Heanor red hot at Belper United

East Midlands Counties League Monday 26th August 2019
BELPER UNITED 2 HEANOR TOWN 5
By STAN WILTON
The temperature had reached 31C by kick off, and it showed with the players in the opening 40 minutes when goals looked like they would be hard to come by. It was energy-sapping just watching.
THE STORY OF THE GAME
4 minutes
Jordan Ball’s shot was deflected over the top and Jamie Sleigh hooked the corner wide.
11 minutes
Jordan Pierrepont saved Jim Rushby’s shot from a Ryan Baker cross.
12 minutes
Perhaps Jim Rushby should have made Pierrepont work harder to save his clear shot at goal which was straight at the goalkeeper.
23 minutes
Water break – and very much needed.
34 minutes
Ball shot from outside the area but caused Mark Rathbone no problems down by the foot of an upright.
36 minutes
Some excellent close control from Jesse Vowles woke the crowd up but his shot was off target.
39 minutes
A cross from the lively Jonathan Jebbison hit the top of the crossbar.
41 minutes
Splendid work by Jebbison down the right goal line and pulled the ball back for JAMIE SLEIGH to shoot on the turn into the bottom corner.
45+1 minutes
JESSE VOWLES sent clear down the left to score with a grand shot across Rathbone and into the far corner. Touch of class this.
45+3 minutes
Sam Ridgard’s shot was comfortable for Pierrepont.
Half Time
BELPER UNITED 0 HEANOR TOWN 3
46 minutes
Sleigh’s fierce angled shot cleared the bar.

48 minutes
Sleigh’s fierce shot pushed for corner by Rathbone. From the corner Max Thornberry’s header was cleared off the line and Vowles shot wide.
51 minutes
Three Heanor shots cleared off the line by overworked Belper defence.
57 minutes
Kyle Hazeldine’s great run and pass from the left was converted by JORDAN BALL for a three-goal Heanor lead.
68 minutes
Former United player Shaun Roulston’s effort led to Jordan Pierrepont conceding a penalty which substitute CURTIS WILLIAMSON put away with aplomb.
70 minutes
Jebbison’s close range rising drive splendidly pushed over the bar by Rathbone.
71 minutes
Another well earned drinks break.
74 minutes
United well back in the contest as DEAN OLIVER sent a bullet header from a corner high into the Heanor net.
79 minutes
SAM BIRKS hit home a left footed drive from fellow substitute James Ozmen’s cross as Heanor at last made possession count.
80 minutes
Snap Sleigh shot with Rathbone off his line just cleared the bar.
85 minutes
The move of the game. Thornberry opened the game up with a 30-yard pass to Oliver Pratt who made ground and found JESSE VOWLES for a classy finish into the bottom corner.
89 minutes
Vowles narrowly missed his threesome as he shot cleared the angle of bar and post by inches.
90 minutes
Page almost full of notes as Heanor hit everything but the back of the net in the minutes that remained. Rathbone was not the only saviour as defenders helped out hacking shots off the line.
Full Time
BELPER UNITED 2 HEANOR TOWN 5
Credit to both sides – it was mighty hot out there.