Heanor brightened up an overcast and rainy afternoon at Clipstone with a fine display of attacking football and plenty of goals for their travelling supporters. Heanor played plenty of slick passing football with the new signings starting to blend well into the team.

After the shock of conceding a goal after 5 minutes, Chris Shaw unfortunately putting a cross into the box past Ian Deakin when under pressure from a Clipstone forward, Heanor quickly showed their attacking prowess when Paulo Piliero sent a dangerous cross into the box that Gary Ricketts just headed past the post. The same combination of players then produced the equaliser on 19 minutes, a Piliero corner into the area was headed down by Ricketts, the ball deflecting off a defender on its way into the net.

Sam Jones then produced a fine piece of play, turning past a player on the line, evading a couple of tackles and playing a superb through ball for Jamie Brown to run onto but he Clipstone keeper reacted quickly to block his attempt at goal. Heanor were soon in front though, a ball played to the far post was knocked into the net by Adie Hawes on 21 minutes. Two minutes later it was 3-1, Jones hitting a powerful shot from distance into the bottom corner of the net.

Heanor were now dominating the play totally, another couple of minutes later and Heanor were further ahead, Brown running on to a great through ball, calmly took the ball into the area rounded the keeper and rolled the ball into the net. Clipstone in one of their rare attacks played the ball across the face of Heanor's area and their number 3 hit a low shot but into the side netting.

Clipstone's respite was short lived, Ricketts in midfield playing a short pass to Piliero 40 yards out who saw the keeper off his line, Piliero sweetly lobbed the ball over him for a superb goal to make the scoreline 5-1 with only 30 minutes gone. Heanor were now playing the ball around well and Clipstone were finding this difficult to cope, Piliero hit another good cross across the face of goal but the inrushing Ricketts and Brown both failed to make contact with the ball.

Piliero who was causing Clipstone all sorts of problems up front sent over another great cross which Ricketts headed wide. There was no relief for Clipstone, just before the break Brown for Heanor taking the ball forward into the area, his low shot being saved by the overworked Clipstone keeper. second later Piliero, who was having an excellent game, won the ball after a poor clearance by the keeper, played the ball to Josh Greenhalgh who's shot produced a fine save from the Clipstone goal keeper.

Nick Hall and Jared Holmes came on at the beginning of the second half replacing Piliero and Gerry Moran. Heanor started the second half as they had finished the first by dominating play. Clipstone then gained a free kick out on the left but this was hit over the bar. Heanor quickly replied Holmes having a looping header just going over the bar.

Heanor then scored number 6 , a free kick was played into the area with the keeper failing to clear the ball properly and Brown, reacting the quickest hit a powerful shot across goal and into the corner of the net. Heanor kept pressing and were rewarded with yet another goal, the ball being played low across the Clipstone area and Greenhalgh tapped home from close range to make it 7-1.

Soon afterwards Clipstone's number 11 in a rare attack hit a curling shot from the right just past the post. Heanor then scored a couple of quick goals, Ricketts lobbing the stranded keeper on 73 minutes and then smashing home a penalty on 78 minutes after Wayne Cooke who was brought on as a sub was brought down in the area.

Clipstone then had some luck, Heanor losing the ball and allowing a Clipstone forward to run into the area, his shot hit the inside of the post, ran along the line and out again but the official however decided it had gone over the line and gave the goal. Heanor still kept chasing more goals, Cooke through on goal producing yet another save from the Clipstone keeper.

The referee again decided Clipstone needed some more help, giving a soft penalty for a foul which was quite clearly out of the area, the home side made the most of the decision and scored their 3rd of the match. There was still time however for Cooke to turn and hit a powerful, dipping shot from outside the area into the far corner of the net right on the Final whistle.

It was a superb performance by the Heanor Team, Paulo Piliero and Sam Jones were outstanding, Jamie Brown showed his pace and finishing ability with two well taken goals and Gary Ricketts producing an excellent centre forwards performance showing his power and ability to bring others into the game as well as scoring himself.

Clipstone should be commended for their sporting behaviour despite the score line.