Heanor travelled for a rare Monday night fixture to Coventry to face Coventry Sphinx, a side starting in nineteenth place in the league at the start of play.
Nathan Benger partnered Jamie Clarke in attack, it was the pair linking up that provided Benger with the chance to put The Lions ahead on nine minutes. Clarke flicked the ball on, Benger rifled home from fifteen yards across goalkeeper Scott Dutton.
Joe Naylor found himself in the referee’s notepad on sixteen minutes for a clumsy foul, somewhat harsh after Coventry full back Tom Muldoon escaped a booking for three consecutive fouls on Jay Cooper.
Coventry seemed cautious in attack, Mitchell Pigeon flew forward and fired inches over the bar on thirty five minutes.
Three minutes later and Heanor doubled their lead. Jay Cooper rose highest to cushion a header across goal and into the top corner, Smith the player with the pinpoint delivery.
Forty three minutes in and Joe Naylor was the man in the right place to nod home a Claridge cross that Dutton only half cleared with a punch, Naylor finding the very top of the net to make the lead a little more comfortable.
Regan Edridge saw his night come to an end with injury a minute into stoppage time, replaced by Cory Bowler as Nathan Benger reverted to centre-back.
Danny Booth saw the last effort of the half come his way, a double chance from very close range saw his first chance saved by Dutton, as the ball broke clear he attempted to stab home, the ball flashed past the post.

As the sides returned for the second period it seemed that substitute Jackson Downie gave the home side new impetus, his dart into the box caused Heanor to panic and give away the penalty. Rich Blythe stepped up to slot home, low into the bottom corner, only five minute into the half.
Clarke saw his name taken on fifty five minutes, his reaction to a challenge causing the official to take action.
Coventry then saw their attacking play reap rewards on the hour, a snap shot from Blythe saw Townsend unsighted by a crowd of player ahead of him. The ball landing in the bottom net, Blythe doing well to fire home from 25 yards.
Ollie Naylor replaced Bowler on sixty three minutes, giving the young forward a chance to get in behind the Coventry defence who were now playing high up the field.
Naylor rattled the post on seventy five minutes after breaking free, his effort would have been an excellent finish from a narrow angle, the woodwork preventing the goal.
A minute later and Danny Claridge extended the Heanor lead, arguably against the run of play, his left wing cross sailed over Dutton, a goalkeeper who struggled with the ariel play of the Heanor forward line. The ball rippling the inside of the net, leaving Heanor with a comfortable lead to work hard to protect.

Goals: 9 Benger, 38 Cooper, 43 J Naylor, Claridge 76.

Heanor: Townsend, Marriott, Claridge, Booth, Hall ©, Edridge (Bowler 45+1, Naylor 63), Smith, J Naylor, Clarke, Benger, Cooper.
Unused: White, Seale, Whittingham.

Man of the match: Joe Naylor.