With Heanor Town FC currently boasting a 100% win record away from The Town Ground in all league fixtures, it is baffling the clubs hierarchy as to why the home form has been stuttering at best.
With Sporting Khalsa FC travelling to Derbyshire on the back of an exciting FA Cup run that culminated in them being dumped out by FC United of Manchester a fortnight ago, it would always be a tough fixture and The Lions would have to be on best form to get a result.
Greg Marriott delivered a third minute free kick to the feet of Stephen Hart, the forward turned sharply and fizzed a snap shot at goal. Pemberton dived low to collect the strike.
Kieran Debrouwer took control of a pass and immediately sprinted with the ball towards the near post, Tim Jackson tracked him all the way, stretching every inch of his small stature to stab the ball away for a corner kick.
Khalsa looked rigid and well drilled in defence throughout, they nearly took the lead on twenty three minutes with an effort from David Meece. The diminutive winger hit the effort well enough only to see the ball crash back off the upright.
Mike Perks was next to create an effort for Khalsa, his deft chip to the back post saw Townsend collect bravely before sending a long punt up to Hart, in turn he fed Cooper who did everything right until the time came to shoot. The winger only able to find the side netting.
Sporting Khalsa took the lead in the thirty sixth minute, with Heanor down to ten men momentarily due to an injury to Danny Booth, a corner kick wasn’t cleared with any conviction and Tesfa Robinson rolled home from close range.
Booth left the action on thirty eight minutes to be replaced by Chris Bettney.

The Lions were expected to stamp some authority on the match when the sides returned from the break, it never really happened.
Around the hour mark the management made two substitutions, firstly Clarke replaced Hart and then Benger replaced Smith. Benger taking a position in central defence to give Nick Hall freedom to join the midfield.
Khalsa defended well in numbers, the first time they were breached was for a Benger pass to Clarke who acrobatically turned the ball towards goal. The ball sailed inches over the cross bar.
Seventy four minutes in and Khalsa took the chance to use the space afforded by Heanor moving higher and higher up the pitch, Craig Bannister broke free down the right and left Claridge for dead before crossing the ball to Matthew Martin to head home.
Two minutes later and a Heanor corner saw Jay Cooper see his header cleared off the line, Dan White looked set to head his first Heanor goal from the loose ball but Benger couldn’t get out the way in time and deflected the ball over the bar.
Jamie Clarke did get his goal on eighty eight minutes, quick feet inside the box saw him almost replicate the first goal of the day by smashing home from the same spot.
For all the effort and desire, it simple was not enough against a well drilled Khalsa.

Heanor: Townsend, Marriott, Claridge, Booth (Bettney 38), Hall ©, White, Smith (Benger 66), Naylor, Hart (Clarke 61), Debrouwer, Cooper.
Unused: Edridge, Whittingham.

Attendance: 198