Two of the Northern Counties Leagues in
form teams met at The Town Ground on Wednesday night. A hard working, gritty
performance from Heanor Town FC sent Brighouse Town back to Yorkshire feeling
hard done by to not have a share of the points.
Heanor started brightest, the league’s
top scorer Debrouwer swinging an effort just over the bar in the 11th
minute. Just a minute later, Brighouse’s Thornton’s effort came off the bottom
of an upright.
Mark Frost made the first of his many
saves in the 17th minute, Boafo broke through and saw his low shot
held well. Danny Williams nearly took the lead in unusual style in the 26th
minute, his back header 15 yards out flashed past the far post.
Within a minute the referee chose not to
book Brighouse’s Jagger for a foul on Grantham when it seemed to all in the
ground it was a bookable offence, Peel was booked following a foul in the
visitors penalty area after the free kick was taken. Peel’s clumsy challenge on
the goalkeeper deserved the booking.
Both Debrouwer and Holmes had efforts
come close, Debrouwer’s free kick on 38 minutes deflected over for a corner and
Holmes in the 41st minute going out of play via the cross bar. H-T 0-0
Heanor started the second half in the
same fashion, Hall shot high over the bar in the 53rd then Debrouwer
saw his shot go just over in the 58th after a long ball from Frost
landed straight to his feet.
It was in the 62nd minute
that full-back Josh Raven found himself being tripped in the penalty area. The
referee pointed straight to the spot, Debrouwer despatching the spot kick out
of the reach of the goalkeeper for his 18th goal of the season.
It was that man Debrouwer who nearly
scored again in the 73rd minute, his free kick well saved by the
goalkeeper. Williams should have added to his 47
goals for the club in the 80th minute, heading over when it looked
easier to score. Grantham was the latest player to see the woodwork prevent a
goal, his effort in the 86th minute smashing against the bar.
Frost made another crucial save in the
87th, when a Brighouse forward broke free he saved low at his feet,
deflecting the ball for a corner.
After that corner, a Brighouse forward
hit an effort from the edge of the area, with Frost stranded after rushing to
collect the ball all were relieved to see the ball crash back off the crossbar.
Heanor managed to hold on to beat a very
good Brighouse side, taking The Lions to the top of the NCEL Premier Division
form table.
Heanor simply are looking unbeatable on
current form, with the same work rate and ethic that both sides showed during
this match it is likely both sides will be in the mix at the end of the
campaign.
Heanor: Frost, Raven, Shaw, Moran, Peel,
Blake, Grantham, Hall, Williams, Holmes, Debrouwer.
Subs not used: Wallace, Davis,
Granville, Crossley, Baker
