Saturday 15th October 2011
East Midlands Counties League
Greene King Park
Again yours truly is down at Oadby for the second consecutive Saturday for this top of the table clash against the free scoring league leaders from Derbyshire. Oadby come into the game unbeaten from their eight games played, while Heanor have won eight on the bounce having lost their opening game. Last Saturday Oadby recorded their biggest league victory of the season when they put five past Graham Street Prims here at Greene King Park. Heanor meanwhile were putting eight past Gedling Miners Welfare and in midweek scored seven against Ellistown. This game was originally scheduled for the last game of the season but had been rearranged due to Barrow Town still being involved in the FA Cup.
Pl W D L For Aga Pts
1. Heanor Town......9 8 0 1 45 17 24
2. Blackwell MW....11 7 1 3 22 17 22
3. St. Andrews.....10 7 0 3 28 12 21
4. OADBY TOWN.......8 6 2 0 24 6 20
To put simply Heanor deservedly took the three points on the balance of play, and at times especially during the first half showed why they are top of the table and without doubt will be the team to beat this season. Oadby in the second half made a game of it and caused Heanor a number of problems - why couldn't they have played like that during the opening forty five minutes? If they had this game could have had a different outcome.
Like stated Heanor were quick out of the blocks and had Oadby on the back foot right from the start. They are a big, quick side that play the game at pace. A succession of corners resulted in the opening goal as it came from a Nico Degirolamo header on 14 minutes. The corner from which the goal came about apparently should have not been awarded but in fact a goal kick should have been given. To be honest yours truly was at the other end of the ground. Heanor continued to cause Oadby all sorts of problems and it was no surprise that they doubled their lead around the half hour mark. The ball was fed to Jake Vernon who smashed the ball past Oadby keeper Danny Hanley to make it 0-2. The whistle to end the half came as a relief to the home supporters and would hopefully give the Oadby the chance to regroup and make a game of it in the second half.
The second half was a more even affair with Steve Fenton forcing Heanor keeper Mark Frost save low at his near post in the opening minutes. Oadby made two early substitutions which saw their two debutants Callum Ross and Jermaine Gordon replaced by Danny Wilson and Andy Tiday. Former Leicester City and Sunderland midfielder Matt Piper got into the game more and had two efforts on goal - the first was deflected for a corner and the second went wide of Frost's upright. Hanley was also kept busy at other end making two or three good saves during the second half as the game ebbed and flowed. With around twenty minutes left Oadby got a way back into the game with the help of the referee as he awarded a penalty for handball. Jon Stevenson stepped up and made it 1-2. Michael Reeves had a couple of close efforts as Oadby pushed for an equaliser. They then should have been awarded another penalty for handball which seemed more clear cut that the first but the referee waved away Oadby's protests.
In the end it was a fair result, mainly due to the first half performance from Heanor. The referee meanwhile had a shocker and I believe a report / complaint will be going in about him. Oadby do not have to wait long to put this defeat behind them as Nottingham side Radford visit Greene King Park on Tuesday night and make the short trip to Lutterworth Athletic in the FA Vase on Saturday.
The final note goes to the "Oadby Choir" who stand behind the clubhouse goal. They were vocal throughout as per usual and in the second half, instead of the usual "you're shit aaahhh" chants to the opposition keeper it was a case of "your shit baaaaa".
Attendance: 211
Match rating: 3 1/2 out of 5
25 photos taken during game can be viewed below:
Websites:
East Midlands Counties League
Oadby Town
Heanor Town
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