Heanor Town Football Club

Heanor Town gained their first win of the season last Saturday with a much improved performance against Shepshed Dynamo.

Indeed, the Lions controlled long periods of the game and looked superior in every department to the side relegated from the Northern Premier League last season.

Joint Manager Glenn Kirkwood said: “Craig (Hopkins) and I were delighted with the performance. We played well and played the game the right way.

“Craig and I took the blame for our opening two league defeats. We know how our supporters feel about losing, but we were gutted. Our success in the past has been on passing the ball, but we felt that in this new league we needed to play it into the corners more.

“It didn’t work and as a result we had to change tactics and the result was plain for all to see at Shepshed and it earned £1,000 for club coffers which will help to defray some of the increased costs of playing in a higher standard of football.

“We were delighted with the performance of all the players but we feel that in Danny Fields we have a fine young player. He is going to be a great player and has a very bright future.

“We played some great football at Shepshed but we are not getting carried away. We need to pick up some points in the league. Saturday’s game at Armthorpe will be tough but with the fantastic support the club gets both home and away we shall be looking to put some points on the board.”

Heanor’s reward for their win at Shepshed is a trip to their former East Midlands Counties League colleagues Blaby & Whetstone Athletic on Saturday 25th September. Blaby surprised everyone with their 2-1 win away at big spending Spalding United to set up the Lions visit.

Injuries and unavailability are biting a bit at the moment with Adam Nicholls lacking fitness and likely to go out on loan for three to four games. But Glenn Kirkwood assured that local boy Nicholls has a big part to play in the Lions season when he is fully fit.

Phil Austin was missing on Saturday due to holidays but should come back into the reckoning for the Armthorpe game along with striker Neil Grayson, but Jason Foster could be out for another couple of weeks.

It would seem that Matthew Baxter could be leaving the club after just one game with Arnold Town showing some interest in obtaining his signature. Mr Kirkwood was keeping his cards close to his chest when asked if a replacement would be brought in, saying only that “They had someone in mind”.