A battle it might well have been last Saturday at the Asterdale but the three points kept the Lions at the head of the East Midlands Counties League table going into a tricky month of fixtures over the Holiday Period.

Heanor had to come back from the disappointment of their first home defeat of the season against Anstey and the points were more important than the performance. Although it must be said that despite the bumpy pitch the Lions did manage to get the ball down and play some lovely football, particularly in the first half.

Good teams have to play on a variety of pitches and that is one of the things which makes the East Midlands Counties League such a difficult league to win.

Heanor being a team which likes to get the ball down on the floor and play and some of the pitches the Lions have played on this season have not been conductive to this. Not all the grounds in the league are like the Town Ground playing surface and this tends to be a great leveller, particularly for those teams who know they won’t beat Heanor by playing football.

There are hopes that Jake Vernon’s ankle injury was not serious and that he will be available to play a part in Saturday’s local derby against Holbrook Sports at the Town Ground kick off 3pm.

This will be another vital game for the club with away fixtures to come against Ibstock United and Holwell Sports as well as a home game on Boxing Day against Gedling Miners Welfare.

Supporters should note that the Boxing Day game against Gedling Miners Welfare and the game away to Holwell Sports on Monday 2nd January will both have 3pm kick off’s.

Next Tuesday the Lions have their exciting and attractive Derbyshire FA Senior Cup Third Round tie at Chesterfield to look forward to. A visit to the b2net stadium and the excellent surroundings of the Spireites new ground should be a big incentive all round, and there are hopes that the draw will bring some new supporters down to the Town Ground in the New Year to support the club which has done fantastically well again so far this season.

The game at Chesterfield has a 7.45pm kick off.

Enquiries regarding transport on the coach arranged by the supporters to the game should be addressed to Paul Morley on 07528 011652.

In the Third Round of the Derbyshire FA Divisional Cup (South) the Lions Reserves have been handed an attractive home tie against neighbours Ripley Town. This game will be played on Saturday 17th December.

Meanwhile the Reserves will travel to Holbrook Sports Reserves (3pm) on Saturday to resume their Central Midlands League Reserve Supreme Division fixtures.