HEANOR PASS LOUGHBOROUGH UNI TEST

HEANOR TOWN 2 LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY 1
MFL PREM @ THE TOWN GROUND
16 DECEMBER 2017 --- 3PM

HEANOR TOWN V LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY

It was to be three points for Heanor Town in what turned out to be a close run contest at the end with all the goals, and what goals they were, coming in the first half.  Heanor probably should have had it wrapped up at half time but after taking a 2-0 lead thanks to wonder strikes from Greg Marriott and Elliot Reeves Loughborough worked their way back into it just before half time after a lovely free flowing move saw Cameron Gordon convert.
Heanor, a town and ground of many night visits so I wont bore regulars with a review of facilities here except chips, chips, chips, cobs and peas!  The local game was in the selection process from very early in the week with as ever the need to avoid distance travel in the build up to festivities and an under the weather week the decision was taken to gamble on a fairly local encounter taking out the trip to Nottingham for a 3g game.

HEANOR MARKET PLACE A FESTIVE DELIGHT

Departure from base to the change at Alfreton had in sights a visit to Selston but with the hourly service running 20 minutes late there was the joyous sight of a H1 to Heanor and as ever its often best to take the option so at 2pm it was the Town Ground. Regular readers will know a trip to this theatre of dreams is always enjoyed and normally its for a night game so it was good to take in a daytime game, I say daytime game because car lights were already on in this dark winters afternoon, something that would lead to no match pictures from todays fixture.

GREG MARIOTTS STARES OUT THE CAMERA LENSE BEFORE HIS SUPERB STRIKE

Heanor Market Place was festooned [?] with decorations and with just half an hour to kick off there was chance for a few pre match photos before catching up with a few people during the afternoon a fellow non league fan from Burton who I had previously met around the non league scene, a pleasure to meet you and catch up, plus of course Ian Squires or Mr Squires as I respectively address him always a welcoming reception at Heanor, although it may not always be the warmest for the visiting team!  It was good to catch up with the tea bar ladies and after a started before the game it was half time before I managed a chip cob today, minus the peas surprisingly.

SADLY LENNY WAS SUFFERING WITH A DETATCHED PAW
BUT AT LEAST IT ALLOWED HIM TO PULL HIS SOCKS UP

Loughborough looking resplendent in their purple kit which is a unique outfit for the club must have been confident having three weeks earlier despatched Heanor 3-1 at the University.

PRE MATCH FOR LOUGHBOROUGH WITH JUST A LITTLE PURPLE ON SHOW

But today within holidays upon them they had a very changed side by all accounts and from the off The Lions fancied their chances taking a lead after 22 minutes when Marriott lashed home a 20 yard effort for a wonderful start.  The lead was doubled with probably the best goal of the game Elliott Reeves wonder finish from 25 yards that whistled into the roof of the Uni net.  Heanor looked well in control of the game but it was to be the visitors who would get a foothold in the game just four minutes before half time when a slick move saw Max Bardsley-Rowe supply the low cross for Gordon to sweep the ball home and that's how we went in at half time.

JUST TO KEEP THINGS EVEN HERE IS HEANOR RESPLENDANT IN THIER ORANGE BIBS

The second half failed to supply the quality goals and was quite a cagey affair before the final 10 minutes we saw Reeves have a header saved and then Reeves set up James Sleigh for a shot that went back across goal and wide, how I needed him to score today for a festive headline!  The closing stages powered from end to end but it was the Leicestershire based side who were finishing the strongest and so nearly pulled off a draw in a game that Heanor should have had wrapped up.

REFEREE RUEBYN RICARDO WONDERS IF ANYBODY ELSE FANCIES A GAME OF FOOTY

However The Lions held on and secured three more points as they look to stick to the chasing pack.

A FAMILIAR VIEW OF THE TOWN GROUND AS THE REGULARS GATHER

A darkening and increasingly cold night was beckoning and a local service back to Ripley saw a delayed Comet, see it does work out sometimes, facilitate a return back to base just an hours after the final whistle after an entertaining and in the end close match.