Heanor took to the road for the first game of the season with Ross Henshaw and Jamie Brown still unavailable due to holiday and Kieran Debrouwer side-lined for the foreseeable future due to a hairline fracture of his foot, Heanor took the chance to give Courey Grantham his second debut for the club only a day after securing his signature for the season.

It was livewire Grantham that earned a free kick in a dangerous area in the seventh minute, Chris Shaw attempted to replicate the stunning free kick scored against Mickleover on Wednesday night, however, goalkeeper Aaron Brian proved equal to the effort.

Heanor made the breakthrough in the fourteenth minute with a fantastic glancing Header from forward Gary Ricketts, a pass from Ian Deakin to Shaw gave the full back space to travel with the ball, his cross from deep found Ricketts unmarked on the penalty spot, directing his header into the bottom corner of the net.

It was Albion who went on the attack for a brief spell afterwards, Danny Facey found space to pull the trigger on twenty minutes but Deakin saved the shot with ease. In the thirty third minute Albions skipper Asif Hussein stepped up to drive a thirty yard free kick goal wards, the ball looked to all to be heading in other than the finger tips from the impressive Deakin the ball would have nestled in the back of the net.

To round off a fairly even first half Jared Holmes headed a Paulo Piliero free kick just wide of the target and shortly after Deakin made another fine save this time from Matthew Mathers, the ex-Thackley forward finding space to test the man between in the sticks.

The over efficient referee started the second half with a couple of Heanor bookings, Jared Holmes made a cynical foul on fifty four minutes to prevent an Albion attack, then Sam Jones found himself in the notebook four minutes later for alleged persistent fouling.

Heanor had chance after chance in the second period though as they over ran the hosts, Ricketts brought a neat fingertip save from Brian again on the hour. Jones smashed a shot goal wards after turning a defender on sixty eight minutes then Grantham powered an effort low and hard towards goal in the same minute, Jones then missed the target when well placed and Grantham saw his shot cut the grass and roll into the grateful hands of Brian.

It was in spectacular fashion that Heanor doubled their lead. Ex-Premier League forward Delroy Facey is currently plying his trade as a centre back for Albion, it was he who collided with Brian as they attempted a clearance, the ball landed at the feet of Grantham out wide who instantly twisted a sent the ball curling towards goal; his shot finding the empty leaving Facey and Brian with their heads in hands.

Grantham had another chance to score on seventy five minutes, however his shot was very well saved by Brian. Substitute Louis Ratcliffe on for Holmes saw his effort roll agonizingly wide just two minutes later and shortly after Piliero saw his effort flash by the same post, then debutant Marc Strzyzewski, playing at centre back saw his lobbed shot go just over the crossbar in the eighty third minute.

It was clear Heanor had started to dominate the play, Albion forwards had a quiet afternoon to say the least thanks to the brilliant forward play of The Lions and the solid defensive work to snuff any attack.

Grantham grabbed his second goal of the afternoon on eighty seven minutes, his powerful shot deflecting off a defenders boot and lobbing Brian to nestle in the back of the net. Grantham's double making it seventeen goals in twenty games in total for Heanor Town, another great signing by the management.

Albion nearly got their consolation in added time, again Deakin proved more than equal to the effort, keeping his first clean sheet for Heanor Town in his first competitive game.

Heanor: Deakin, Marriott, Shaw (88 McNicholas), Hall, Hawes, Strzyzewski, Grantham, Holmes (73 Ratcliffe), Ricketts (79 Benger), Jones, Piliero.

Subs not used: Baker, Moran.

Star Lion:

Management Choice: Greg Marriott

Fans Choice: Ady Hawes

Next Game: Tuesday 12th August 7.45pm Pickering Town (home)