Heanor Town Reserves welcomed Radford Reserves to the Town Ground looking for revenge for a 5-1 mauling they received at Selhurst Street earlier in the season. Adam Barrett and Luke Crosby were making their first appearances at this level for the club.

Heanor burst straight into the attack from the start and should have been a goal to the good after two minutes when Andreas Kokkinou rushed clear of the visitors defence, but his tame finish caused Jon Caunt no problems. Caunt then made an excellent save from a stinging Luke Crosby shot for the top corner. Heanor were not to be denied in their storming start and went ahead after seven minutes when a grand move ended with Liam Barber and Kokkinou providing LUKE DUERDEN with a side footed finish from ten yards.

Heanor were so much on top that goals looked like coming in avalanche proportions, particularly as a Jak Lightly shot took a huge deflection in the 19th minute and Caunt, falling backwards, somehow managed to get a hand on the ball and keep it out; Mark Thomas completing the clearance. Both sides were attempting to play passing football and it was an absorbing game to watch.

Heanor’s finishing was leaving a bit to be desired though, especially in the 31st minute when Duerden had all the goal to aim at from six yards out but hit the underside of the bar with an excited shot that was far too hard. Jack Smith replaced the injured Kokkinou in the 34th minute and a minute later the score was doubled when LUKE CROSBY fired home from close range as another exciting Heanor move cut the visitors defence wide open.

Luke Dearden shot wastefully wide after good work by Lightly and Caunt saved a shot from the hard-working in impressive Adam Barrett. Crosby did all the spadework for Heanor’s third goal in first half stoppage time, LUKE DUERDEN shooting home the final pass for his second goal of the game.

Radford were a different side in the second half and Heanor found it difficult to make progress against them. Indeed, within five minutes of the restart Marcus Fletcher got to a lofted free kick from skipper Connor Scott-Parkin before the slow-off-his-line Cherry but saw his header flash over the bar. Heanor put together one bright move and Caunt saved from Duerden looking for his threesome, but it proved to be his last touch of the game as he was replaced by James Riley.

Radford began to dominate midfield and Heanor appeared to lack the leadership to restore their advantage. Manager David Barber’s half-time call for his team to keep a clean sheet fell on deaf ears though in the 71st minute when Cherry came hesitantly for a free kick from CONNER SCOTT-PARKIN and allowed the ball to go through his hands and over the line for a very soft goal.

The industrious Alan Horton almost restored the home two goal advantage with a point blank header following a throw in, but Caunt once again somehow managed to beat the ball out off the line. Jak Lightly moved forward in the closing stages to fire a Kieran James pass inches wide, before Liam Barber, on his 50th appearance for the Reserves, was replaced by Jacob Ward for the last six minutes.

Heanor: Ross CHERRY, Alex CROSSLEY (Captain), Kieran JAMES, Danny BONSALL, Jak LIGHTLY, Liam BARBER (Jacob WARD 84), Alan HORTON, Adam BARRETT, Andreas KOKKINOU (Jack SMITH 34), Luke CROSBY, Luke DUERDEN (James RILEY 64 minutes).

Substitutes not used – Luke HODGEKINSON, Aaron DAILEY.

REFEREE: Matthew Skinner

ATTENDANCE: 64

Star Lion: JAK LIGHTLY