The Lions showed their intent from the very start when Nathan Benger fired weakly at the Retford keeper after Sam Jones had gone on a bursting run from midfield.

Sean Gregory then came close on five minutes after Benger, Jay Cooper and Kieran Debrouwer all tried to slot the loose ball home to no avail.

The pressure finally paid off when former Retford midfielder Sam Jones collected the ball 25 yards out, before beating his marker and firing into the top corner on 16 minutes.

This signalled the opening of the floodgates with Cooper finding the same corner of the net on 21 minutes.

Kieran Debrouwer, the record scorer in a single NCEL season, saw his free kick just clear the cross bar after Jones had been fouled on 23 minutes.

Adam Lee skied an effort well over during a rare Retford attack after being put under pressure by Chris Shaw and Marc Strzyzewski.

Heanor captain Chris Shaw then curled a sweet free-kick around a five man wall as the visitors went three up on 49 minutes.

Three minutes later Nathan Benger nearly capitalised on hesitant defending after he fired inches wide after stealing the ball from Brett Lucas.

But Benger did find the back of the net on 65 minutes when he fired past Matthew Leese after a good pass by Sean Gregory.

Heanor made it five when Jones scored his second on 74 minutes with a superbly hit 25 yard free-kick.

Jay Cooper was unlucky when his left foot effort cracked against the angle before going to safety on 81 minutes.

The comprehensive win was wrapped up when Jones wrapped up a hat-trick against his former club with a deflected strike on 86 minutes.

HEANOR TOWN: Baker, Marriott, Shaw, S Gregory, Hawes, Strzyzewski (J Gregory 61), Cooper, Booth (Coupe 61), Benger (Naylor 70), Jones, Debrouwer

Subs not used: Hartshorn, Andrews.

Star Lion: Sam Jones