It seems to be that when facing the teams at the top of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division that Heanor Town never seem fazed by the higher placed opposition, in fact quite the opposite happens and the Lions look superior.

Gerry Moran looked to have given Heanor the lead in the 10th minute, his neat foot work and effort seemed to have been hooked from behind the line to safety but the linesman said no. Thackley took the lead with their first shot at goal on 16 minutes and it was definitely against the run of play, Mike Garrod took a touch in the right side channel before burying the ball past Frost from 20 yards.

Just a minute later Heanor drew level, man of the moment Kieran Debrouwer found himself just a couple of yards from goal after some great build up play finishing with ease past Convey in Thackley’s goal.

On 23 minutes Greg Simmons nearly opened his account for the club, Convey saw the shot late and credit has to be given to him for getting down so quickly stopping the powerful shot. Nick Hall came close to giving Heanor the lead on 29 minutes, his shot from 35 yards took a wicked deflection heading for the top corner but Convey produced the save of the game by plucking the ball out of the air when he’d been wrong footed.

Mark Frost challenged Convey for save of the game in the 38th minute, a Thackley free kick was sailing towards the bottom corner but Frost got his fingertips to the ball, diverting it to safety. A minute later Debrouwer saw referee Matthew Smith book him for dangerous play although those of us who were standing closer to the challenge than the man in the middle spotted that Debrouwer had won the ball cleanly with a slide challenge.

The second half started with two goals in four minutes of madness, Thackley took the lead in the 48th minute, their second goal coming off the boot of Heanor defender Matt Blake, Brendan Maltby’s in-swinging left wing cross leaving Blake no option than to attempt a clearance but unfortunately the ball just deflected off his outstretched leg and over Frost in to the net.

It took only a minute for Heanor to equalise again, this time Jared Holmes with a solo run driving towards goal he lifted his cross cum shot over the goalkeeper from a good 25 yards in to the far corner. Heanor applied pressure to the Thackley defence, Benger managed to find space for a shot at goal on 54 minutes, spinning on to his left foot he placed the ball past the despairing Convey to give Heanor the lead for the first time in the match.

Thackley managed to snatch their equaliser on 57 minutes, a bouncing ball found its way to Matt Hall in the penalty area the striker finding enough space to volley home from 12 yards he renewed the belief in his side. Chances for a winner came for Raven, Hall and Williams before Frost kept Heanor in the game on 83 minutes tipping a 30 yard pile driver onto the outside of the post when he could have been guilty of being too far off his line.

In a match where the forwards were trying to gain the three points for their respective teams it has to be said that both goalkeepers were in great form. The atmosphere around the ground was that one side would win the game, thankfully Heanor's pressure paid off when the ball found its way to Benger in the box who prodded home in the 86th minute sending the vocal home fans crazy.

Benger’s goal made certain that a nervous last five minutes were a little easier to deal with. Solid, organised defending ensured Heanor held on for the win sending Thackley home with only their 5th defeat of the season but with memories of a match which to any neutral would be a great advert for the league.

Heanor: Frost, Raven, Shaw, Hall, Peel, Blake, Simmons (Williams 79), Moran (Webster 65), Benger, Holmes, Debrouwer.
Subs not used: Nicholls, Rogers, Baker.

Star Lions: Nick Hall, Brett Peel.