Match Report  |  Heanor Town vs Gresley Rovers

This was a vastly improved showing from Rovers compared with Saturday at Rugby. They battled, dug in when needed, and every player worked hard.

Rovers’ were not helped by some inconsistent officiating especially when Will Robinson was cautioned in the first half for what looked like a perfectly timed tackle. The referee didn’t agree showing a yellow card. That action was compounded early in the second half when Robinson kicked the ball away after the home side had been awarded a dubious free kick, the inevitable happened and a red card was flourished, Heanor was also guilty of some poor tackles which the referee decided didn’t warrant a card of any hue.

The visitors were again without several senior players as the injury count continued to rise and holidays still being taken.

The first half was one of few chances from either side until Heanor created a good one on the half hour mark when a ball was played to former Moatman jack Tyson who hit a vicious shot but Rovers’ keeper Charlie Wood was more than up to the task making a very good save to deny him.

Jamie Sleigh had a half chance minutes later, but his shot was easily dealt with by Alfie Roberts. Heanor struck back with a ball from the right being headed wide of the target. Another chance was headed over the bar as the home side was trying to make use of the stiff breeze to their backs and the slope.

On 44 minutes Robinson received his first yellow card of the game for what appeared to be a superbly timed tackle.

Eight minutes into the second half that first yellow card proved to be expensive for the young defender. After a free kick being awarded against him for another fifty-fifty tackle his frustrations boiled over and he kicked the ball away but applying the law the referee showed a second yellow and the inevitable red.

Rovers had to dig deep and so they did with Danny Munday being asked to drop deeper into midfield to try and nullify the Heanor danger and it worked as the home side began to run out of ideas in the final third. Tyson was still trying to strike against his former club going close on 55 minutes, but his low shot was well saved.

Heanor made three changes on the hour mark with Max Thornberry, Christian Politi and Yasuto Ohmura replacing Dylan Garnett, Tom Hilton and Aaron Coyle.

On 69 minutes Dylan Hunniford tried a shot from distance and from Jake Meakin’s cross from the right was headed just wide by Jacob Sturgess as Rovers began to put on some pressure.

Tristan Burke replaced Meakin as Rovers continued to dig deep. Minutes later another change with Jude Collins replacing Kane Lee.

As time started to slip away Heanor had one final attempt but was denied by a great block by the outstretched foot of Wood. Unfortunately, that block proved to be the last involvement for the young stopper as a minute or two later his discomfort from what looked like a serious injury was evident, and he was replace by Phil Kowalski. To everyone’s surprise Sleigh donned the goalkeeper’s shirt for the remainder of the game.

With 9 minutes of time added on Rovers had done more than enough to claim a share of the spoils with their dogged determination and it was a point thoroughly deserved.