Pinxton
Wayne Cooke (6) Ben Bacon (55) Craig Merritt (76) Ben Moore (86)
Heanor
Dan Williams 85
Went to this local derby game with high hopes that the teams would produce something special - as it happened CML PInxton outshone their EMCL neighbours from just down the A38. Some stunning performances from the home team, and some absloutely cracking goals. Heanor keeper Mark Frost, also made three or four top class saves - and was arguably the Lions MOM.
After constant viewing of the motorway traffic cameras we decided we would risk junction 27 – 28 of the M1. There had been severe disruption to the traffic flow caused by an accident between 28 and 29 We could have played safe and headed to Pinxton through Selston, but as Kev swung onto the slip road, the carriageway looked as though it was running as per normal for a Friday evening.
As we approached J28 it was obvious the traffic was coming to a grinding halt, but luckily for us, it only ground to a halt just after the exit slip road !!
Expected a decent turn out tonight and we weren’t disappointed …not sure of numbers, but I reckon 70-80 were in attendance.
Heanor striker Dan Williams stopped warming up to have a chat to us as we walked past, then we met up with our stalker, Brian Dennett! He has a new nickname now – he’s gone from “ Evening Post” and “Albert” ( Steptoe) and “Big Issue”, to Brian “ You’re Barred! “ Dennett. Not going into details in order to respect his privacy, but after an innocent incident at a club no too far away from Pinxton, he is apparently no longer welcome there!!
We stood between the dugouts and had a chat with Heanor bosses Glenn Kirkwood and Craig Hopkins – they have kept most of last season’s squad, but admit that they are struggling to fitness at the moment.
On this showing it appears Pinxton aren’t struggling for fitness – the looked sharp from the off, and were ahead with only 6 minutes on the clock. Great build up play ended with the ball dropping kindly to WAYNE COOKE some 20 yards from goal, and the makeshift left-back volleyed home superbly, giving Frost no chance.
Frost kept out a superb strike from Kieran Debrower after 25 minutes, then could only watch as the ball sail past him on 32 – luckily for Heanor, Ben Bacon’s bullet shot crashed off the angle of bar and post and away to safety. H-T 1-0
We had been joined at this time by fellow bloggist “ The Rambler”. His “All Roads Lead Somewhere” blog is always well worth a read. This season he is raising money for LOROS, Hospice care in Leics and Rutland – I wish him all the best, and hope he can notch up loads and loads of goals!!
Pinxton came out for the second half still buzzing from their first half performance, and BEN BACON put them further ahead with just 10 minutes of the second period played, latching onto a pin-point through ball from Debrower, before going around Frost to prod home.
On 76, The move of the game saw the home team increase their lead. I lost count of the passes made as the home team probed the Heanor back line, but I reckon a good dozen or so were completed before the ball reached Moran out on the right. The diminutive midfielder’s cross was straight onto the head of striker CRAIG MERRITT, and once again Frost was beaten, but once again, he had no chance….
In the 85th minute, DAN WILLIAMS prodded home from close range as Pinxton relaxed too much at the back, but the gap was back to three within seconds of the restart, when BEN MOORE unleashed a terrific effort from 20 yards out that was past Frost before he could react. Stunner, absolute stunner! F-T 4-1
I know you can never read too much into pre-season friendlies, and the results don’t really count for anything, but I was a privilege to be at the Welfare Ground for this game. Heanor can only get better – they have the players – but if Pinxton get any better, the CML South Division had better watch out!!
Admission £2
H/C 70
The evening was almost spoiled as on the way back to the M1, some loony tune decided to pull out of a turning almost wiping us out....bloody idiot.
The evening was almost spoiled as on the way back to the M1, some loony tune decided to pull out of a turning almost wiping us out....bloody idiot.
