The first pre-season fixture in preparation for a new season with new hope and aspirations as the senior side find its has a lateral move in the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands League into the newly sponsored Camper UK Premier Division North.

Heanor arrived looking to dust off in readiness of the new season and looking to better last season’s showing at Step 5 of the National League System in the GCE Hire Fleet United Counties Football League, Premier Division North which they just missed out on a Play off spot and had an excellent run in the quarter finals of the FA Vase.

As all pre-season games go, several trialist and lots of substitutions made it a great afternoon for both camps looking at their squad and players getting those valuable minutes in the tank. So, the fact we saw a good competitive start the game with the visitors having the better of the possession and the home side keeping their defensive shape to keep the Heanor side at bay would have been some big positives for all.

The first real opportunity came Teversal way when Macaskill held off the defender to attack the penalty from a tight angle, choosing to fire for goal when possible, rolling across the 6-yard box for Gregory would have been a wiser choice, instead the shot bounced up awkwardly for Gregory who couldn’t adjust to get that telling touch and open the scoring.

On 21 minutes the Tevie Boys did manage to take the lead with a fine goal when Parfitt held ball up well before picking out the timely run of Jackson who took the ball in his stride before wrong footing the defender to finish with confidence. The first period continued in an open manner after a drinks break, with both keepers called upon to make saves of notes, with Macaskill and Gregory denied for the home side.

As expected in the half time break multiple changes were made with the pattern of the game changing too and within 7 minutes Heanor put their print on the game by turning the half time deficit into a 2-1 lead and punishing the lapses of the home side.
Around the three quarters mark and after the mid half drinks break and more changes to both sides, Heanor extended their lead with an excellent strike from 20 yards that demonstrated the quality in their squad and threats they have making the 3-1 look possible a little easier than it really was.

In the 85th minute Heanor extended the lead when a deflected cross from the right saw the ball fall nicely to the Heanor striker to place a looping header out of the reach of Jablonski and finish the scoring at 5 goals in a 5 star pre-season game, with both leaving the game with lots to work on, but also lots of positives too.

Attendance 120