BELPER SECURE FINAL SPOT WITH WIN AT HEANOR

HEANOR TOWN 1 V BELPER TOWN 2
DERBYSHIRE SENIOR CUP SEMI FINAL @ THE TOWN GROUND
10 FEBRUARY 2016 7-45PM

COLD BUT ENTERTAINING NIGHT AT THE TOWN GROUND

A goal three minutes into the second half from Alex Steadman following the sweetest of moves was the differences between the two sides in the end, much as Heanor launched everything bar the kitchen sink into the Belper box in the final ten minutes they could not rescue the tie.
Tonight's journey was of a more comfortable proposition thanks to Mr Wintle for transportation to and from The Town Ground negating the need for three buses.  As ever Heanor is always a tantalising ground to visit for a night fixture and tonight was once again no different with step 4 visitors Belper Town offering the challenge to The Lions who ply their trace one step below.  The whole atmosphere at the ground is always one of the selling points with a nice bar area, excellent snack bar and closeness of the crowd to the action non more so than tonight with an excellent attendance of 336.

GROWN MAN WEARING STRANGE CLOTHES....................HAS PHOTO TAKEN WITH LENNY THE LION

Following 24 hours of dry weather, I know 24 hours its unheard of, the game received the go ahead and the areas football glitterati turned out.  There was just time before the kick off to catch up with the usual Heanor friends and then Mr Ian Wright and Dave Laughlin of Belper Town.  Dave former kit man, flagman and football retriever of Glapwell FC was in attendance and being a Nottinghamshire resident I did question his appearance at this all Derbyshire County Cup game but he assured me he was an observer, probably just missing his blue beret.   Nuneaton manager and former Ram Kevin Wilson was also in attendance.

Approaching the players entrance it was superb to catch up with Kev Grundy who has just left as manager of Swanwick Pentrich Rd FC and had been asked to physio for The Lions tonight, a pleasure as ever and I cant believe Kev will be having any spare Saturdays for too long some club will snap him up.
With time moving on there was an outside chance of not getting to sample the delicacy that is the chips and peas cob but never to be denied one was secured and the ladies as ever were on form in the snack bar ahead of a busy night, once again, for them.
As the crowd drifted in towards the kick off it was great to see so many people coming aout to experience live and local non league football.
The game started at a fair old pace and produced two goals in around 5 minutes with Heanor opening the scoring after 13 minutes a superb save in the build up from Nailers keeper Charlie Mansfield before Karl Demidh converted on his debut.  Belper were not to be denied for long when on 17 minutes they equalised when Robert Stevenson drove an effort goal bound from the edge of the box on its journey int the penalty box it took a wicked deflection wrong footing Joe McCormack and the scores were level and that's were we ended at half time.

TOWN GROUND IN THE PRE MATCH

Probably the funniest comment for a while and maybe you had to be there came from Dave in relation to an impending toilet visit, which at The Town Ground are in the bar or pavilion area which is a nice little stretch away from the pitch, "They could do with a shuttle bus to get you to the loos"!
The second half produced the decisive goal just three minutes after the re start when a lovely three man move down the left set up by Louis Keenan and Ben Watkis set up Steadman for a neat finish with a guided effort just inside the right hand upright but out of the reach of McCormack.  Belper then threatened to take the game away from their hosts but a few changes later an Heanor were more than back in the game as they re charged their effort with lots of possession but unable to break down a resolute Belper defence.  The final 10 minutes saw ball after ball launched into the Nailers box but the defence dealt well with all that was thrown at it and although Heanor probably deserved extra time you could not deny Belper had put on a quality performance in a very enjoyable game for the large crowd.
When referee Richard Eley blew the final whistle Heanor had given it their all but it would be Belper who would enjoy their final at The Proact later in the season.  Before departure from the ground their was also time to catch up with Selston manager Craig Weston who his leading his side so well in The CMFL South.
Another enjoyable evening at the footy in Heanor!