HEANOR TAKE THEIR CHANCES IN THE SECOND HALF TO CLAIM THE 3 POINTS

HEANOR TOWN 4 V TIVIDALE 1
MIDLAND FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER AT THE TOWN GROUND
31 DECEMBER 2016 --- 3PM

TOWN GROUND FOR HEANOR V TIVIDALE

Heanor converted the second half chances that they had so worryingly missed in the first half especially when 5 minutes before the break Dominic Smith had given Tividale the lead with their only chance of the half.  By this stage The Lions could have been 7 goals to the good so was their dominance however a strong second half showing with goals from Nathan Benger, Alex Brown and a double from Keenan Layton rebalanced the 3points in favour of the home side.
Following last nights disappointing call off at Sheffield FC thankfully there was a selection of close by Midland League games and where better than Heanor Town good food, atmosphere and normally a steady old game.  I think I have described it before as like a comfy chair you just want to settle down with and that's just what we did after a change in Alfreton which was running slightly late todays public transport dropped us off around half past mid day in the town.
We made use of the bar at Heanor for a glass of fizzy and Santa was still on display needless to say at half time Tividale thought it was still Christmas and he had dropped them a one goal lead off for their present.
A wide selection of hoppers and enthusiasts were in attendance good to see them all and catch up with Flagman Dave, Chris, John, Malc, Alan and of course the regulars at Heanor Town.

HEANOR TOWN CLUBHOUSE

 It was nice to see a few familiar faces from our last viewing of Tividale last season at Chasetown where they put up a good fight in their battle to preserve Evostik football something they finally lost but on the day I remember a spirited effort.  Indeed Tivi only just lost 2-1 to Lye Town in their last fixture but as the players arrived they looked a very young squad and you have to hope they can get a god run together to see them move away from the bottom two.

MORE FOOD RESEARCH

The obligatory trip to the snack bar and as ever Kim was well in order for the catering which of course we enjoyed as ever its one of the highlights, its not often a day time game is done at Heanor so it was a nice change.  In fact the last day time game was probably 364 days ago against Shepshed last New Years Day.

FOOTBALL TO THE RIGHT CRICKET TO THE LEFT

No frost danger today although towards the bottom of the slope end it was looking a little heavy but that didn't put off Heanor who started off at a pace.  The first move of note after 11 minutes saw Brown strike a post with a header from a Jay Cooper cross off the left.  It then became a list to Santa of chances but sadly the man in red rejected all requests for a goal Chris Smith saw his effort saved by Luke Kriskinians, then Dominic Wilkinson header over when it looked easier to hit the net, before Brown saw his shot saved for a corner from which Nathan Benger saw his header cleared off the line.  Time for a breather? No next up was Benger who used his strength to approach the edge of the box and unleash a shot that once again saw Kriskinians fly to his left to push over the bar.  Just past the half hour mark Cooper put in another testing cross from the left that fell to Smith at the back post who got a slight touch to it but not enough to divert the ball into the goal.

SANTA AWARDS TIVIDALE A LATE CHRISTMAS PRESENT

Then Santa came out with his gift and awarded it to Tividale who saw Probert sweetly set up Smith who slotted the ball home to give the visitors a shock lead.  You have to take your chances and it was the West Midlands side who confirmed that statement as their players wheeled away in delight to celebrate.
The game could have gone either way now with Heanor totally deflated or with a response to enthuse their supportive crowd, thankfully after an early scare it was the latter.  The second half was just one minute old when Smith broke through and forced McCormack into a sharp save had this effort have gone in it could have secured 3 points for Tividale.

REFEREE LASKA CENTRAL TO HEANORS EQUALISER

The remainder of the half was about Heanor as once again they dominated but they had to be grateful for a strange goal on 57 minutes when the ball fell to the back post and as the keeper seemed to mishandle Benger tapped the ball goal bound it seemed to spin on the line strike the post and fall away from the goal.  Referee Laska though signalled for a goal it did not appear that the assistant had signalled the ball had crossed the line but a gaol was awarded.  Tividale appealed the ball had not crossed the line and from my position on the edge of the penalty box you had to agree with them indeed I didn't hear many of the staunch home fans claim this was a goal.

HEANOR KEEPER MCCORMACK REALISES HES FORGOTTEN SOMETHING

But Heanor were back in the match and they took the lead on 65 minutes when Brown crashed one in off the underside of he bar.  There was time for Benger to test the keeper from close in when it looked like he had scored the visiting number 1 grabbed the ball to safety.  It was 3-1 though shortly after Cooper set up Greg Marriott whose effort was again saved by the Tividale keeper but Layton was on hand to fire the loose ball home.  With 5 minutes remaining Layton got his second firing home at the back post there was even time for Brown to strike the bar in the closing stages.
This was undoubtedly the correct result Heanor with credit stuck to the task against a determined Tividale who had taken a shock lead and had given it their best but had those chances been taken we would have seen a large scoreline in favour of Heanor Town.
With a quick return and some handy departures base was arrived at 5.55pm an unusually early return for the blog on a Saturday.

STEVE HAMILTON AND HIS NEW CHRISTMAS HAT