HEANOR SO NEARLY RUE MISSED CHANCES IN ARMTHORPE VICTORY

HEANOR TOWN 2 V ARMTHORPE W 1
NCEL PREMIER 11 MARCH 2015 7.45PM @THE TOWN GROUND [att 140]

TOWN GROUND READY FOR ACTION

Two first half goals secured Heanor Town all three points in a game that saw them miss a catalogue of chances.  The home side dominated the opening 45 minutes and most of the second half but as opportunities went begging Armthorpe found a well shielded ability to come forward and following a pulled back goal they forced The Lions into a nervous final few minutes.
As ever a midweek trip to Heanor is always something to look forward to and I think as listed in previous Town Ground visits this season its a club that has made good strides both on and off the pitch.

HEANOR TOWN'S NATHAN BENGER LOOKING TO ADD TO HIS 127 GOALS FOR THE LIONS

Before the game there was time for a quick lemonade in the attractive bar and then into the ground for the ever beckoning chip cob with peas, no problems with the cob recognition here back up north!  The ladies always greet you with a bit of banter and as mentioned with St Neots on Saturday clubs should cherish people like this who make you feel welcome at their ground.

PRSS OFFICER BUSY AS EVER!

There was time to catch up with Tony Sqiures, Press Officer, before the match and compliment the club on their new HTTV venture which is packaging highlights together for their website.  As mentioned, earlier, things are coming together nicely and with an improving match programme too it all adds to a enjoyable visit.
The blog also caught up with Heanor front man, and scorer of 127 goals for The Lions, Nathan Benger who sadly after the blog secured a photo for the website did not add to his total tonight but led the line with his usual endeavour.
Onto the game and a more one sided first half I have yet too see this season Heanor could have been three up before they finally broke the deadlock on 18 minutes when Greg Marriott supplied the cross that saw Jay Cooper power home a header to secure the lead.  Five minutes later it was deservedly two nil when Sean Gregory drilled a shot home from 14 yards after good play down the left from Cooper who turned assist after the opening goal.
Ten minutes before half time Richard Smith hooked the ball off the line when Samuel Jones looked likely to extend Heanor's lead to unassailable heights.

LEICESTERHIRE REF MICHAEL SCRIVEN PREPARES
HIS TEAM

The second half started at a blistering pace Sean Gregory set up Jay Cooper who at the back post with an open goal begging somehow blasted his effort against the upright and then almost immediately Kieran Debrouwer saw his effort well turned round the post by Armthorpe keeper Daniel Montgomery.  As Heanor powered forward the vital third goal just would not arrive and when Benger struck an superb effort from the edge of the box it was the crossbar that this time came to the rescue of Armthorpe.
From somewhere Armthorpe mounted probably only their second attack of the game and of course as so often is the case if you don't take your chances the opposition do Kieran Benson supplied the cross off the left and at the far post the ball was diverted over the line by, and you can take your pick here, Chris Shaw for an own goal or Armthorpes Simon Houlden depending on your view.  With 20 minutes to go this fired up the visitors and Benson so nearly levelled it but for a last gasp full length dive from Heanor's number one Ian Deakin who pushed the ball to safety.
The final minutes were a nervy affair with both sides looking to add to their tally but this was a game that Heanor should have had wrapped up by half time and a game that Armthorpe really failed to feature in as an attacking force until the last 20 minutes.
The usual all round enjoyable visit to Heanor well done guys.