EASTWOOD CFC 0-3 HEANOR TOWN

Eastwood CFC......0
Heanor Town........3 (Sleigh 23', Ball 43', Thornberry 49')

The Lions prove too strong for Eastwood

ECFC made 3 changes from the Nirvana defeat. Ben Henderson and skipper Sturgess return and striker George Morgan makes his debut from the start. Slater, Kelly and Wallis were all missing due to Covid concerns, Eastwood was injured, Messom was working while Lavell White was still under suspension.

It was always going to be a tough afternoon with so many enforced changes and unavailability and so it proved against a slick Heanor outfit.

End to end for the first 20 minutes in front of a cold but vociferous crowd. Finn Hunter tested Wayne White early doors and, for the visitors, Jamie Sleigh looked lively combining well with Reife Poplar for the Lions first real opportunity. Returning Red Badgers winger showed some speed and quality down the right and he was a tad unlucky to see a decent effort saved by the outstretched legs of White.

Visiting left back Kyle Daley was proving a fine outlet for the Lions and his crosses were causing some consternation in the Eastwood defence. At the other end Eastwood continued to take the game to Heanor but White's handling in the air was spot on.

On 23 a sweeping move from the back and then a clever switch from right to left saw the opening goal. Daley with the cross from the left for striker Sleigh to fire under Mark Rathbone to register his 12th of the season.

Eastwood could and should have levelled things up shortly afterwards. Louis Anthony's shot was pushed away by White into the path of Morgan who skewed his shot wide. Moments later Hunter almost converted a fine Henderson cross at the back post. A few half chances for both sides as the interval loomed but the home defence was outdone 2 minutes before the break. A cross from the left was headed towards goal by Thornberry whose effort was brilliantly kept out by Rathbone but Jordan Ball was quickest to the rebound to double the Lions advantage.

0-2 at HT, a score line that slightly flattered the visitors as the Red Badgers were more than contributing and competing in a decent game of football.

4 minutes into the second period and things got worse. A superb defensive header from skipper Jacob Sturgess went for a corner on the right. From the resultant set piece Ball's smart header was kept out by Rathbone but the ball fell kindly to big defender Thornberry who slotted home.

Undeterred, Eastwood powered forward, Henderson's shot was cleared from danger by Joe Conkleton and Ben Stokes tried his luck from distance which failed to trouble White. As the game opened up the home team began to find some rhythm and, after 65, Morgan saw his goal bound effort cleared off the line by Reece Horne.

Most of the homesters efforts were from distance with troubling White and, for their part, Heanor were dangerous on the break with Sleigh again going mightily close on 78 after being played in by substitute Jake Dickinson. Five minutes later Sleigh saw his fine header well saved by Rathbone and Stokes went close for Eastwood as the game played out.

A decent improved second half showing from the home team with some good personal performances. The Management team will have learnt a great deal about their charges and hope that some absentees may be available for the New Year clash against the League leaders Long Eaton.

Attendance~ 413

Referee ~ Oliver Januszewski
Assistants ~ Lee Harrison and Nathan Mee

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Jacob Sturgess (C) Jahren Barrow, Josh Birkett, Louis Anthony, Ben Henderson, George Morgan, Finlay Hunter (Luke Smithson 75') Josh Ross, Tyrell Shannon-Lewis (Aaron Windram 77') Ben Stokes.
Substitutes not used ~ Lewis Scott (GK) Jack Messom and Joel Daft.
Caution~ Tyrell Shannon-Lewis (34’ foul)
Heanor Town ~ Wayne White, Reife Poplar, Kyle Daley, Max Thornberry, Joe Conkleton (Matt Feurtado 75') Josh Craddock, Tom Hilton (Jake Dickinson 75') Jamie Sleigh (C) Jordan Ball (Brad Lathall 75')
Substitutes not used ~ Jack Dando and Jonathan Jebbison.
Caution ~ Hilton (34')