Heanor Town:
Ian Deakin, Greg Marriott, Chris Shaw (cap), Daniel Booth, Adrian Hawes,
Marc Strzyzewski, Oliver Naylor (Jay Cooper 57), Sam Jones, Nathan Benger, Matt Richards (Jason Gregory 74), Kieran Debrouwer
Unused subs: Jack Andrews, Kieran Coupe, James Baker (GK)

Staveley MW:
Steve Hernandez (cap), Jordan Hodder (James Colliver 54), Arcadi Esposito (Ryan Watters 87), Brad Jones, Ross Goodwin, Damian Magee, Jack Watts (Kurtis Morley 70), Sam Finlaw, Jahmal Smith, James Ashmore, Ellis Wall
Unused subs – Oli Ryan, Alex Pugh

Referee: Stuart Richardson

Heanor Bookings:
Ian Deakin, Jay Cooper, Adrian Hawes

Staveley bookings:
Brad Jones

Sent off:
Jahmal Smith

Match Report by Jim McIntosh.

There was no love lost on Valentine’s Day between these two Derbyshire rivals as the home side grabbed all three points through a late winner from Sam Jones. The fifty plus from Staveley in the crowd of 175 saw Ellis Wall’s 76th minute goal cancel out Nathan Benger’s early strike and it looked at that point if the visitors could go on and steal all three points, despite not being at their best. There was further late controversy when leading scorer Jahmal Smith was sent off after a clash with home ‘keeper Ian Deakin although from where I was stood, both deserved a caution at most.

On a fine afternoon for football, Heanor gave a debut to 17 year old Oliver Naylor whilst Staveley gave a start to Jack Watts with Michael Trench unavailable and Craig Fisher still out injured.

The home side dominated the first 30 minutes and created a number of chances. Ellis Wall conceded a free kick with less than 60 seconds on the clock and the visitors were relieved to see Heanor’s big centre back Marc Strzyzewski miss his header and Brad Jones was on hand to clear.

Sam Jones then created a chance for himself but his shot went wide of the Staveley goal. Three minutes gone.

Ex-Staveley forward Nathan Benger then had a couple of chances, the first coming after Damian Magee slipped although Jordan Hodder was on hand to block the resulting shot. In between these chances, Staveley almost created an opening when a long ball from Brad Jones nearly caught out a slow Heanor defence and Ian Deakin needed to come out and clear the ball as Ellis Wall threatened.

The home side deservedly took the lead after 14 minutes although it wasn’t a great goal from Staveley’s view point. A high hopeful cross was sent in from the left hand side towards the back post and Nathan Benger rose above his marker and got a powerful header to the ball that gave Steve Hernandez no chance.

Staveley nearly provided an immediate response when a long Hernandez clearance down the centre was chased down by Jahmal Smith but he was unable to get on the end of it. Jack Watts then wrong footed Heanor captain Chris Shaw who slipped and Watts put in an inviting cross that Ellis Wall was unable to rise high enough to get his head on. Down at the other end, Heanor’s aerial power was proving a problem for Staveley and Nathan Benger headed onto Debrouwer but full back Jordan Hodder was on hand to block the latter’s shot to concede a corner.

As the half progressed, Staveley changed formation when Ellis Wall and Jack Watts swapped sides and this produced their bext spell of play in the half during the last 15 minutes. In a frenetic finish to the half, Sam Finlaw played a great ball inside to Ellis Wall but the latter’s cross was blocked for a corner. Jack Watts then made a strong run forward but was stopped by a well-timed challenge from debutant Olly Naylor. Heanor’s Greg Marriott then had a long-range attempt on goal but his shot was wide of Hernandez’s post.

Overall in the first period, Staveley didn’t force Heanor ‘keeper Deakin into making one save in the first half as they were unable to press high up the field and exert more pressure when Heanor where in possession.

HT 1-0

Heanor almost scored within two minutes of the restart when Kieran Debrouwer was gifted a free header but he was unable to find the target. Debrouwer then set up an even better chance for Nathan Benger with his header back across the goalmouth. However Damian Magee was quick to spot the danger and his challenge on Benger was enough to put him off and the forward blazed over from six yards out.

The home side then came close again following a free kick given away by Ross Goodwin. The low cross hit several players’ legs and was heading goal bound when Steve Hernandez got down smartly to collect the ball. The referee waived Heanor’s protests that the ball had crossed the line before the ‘keeper smothered it.

Staveley reshuffled their pack early on in the half when Player manager James Colliver replaced Jordan Hodder who had picked up a knock. Colliver went straight into the centre of defence with Brad Jones moving out to his more usual position of right back.

The visitors started to use the flanks to better effect and from one such move, James Ashmore played in a ball that Ellis Wall ran onto and the latter put in a decent cross that Ian Deakin needed two attempts to claim.

Heanor’s number 11 Kieran Debrouwer then had three chances in quick succession. The first was shot from 25 yards that Hernandez saved comfortably. The big forward then proved too strong for ‘Archie’ Esposito but he put the resulting shot past the upright. He then found himself with only Damian Magee to beat but the Staveley defender used his great experience and got in a good block to concede a corner.

Around the 70th minute Staveley then started to gain more possession and created several chances as several of the home defenders appeared to tire and struggled to deal with the pace and fresh legs of substitute Kurtis Morley who came on for Jack Watts after 70 minutes. Morley was immediately involved in the action when he was nearly on the end of a James Ashmore cross that Ian Deakin did well to punch clear. This move had initially started when Jahmal Smith did well to get a cross in from the left which was cleared but the ball found its way back to Ashmore.

Staveley’s possession and greater attacking threat eventually got its reward after 76 minutes. Brad Jones was initially involved and he found Jahmal Smith in the penalty area. Smith, despite the attentions of three defenders, did well to turn and lay the ball off to Ellis Wall who drilled home a right foot shot from 10 yards.

The decisive third goal was the best of the game. Heanor’s Sam Jones got in a great header that forced a brilliant save from Hernandez who pushed it onto the cross bar. However Jones showed great awareness and acrobatically got a foot to the rebound and scored from close range.

On 84 minutes Jahmal Smith went in for a 50:50 challenge with Ian Deakin for a loose ball. The ‘keeper collected the ball in his midriff as Smith went in to challenge. In a piece gamesmanship the ‘keeper then moved towards Smith to remonstrate about the challenge and the two players went head to head. Neither actually showed violence towards the other but the referee produced the red card for the Staveley striker and only booked the ‘keeper when a more balanced assessment would have been a yellow card for both.

In the remaining minutes, Kurtis Morley was unceremoniously upended adjacent to the box by Adrian Hawes with the latter being booked. The free kick came to nothing and the home side then broke free twice in quick succession but neither Jay Cooper or Kieran Debrouwer were unable to beat Damien Magee, last man on both occasions.

FT 2-1

A massive thanks to Jim at Staveley for this report. I make no apology that it is written from a SMWFC point of view, it is a very fair reflection of the match. Tony