Going in to a local derby game can always be tricky to plan for. That planning becomes especially difficult when the opposition lose their manager ten days before the encounter.
Long Eaton saw Charlie Palmer up and leave for higher league Belper Town, leaving Shaun Rickford to try and steady the ship at Grange Park.
With The Lions seeing off Dunkirk FC in a 6-1 mauling on Tuesday night the momentum was always with Heanor, that momentum gave them a lead within two minutes of the start on Saturday. Danny Booth, not known for goal scoring prowess, found space on the edge of the box to place the ball out the reach of Scott Low. Jay Cooper started with his usual powerful running, beating Dean Haynes on the right flank to create the chance for the young midfielder. Booth’s only other Heanor Town goal coming 13 months ago at Bridlington Town.
Long Eaton stood their ground, fortunately three of their starting line-up used to grace The Town Ground in the black and white of Heanor, Tom Cooper-Richards, Jordan Leeming and Paulo Piliero, the former being Long Eaton’s most influential attacking player.
Ben Gowing was on form when the two sides met in the FA Cup last season, he again showed touches of brilliance, hitting the post with a curling effort on twelve minutes. The strike leaving Townsend clutching at thin air in the Heanor goal.
Heanor showed their refreshing determination as they challenged for every ball, Nick Hall and Dan White taking firm control of the defence whilst Jamie Clarke won every header to enable Ollie Naylor to cause problems for the Long Eaton defence. It was Naylor who next tested Low, his low effort didn’t look problematic for the ‘keeper but somehow it took two attempts to stop the strike.
Jay Cooper attempted to double the lead on the stroke of half time, his neat foot work opened up space to fire at the goalkeeper from fifteen yards. Low collected the ball easily as the sides left the field for the break.

Heanor started the second period with a spell of dominance, culminating in Jamie McKeever pulling Ollie Naylor back as he moved for the ball inside the penalty area. Sensible refereeing saw no card shown, Jamie Clarke stepped up to roll the ball past Low, sending the keeper the wrong way as the ball hit the inside of the right netting.
Naylor, injured in the build up to the penalty, was replaced by Edridge a minute later, giving Greg Marriott freedom to attack and Jay Cooper moving to centre forward.
Joe Naylor found himself in a yard of space in the penalty area after a lung busting run, his effort flashed wide with Low diving late.
Clarke made his way to the bench on seventy one minutes, Benger his replacement. Clarke scoring three in his two appearances since returning from suspension is a perfect way to re-introduce himself to the enthusiastic Heanor support.
Benger should have added to the score on seventy four minutes, his neat control, turn and shot only narrowly missed the target.
Long Eaton finished the game pressing hard for a goal, Kieran Anderson broke free on eighty three minutes only to be foiled by Townsend at his near post, leading to a fruitless corner.
Five minutes before time it was Gowing who got The Blues off the mark, his movement into space twenty five yards out gave him time to pick his spot. The top corner. With great precision he lifted the ball inches out the reach of Townsend.
A flurry of corner kicks and long shots couldn’t give Long Eaton an equaliser, even with Low joining the attack. An equaliser would have been undeserved for Long Eaton on what was an easier afternoon for Heanor than the score line would suggest.

The result leaves Heanor 2nd in the Midland Football League Premier Division with nine wins, two draws and only two defeats. The Lions travel to Coventry Sphinx on Monday evening looking to take first position.
Heanor: Townsend, Marriott, Claridge, Booth, Hall ©, White, Smith (Seale 79), J Naylor, Clarke (Benger 73), O Naylor (Edridge 52), Cooper.
Unused: Bowler, Whittingham.

Referee: Dragan Kusmanovic