Heanor Town 2-2 Dunkirk

Wednesday 10th March 2010 -- EMCL

Great to be out and about on a Wednesday, and it was a very pleasant evening spent at the Town ground. Decent game, really good company, cracking coffee - the only downer was the performance of Sutton-In-Ashfield Referee Mr. Robert Jackson late in the game. Don't misunderstand, he had been having a fair game until the final 5 minutes or so... then he lost the plot a little....but more of that later.

Kev drove again.. and he found a parking space just a few hundred yards down the road from the ground. It was something of a relief to get out of the car - the car radio was tuned to Radio 1, and I couldn't understand any of what was being broadcast....

Re-tuned to Radio Derby on the way home to hear a very, very dismal commentary on Reading v Derby - mind you it was 4-1 to Reading, but I hope someone checks on the commentator tonight to ensure he hasn't topped himself... blimey was he ever depressed......!!

Enjoy going to Heanor - pay at a table -- no luxuries like turnstiles here, but they do issue a ticket. Met up with good buddy Brian Dennett inside the ground, and he informed us that Steve "The Bank Manager" Reading was in the club. Steve works in Ripley and was decked out in suit and tie, having driven to Heanor straight from work.....nice shiny shoes too!!

Also joined by a good friend from our Eastwood days... strange but after all these years we don't even know his name, so I hereby bestow on him the nickname of "the tall lad". He reads this blog and will hopefully be at our next game at Kimberley - so maybe we can sort this out then!!!!

I was looking forward to seeing the Dunkirk front pairing of Channon Grant and Lee Day again, and it was DAY who opened the scoring on 7 after latching onto a through ball by Grant. The Dunkirk no. 10 remained calm and steadied himself before firing the ball past Sam Ogrizevic in the Town goal.

The lead lasted barely 8 minutes though - GARY WEBSTER hitting a fine drive from 18 yards that flew past Dunkirk keeper Nick Ivanov. Both teams were fully committed and one or two tasty challenges went in, but nothing malicious. H-T 1-1

Decided to grab a hot drink during the interval, and was pleasantly surprised when "the tall lad" offered to pay. The coffee was hot - very hot.....they must have a thermo nuclear device hidden somewhere in the Heanor kitchen. Very nice drink, and the only failing was that the cup was one of the smaller styrofoam efforts....would maybe have been a 10/10 apart from the fact that the cup was a bit diddy..... anyway, thanks "tall lad"!

Heanor took the lead on 54, and it was real route one stuff. A clearance by keeper Ogrizevic saw GRAHAM WELLS win the race and get the better of Dunkirk defender Dwaine Soar before stroking the ball past Ivanov. It stayed at 2-1 until the 42 minute when Mr. Jackson came into his own. For some unknown reason he awarded a corner to Dunkirk when all the Reds' players were seemingly marching towards the half way line to prepare to fight for the ball from a goal-kick. Wouldn't you know it, not only did the corner bring the equalising goal, it was a terrific, well placed headed flick by the Heanor no. 8 who was guarding the near post. As Steve R said, he couldn't have placed it better. It fairly flew past the keeper who had no chance of making a save.

Then Mr. Jackson went a little silly. The Heanor players were guilty of surrounding him and protesting, and even at this level players should know the Ref is not going to change his mind. Obviously the Heanor players were well pissed off, and one was dismissed, then after consulting his Assistant on the dugout side, Mr. Jackson duly sent of Heanor Joint Manager Craig Hopkins. All a bit of a farce really, and only Mr. Jackson knows why he awarded the corner in the first place. It has to be said though that the ball into the near post was a peach - and the headed own goal, although unfortunate, was a beauty. F-T 2-2

Admission £4

Attendance 75

Coffee £0.60 - almost perfect.

Next up -- Kimberley Tn v Southwell City.....