Tremendous Team Performance Tames Lions

As one would expect in a cup tie both teams attacked from the off and the first chance came to Heanor on 3 mins when a ball in from the left was headed just wide by Courey Grantham.

Only 5 mins in though Jay Davis gave Town the lead when supplied by Sam Akeroyd, moving between two defenders and finishing well with a low shot.

As in the league game at Wheatley Park last month Grantham was again making headway down the right and the home side looked dangerous. But Town’s pace and movement up front was already giving them a headache at the back and starting to force errors. Some more good play on 9 mins between Davis and Nick Black saw Davis beat a man and shoot narrowly wide.

On 15 mins though the home side were level when Nathan Benger picked up a loose ball in the box and drove home to Ben Hunter’s left.

Town never panicked though in a composed display, and duly responded three mins later. A ball into the 18 yard box caused confusion among defenders Josh Raven and Adrian Hawes who seemed to leave it to each other, allowing Black to nip in and score past a fuming Ian Deakin in goal.

In an exciting contest more goals would surely come as the home side set about restoring parity again. On 23 mins Grantham played in Sam Jones who forced a good save from Hunter. Ben had to be alert again on 38 mins, this time tipping over a curling strike from Grantham.

Pushed forward into a number 9 position, the versatile Davis was working well with Black and Akeroyd; seven mins from the break he almost grabbed his second when receiving a loose ball in the area and putting a well-hit shot just wide of the post. The next goal would be crucial and it was to go Town’s way to really upset the odds. Tawanda Rupere had started quietly but got himself in on the action five mins from the break to extend the lead, passing unnoticed between defender and keeper to nod Davis’ dinked cross into an empty net.

The Lions almost reduced the arrears through Raven in injury time but fired over under challenge from Chris Simpkins, one which Raven never recovered from and left the field injured. (ht 3-1)

Nine minutes into the second half Davis gave Deakin in goal something to think about with a cross-cum-shot from out wide which he managed to tip over the bar.

With them chasing the game, chances in the second half predominantly fell to the home side. Striker Gary Ricketts (so influential in the league game three weeks ago) was thrown on around the hour mark, but along with his team-mates met a wall of resistance from the Town rearguard including another towering (sorry!) performance from Hunter in goal.

Town’s attacks were fewer but were still effective and another good run forward by Davis on 55 mins saw him find Akeroyd who fired just over the bar.

On 67 mins Grantham tested Hunter with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Only a minute later however the away side surely made the game safe when Akeroyd fed Black who broke clear and slipped the ball past Deakin.

Ricketts was becoming a thorn in our side, coming close on around the 80 min mark with a header just wide, and again shortly afterwards, warming Hunter’s hands with a powerful strike through a crowded box.

Possibly encouraged by keeper Deakin’s penchant for wandering off his line, Davis for Town by now had been guilty of shooting on sight. But on a night where, unlike in our last two games, everything seemed to go right he was to score his second and the goal of the game on 82 mins, brilliantly lobbing the exposed (and red-faced) keeper from 25 yards to make it 5-1.

By now the Derbyshire side were looking to make things respectable and to their credit never gave up, but were left scratching their heads again on 86 mins when a goalmouth scramble ended in Andy Hawksworth clearing off the line.

Akeroyd had another chance to get himself on the scoresheet after some good work by Davis, but put a low effort wide of the post. It mattered not though and the lads went on to record a memorable win, met with applause at the end by both sets of supporters.

It was a match in which Town’s forward line will probably make the headlines but there were solid performances all over the field, including from Simpkins and Jack McCarthy making their first starts of the season. An emphatic victory to cause shockwaves through the division (at least for one evening) and hopefully inspire some exciting times ahead.