Every single player who wore the shirt was superb and gave everything. That’s a game we should have won and we are disappointed to have drawn the game. We were positive playing against a team that is top of the league

- Glen Clarence, Manager

Saturday 14th January 2017
Midland League Premier Division
HEANOR TOWN (2)2 ALVECHURCH (0)2
by STAN WILTON

HEANOR TOWN: Emery, Marriott, Layton, Smith (Joe Naylor 66), Roulston, Whitmore, Hall, Brown (Benger 86), Cooper, Debrouwer, Reeves (Wilkinson 66). Substitutes not used – Craddock, Power
ALVECHURCH: Evans, Ashmore, Foster, Turton, Parsons, Willetts, Sauane (Cresswell 45), Shilvock (Winwood 45), Dubidat, Edmunds, March (Deards 14). Substitutes not used – Wardle, Fenney
REFEREE; Robert Cairns (Bedworth)

Table toppers Alvechurch were fortunate to return to their Lickey Top home with a point from this game. Despite coming back from two goals down they had to suffer a barrage of late Heanor attacks as the Lions sought to secure a deserved win.
Paul Evans, the visitors custodian, was undoubtedly their saviour as Heanor dictated the pace of the game from the start. But Evans was at fault as the Lions made a blistering start and took the lead inside five minutes. Skipper CHRIS SMITH was unmarked in front of goal to head home Greg Marriott’s corner with Evans rooted to his line.
When Alvechurch did get forward their feeble attack found Boston United loanee Michael Emery’s handling clean and concise.
Marriott tried a shot from distance as Heanor continued to enjoy the greater possession. It brought Evans to his knees but no goal. At the other end substitute Connor Deards, who had replaced the injured Babucar Sauane inside the first 15 minutes, shot wide on the turn.
Evans came to Alvechurch’s rescue again when Elliott Reeves set up Debrouwer who saw his shot deflected for a corner. But it didn’t stop the Lions take a deserved two goal lead on 32 minutes when KIERAN DEBROUWER found the top corner with a left foot shot from the edge of the penalty area. And within minutes of this, another shot from a similar position beat everyone, and the woodwork, otherwise the Lions would have been on cloud nine.
Evans saved with his legs as Elliott Reeves went clear and Debrouwer hit another first time shot over the bar.
The visitors most positive first half attack, just before the break, ended with Danny Dubidat’s low cross shot being touched round the post at stretch by Emery for their first corner.
Alvechurch made a double substitution at the start of the second half and with it they picked up the pace of the game. Particularly through the industrious Jack Cresswell whose mop of blonde hair seemed to pop up all over the pitch.
But it was Evans who saved the day again for them when he dived at the feet of Reeves who had once again scampered clear. He then produced an excellent double save, first from Jay Cooper’s shot and then tipping the rebound from Debrouwer over the bar. It was becoming a one man show!
And if this wasn’t enough to deflate the Heanor forwards, the visitors number one then thwarted Lions defender Shaun Roulstone’s downward header from a corner on the line.
But Alvechurch had started the second half with more determination and several speedy raids into home territory. One such, on 62 minutes, saw Keenan Layton fail to cut out a long cross field pass and DANNY DUBIDAT was faced with an open goal tap in from Jack Cresswell’s drilled low cross.
Shots were then traded at both ends. Evans saving from Reeves as Heanor attacked and Emery saving from Dubidat’s low effort.
Alvechurch levelled with thirteen minutes left. Two shots were blocked as Heanor defended in depth and there were claims for a hand ball amid the scramble which Referee Cairns concurred with. RYAN EDMUNDS fired home the resultant penalty with some conviction.
At this stage Heanor’s heads might have gone down. But they didn’t and they completely turned the tide back in their favour for the remainder of the game. Dominic Wilkinson had an overhead kick saved on the line by Evans and the goalkeeper then rescued his defenders again blocking Debrouwer’s shot as he raced clear for the umpteenth time during the game.
Heanor deserved a winner and put together one last great inter-passing move but Debrouwer’s shot went wide across goal with Evans for once unable to do much about it.

So Heanor have prevented the league leaders advance twice this season with draws both at home and at Lye Meadow. In this game it was the Lions who looked like title pretenders for long periods, and with Lye Town and Westfields still to visit the Town Ground, Heanor will have a big say in who wins the title even if they are not themselves involved.

YELLOW CARDS: Heanor – Dominic Wilkinson (75), Joe Naylor (85)
Alvechurch – Andy Parsons (68), Jamie Ashmore (79), Tom Turton (90)

OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE: 154

STAR PERFORMER: Paul Evans (Alvechurch)
STAR LION: Nick Hall