A year to the day since Heanor Town FC travelled to Retford United FC and won 4-0 with Kieran Debrouwer scoring all four, The Lions travelled to league rivals Worksop Town FC with Debrouwer set to make his 100th appearance for Heanor.

With the Nottinghamshire rivals scoring an incredible 91 goals so far this season it would always be a difficult task stopping their passing game. It turned out to be a challenge The Lions faced with a great amount of composure and maturity.

Only two minutes in and Elliot, the flying Worksop winger, took a touch and fired at goal, Marc Strzyzewski covering after the player found himself in space, the ball bouncing over the by-line off of Strzyzewski’s outstretched leg for a Worksop corner.
It was the experienced centre half that became the devil incarnate to the home supporters two minutes later, his full length slide tackle caught Jon Wafula, leaving the right wing back with an injury he couldn’t shake off. Strzyzewski received a caution for the mistimed tackle.

Heanor became gradually stronger throughout the game, finding their feet after Worksop came out the traps the quicker side, it was a Sam Jones double effort on nine minutes that gave hope. His free kick slammed into the ball but his next effort beat Stewart in the goal but unfortunately beat the crossbar too.
Jay Cooper, who had been man of the match by a country mile last week, had been showing his desire to cause the Worksop defence problems and gave them a real fright fifteen minutes in. Beating two men he then fed Debrouwer who placed his effort wide.
Worksop still hadn’t caused Ian Deakin any problems in the net, it was he who stood tall to watch Mitch Husbands’ shot fly wide of the target seventeen minutes in.
Heanor had arguably their best chance to score on the half hour, a cross from the left found Benger at the back post, winning his header in the air it was Sam Liversidge who had to stab the ball off the line to prevent Benger getting a goal in four consecutive games.

Worksop then had their best, and only, chance on thirty eight minutes. Phil Roe, the left wing back, had found space on the edge of the area, he took no second thought when he received the ball and put all his weight behind the strike. Ian Deakin put all his body behind the ball to tip the ball wide to receive a round of applause from both sets of supporters for the stop.

The half came to a close with Stewart making a double save at the feet of Cooper as the sides went in level.

Heanor were the first side back on to the pitch for the second half, four minutes earlier than the home side. Words were ringing in players ears as the half began, if Heanor had been on top in the first half the second was certainly a more balanced affair.

Connor Sellars, son of former Leeds, Blackburn, Newcastle and Bolton midfielder Scott Sellars, sliced a shot well wide of the goal on fifty six minutes as his side attempted to dictate tempo.
Matt Richards, a player working his way back to fitness, found himself replaced by Danny Booth on the hour mark. Booth signed for Heanor in mid-September, this being his first substitute appearance – a fine statistic to mark how important the athletic midfielder is to the squad.

Sam Jones was next to feel the wrath of the Worksop support, his sixty eighth minute late challenge ended the match for Mitch Husbands. Jones receiving a caution, Husbands being replaced by Ofosu. Worksop support quickly took to social media to suggest Jones had broken the ankle of Husbands, it was later shared that the player suffered ligament damage.

On seventy six minutes it was Kieran Debrouwer who nearly broke Worksop hearts. His turn and run at goal turned former Lion Ross Henshaw inside out. If it wasn’t for the acrobatic save from Stewart then the record goal scorer in the NCEL Premier Division would have added further to his tally.

Ofosu, who has recently joined Worksop from EvoStick side Belper Town FC, nearly profited from a wayward pass in the Heanor midfield. He collected the ball from Connor Sellars and turned quickly, his volley falling miles over the Heanor crossbar.

The game was rounded off with a Debrouwer volley. Shaw took a quick throw in, Cooper headed it on and Debrouwer put everything behind his strike, low and hard and looking to be bound for goal, the ball swerving at the last second to go wide of the post.

HEANOR TOWN FC
1 Deakin
2 Marriott
3 Shaw ©
4 Gregory
5 Hall
6 Strzyzewski
7 Cooper
8 Jones
9 Benger
10 Richards (Booth 60)
11 Debrouwer.
SUBSTITUTES
12 Booth (Richards 60)
13 Baker
14 Hawes
15 Andrews
16 Naylor

Attendance: 445
Man of the match: Nick Hall