BENGER DOUBLE SEES HEANOR HOME

HEANOR TOWN 3 V WALSALL WOOD 1
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER @ THE TOWN GROUND
21 OCTOBER 2016 --- 7.45PM

CHIP PEA COB TO FOLLOW TOP SNACK BAR AT HEANOR TOWN

A double from Nathan Benger was just what The Lions ordered as they came back from a goal down against visitors Walsall Wood.
A quick blog as ever on this many timed repeat visit to Heanor, having said that this was only the second mid week game of the season for the blog after last times public transport connection problems it was time to come out and try my favourite mid week visit again.
There cant be too many better places than a floodlit game at The Town Ground always enjoyable with a nice club house and of course the ever popular snack bar for my favourite pea, chip cob.  Tonight as ever one was sampled around catching up with many of the hoppers who were in attendance at this game as ever a pleasure to catch up with you.
Before tonight's game the club received an excellent donation of a defibrillator awarded by the Kellogg family who have a big influence in local sport, Donna badminton, Lia Long Eaton Ladies, Sam and Thom at Graham ST Prims but who suffered the sad loss of their brother Joe from heart failure during a training session with Borrowash Victoria.  The family have started a campaign to get defibrillators at all football grounds you can follow this on Facebook and Twitter.  The donation had come from construction and infrastructure company Morgan Sindall who had alloated them a 'defib' to donate to Heanor Town who were the grateful recipients, hopefully it will never be needed but its a great asset for players, officials and spectators alike.  Well done to all a real positive for the club and of course non league football.
So to the game and it was a fantastic first half that flowed from end to end but defensively must have been a little worrying.  The visitors took the lead on 19 minutes when Harry Harris floated in a swirling free kick that Ben Birch met superbly well to fire home first time.  Heanor keeper Joe McCormack was in excellent form in a superb first half showing saving well including from Gregory with his legs and a full length save from Aiton.

143 LEFT EUROPEAN FOOTBALL AT HOME TO WATCH A SUPER GAME TONIGHT

Heanor could have been well behind at half time but they stuck to their task and when Dom Wilkinson was upended in the box Benger converted from the spot to take the game into half time at 1-1.
The visitors had looked threatening in the first half in an entertaining first half of free flowing attacking football however the second half was much about Heanor taking control of the game.  With 20 minutes to go the pressure paid off via a lovely finish from Elliott Reeves who slotted the ball home from just inside the box.  The game was never safe at 2-1 and it took Benger to get his second on 85 minutes to settle it thanks to a 20 yard free kick that flew past Andy Hughes in the visitors goal.
By the final whistle the blog was grateful to fellow non league fan Neil Laughlin for a lift back to nearby Ripley which allowed a couple of comfortable connections and avoided the stress of the last few visits to Heanor.
Good game an entertaining night which saw Heanor come good against an impressive visiting Walsall Wood.

ADDITIONAL LIGHTING AT THE TOWN GROUND