UP NEXT, the miners are set to make a short trip to Ilkeston Town’s New Manor Ground as they visit Heanor Town, who are based at Ilkeston this season due to pitch development works on their own ground.

Kimberley will head into the match on the back of an improved performance away at the league leaders in difficult conditions last weekend. After a disappointing November, the miners will be hopeful of an upturn in form in December where their longest trip to a match is to Basford for a “home” fixture.

Heanor approach the match in a bad patch of their own, having picked up just one point from their last seven league matches as well as being knocked out of two cups. Their season started off very well, with fourteen points from their opening seven matches. That run ended at the beginning of September, since which, they’ve chalked up just four points. What better match to take three points than this weekend against a local rival?

Last weekend, Kimberley made the long trip to face league leaders Boston Town at the Mortgages for you stadium. A tight match saw Boston have most of the play, but Kimberley defended well and both sides had chances to go in front in a goalless first half. It took a fantastic header from Matt Cotton in added time to break the deadlock and break Kimberley hearts.
Final Score - Boston Town 1-0 KMW

Heanors visitors last weekend made the same trip as Kimberley, only the opposite way around as Skegness came all the way down to the New Manor Ground to face the Lions. Luke Thompson opened the scoring for Heanor twelve minutes into the match, only for Declan Johnson to hit back less than a minute later for Skeg. Nick Jackson put the visitors in front just before the half hour mark to take the sides in at half time with Skegness 2-1 in front. Jack Boswell increased the lead in the opening minutes of the second half. Neither team could add to their tally for the remainder of the match.
Final Score - Heanor Town 1-3 Skegness Town.

LAST TIME AROUND

The two sides met at Basford in September. Despite Kimberley dominating the first half, it was Heanor who went into the break in front, courtesy of a Jamie Sleigh strike after fifteen minutes. Kimberley played arguably their best half of football all season so far. Fin Ryder equalised on 66, followed by two goals in three minutes on 78 from Dan Davy and then on 81 from Josh Timson. A 3-1 win to Kimberley.

In the lead up to last Christmas, the Miners made the short trip to Heanor Town to play on possibly the worst pitch so far this season after the rain in the week, and in horrifically windy weather. In a first half where the miners were kicking uphill and into the wind, Heanor had the territorial advantage, making use of the weather to aid a long ball down field for their quick strikers to carve out chances. One of these long balls paid off, as the Heanor goalkeeper kicked big, to see the ball drop in between the two Kimberley centre halves and the onrushing goalkeeper for the Heanor striker to nip in between the confused trio and slide the ball past Allsop in goal for 1-0 to the home side. Kimberley came out a different side in the second half. Being more on the front foot, the miners created plenty of early chances themselves, only for Alfie Roberts in the Heanor goal to pull off a couple of fantastic saves to keep the Lions ahead. Following substitutions, Kimberley drew level with twenty minutes to go as Ben Morley floated a diagonal ball into the box for Aaron Coyle to nod over the onrushing goalkeeper and draw level at 1-1. Just five minutes later, Heanor restored their lead as a low effort trickled under Allsop for the match to finish 2-1 to the hosts. Kimberley were left wondering what would’ve been as they made their way home.

They previously met at the beginning of September at The Stag Ground. Kimberley opened the scoring as ex-captain Sam Brown put the ball into his own net following a cross from Dan Tuck. Brown finished the cross off as if he was still wearing the red and black of the miners. Carl Demidh equalised with ten minutes to half time. In the second half, Dan Tuck scored a twenty yarder to round off a stunning performance on his part. Substitute, Mason Booth-Davis equalised again for Heanor for the match to finish 2-2.

In the last game of last season, Kimberley travelled to Heanor for a second of two local derbies to end the season. An exciting match saw Heanor take the lead after just two minutes through Jamie Sleigh. Josh Mundell equalised just four minutes later for the Miners. Keaton August completed a twelve minute flurry as Heanor regained the lead, only for them to extend it to 3-1 on twenty minutes through Josh Craddock. Aaron Coyle got a goal back for Kimberley just after the break before Sacha Markelic restored the two goal cushion just ten minutes later. Coyle scored again for Kimberley five minutes from the end to set up a tense finish to the game. 4-3 to Heanor.

The earlier fixture of last season came way back in September at the Stag Ground. A Jordan Sowerby goal was enough to take the points for the Miners on that occasion.

A LITTLE ABOUT THE OPPOSITION

Heanor Town FC was established in 1883 in a meeting at the Rays Arms Hotel. In 1890 they were founder members of the Midland Amateur Alliance. The club reached the first round of the FA Cup in 1891–92, losing 4–1 at Aston Villa. When the league folded in 1893 they joined the Derbyshire Senior League, winning it at the first attempt, also reaching the first round of the FA Cup again, this time losing 1–0 at Nottingham Forest. The club then moved up to the Midland League, where they played for three seasons, with another FA Cup first round appearance in 1896–97 ending with a 1–0 defeat to Southampton St Mary's in a replay.

Fast forward a few years and in 2008, Heanor were founder members of the East Midlands Counties League. They were league champions in 2011–12, earning promotion to the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League. After three seasons back in the league, the club were transferred to the Premier Division of the new Midland League in 2014.[3] At the end of the 2017–18 season they took voluntary demotion to the East Midlands Counties League despite finishing in mid-table. In 2021 the club were promoted to the Premier Division North of the United Counties League based on their results in the abandoned 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons.

Honours
Central Alliance
Division One North champions 1956–57, 1957–58
Central Combination
Champions 1933–34
Derbyshire Senior League
Champions 1893–94
East Midlands Counties League
Champions 2011–12
Central Midlands League
Supreme Division champions 1994–95, 1996–97
League Cup winners 2006–07
Derbyshire Senior Cup
Winners 1892–93, 1893–94, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1978–79

FINALLY

Both sides will be looking for a win, for local rivalry, as well as the position in the league. Kimberley still sit in the playoff places, while Heanor are one place above the relegation spots.

After poor runs for each side, three points will be very very welcome and we expect an exciting and competitive match.

There’s plenty of parking and the newly refurbished New Manor Ground clubhouse and bar will be open.

Kick off is at 15:00

See you there