fund has been diagnosed with cancer. A gentleman in every sense of the word and avid blog reader, it makes me think that sometimes that life is a bit of a bastard and likes to take the piss. Both Kev and I wish you, from the bottom of our hearts, all the very best in the fight to come, and we want to see you fit and well sometime next season, buddy. Our thoughts are with you - and it will be an even more poignant event when we hand over the cheque to maggie's after the season ends in mid-May.
I thought this may turn out to be typical end of season fayre - goes to show what I know. Heanor put on a terrific powerhouse display and swept away their South Yorkshire visitors. Town keeper Jason Fisher was forced to make a couple of decent saves during the game as Athersley breached a sometimes rocky defence, but the scoreline really does reflect the game and the Lions win was as comfortable as it looks.
JAY COOPER put Heanor ahead in the first minute, his well placed header from a right wing cross flying past Aiden Tyas before nestling in the back of the net. Three minutes later, NATHAN BENGER was also on the mark with a header, this time a superb Chris Shaw corner picking out the striker. Another cross on 19 saw yet another headed goal, this time GREG MARRIOTT on target for the homesters.
With 25 minutes played, Cooper made a terrific run down the right, attracting several defenders to him. Despite the close attention, he still managed to fire the ball across the goal to where OLIVER NAYLOR was on hand to fire home Heanors' fourth. NAYLOR netted again four minutes later, another cross, another close range tap in. H-T 5-0
Spent the game in the company of Town stalwarts Tony Squires, Scott Ward and Ian Duffy - thanks for the chip cob, Scotty - marvellous!
Subs ADRIAN HAWES and Mark Stryzewski combined well to add Heanor's sixth goal - Stryzewski's header crashing off the upright and falling to the feet of Hawes who rammed it home with some gusto!
The final goal of the evening was an 18 yard screamer from JASON GREGORY - even though Tyas got something on it, he was left on his backside, probably wondering "what the f*** was that?!!!!" F-T 7-0
Not a typical end of season game then - and a result that seen Town climb to a very respectable 5th place in the table.
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00 (another great piece of work, Tony)
Attendance: 117
Charity: £5.25
