HEANOR TOWN 0-2 EASTWOOD CFC (FA VASE)

Heanor Town..............0
Eastwood CFC..........2 (Nangle 28', Hearn 40')

Tremendous performance on the road

Eastwood travelled the short hop up the 610 to take on a Heanor Town buoyed by a fine start to the season and boasting the best striker in the league in Jamie Sleigh who boasted a record of 7 goals in the recent 9 games.

The visitors certainly put their cards on the table as they attacked their hosts with some fine flowing football. McKenna Parton forced home 'keeper Dylan Wharton into early action and minutes later Wharton had to save a goal bound shot from Romello Nangle with his feet.

For their part the Lions enjoyed a fair few bouts of possession and debutant Mathew Feurtado who shot just wide after 15 minutes. Eastwood's right flank was causing problems for the homesters with Nangle, Moussa Cisse and Liam Hearn taking the game to their hosts. Eastwood's midfield were in charge for the main part with the impressive Sean Wooley and Charlie Marzano, currently dual signed and making his debut, snuffing out any kind of Heanor forward momentum.

After 27 minutes came the goal that Eastwood thoroughly deserved. Hearn turned Jake Carlisle inside out in the box and sent in a low cross which Wharton did well to divert away from danger. The ball, however, fell invitingly into the path of Nangle who swept the ball home for the lead. The home side seemed to have no answer to the direct forward play from Eastwood and it was no surprise when the lead was doubled 5 minutes before the break. A long throw-in from the left by Dean Freeman was flicked on and into the box by Jack Andrews and pounced upon by Hearn who volleyed over Wharton. 2-0 at the interval and just about right. The Lions attacks were few and far between and Sleigh and partner Louis Rose were being kept quiet by an impressive Eastwood back line.

The second half started better for Heanor as they tried to salvage something from the contest. They seemed to mean business as Brad Lathall, Sleigh and Max Thornberry tried to get some joy out of the Eastwood defence but, apart from a few chances, Rathbone's goal remained intact. It was his counterpart at the other end who was called upon to keep his side in the game. As Hearn tore towards the box at pace home centre back Jack Dando crudely hauled down the Eastwood striker. A professional foul all day long as Mr Craggs ordered Dando to an early bath. From the resultant free kick Wharton made a tremendous double save from a Hearn free kick and the resulting Parton follow up shot.

As the game wore on there seemed to be no way back for the Lions as Eastwood consolidated and held on for the win. A header from skipper Andrews and a run and shot from sub Blair Anderson could have increased the scoreline. Parton also shaved the base of a post with a snap shot towards the death.

A magnificent performance from the whole Squad. The back five were steady as a rock all day, the midfield trio bossed the game from start to finish frustrating the Heanor engine room and the Red Badgers front three were a constant threat all afternoon. The team are beginning to gel now as a unit and there seems to be an inner strength and belief within the unit.

The Gaffer was understandably delighted with his teams performance and told me:~
"I'm absolutely delighted with the performance, I thought we were excellent in the first half and probably should have gone in 3 or 4 up. The red card took a bit of tempo out of the game. However we managed it well and always looked comfortable.

We've got a bit of momentum now with 4 wins in 5 so we can look forward to an away day in Skegness next Saturday"

Attendance ~ 184
Referee ~ Peter Craggs
Assistants ~ Phil Carey and Max Underwood

Heanor Town ~Dylan Wharton, Joe Nice, Reece Horne, Tom Hilton, Jack Dando, Jake Carlisle, (Nathan Benger 55') (Kian Tansley 66') Brad Lathall, Max Thornberry, Jamie Sleigh (C) Louis Rose, Mathew Feurtado (Louis Antony 66').
Unused substitutes ~ Jake Dickinson and Ruban Mwadiki.
Dismissal ~ Dando (61' professional foul)

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Ryan Ebanks, David Leak, Jack Andrews (C) Dean Freeman,
Charlie Marzano, McKenna Parton, Sean Woolley, Moussa Cisse (Blair Anderson 60') Romello Nangle (Jahren Barrow 88') Liam Hearn (Finn Hunter 71')
Unused substitute ~ Lewis Scott.
Cautions ~ Woolley (36' dissent) Ebanks (55' foul)