Heanor Town ease past New Mills as boss Glen Clarence eyes Derbyshire Senior Cup run

The Lions brought an end to a three-game sequence without victory over higher league opponents New Mills, of the Evo-Stik First Division North.

Glen Clarence, the Heanor manager, believes his players are capable of a run in the competition when reflecting on Tuesday’s “excellent” display.

He said: “There were questions on whether they were playing for us and I think those questions were answered tonight.”

And added: “We’ve got a chance in the Derbyshire Cup and if we keep playing like that we’ll have a chance in every game we play.

“We were different class tonight on and of the pitch and in the dressing room. We’ve set standards and we’ve got to adhere to them in every game.”

His assistant Steve Huntington said the third round tie against a Step 4 side suited Heanor.

“I thought we were good,” he said. “I thought we did what we set out to do. We knew it would be quite physical. Sides in the northern section of that league are, in my experience, and I think that suits us.

“Sometimes in our league we struggle with that. Maybe because we’ve been deemed a little bit too physical. We carried out the instructions to a tee, so obviously delighted with the win. On to the next round.”

First team coach John Shepherd added: “It was a good performance and they worked hard. It was a good performance but there will be better sides than that we’ll play in the Midlands league. I’ve seen a lot of lads who have enjoyed their football tonight.”

A waterlog pitch last Saturday meant the scheduled Midlands Football League clash at Highgate United had to be postponed.

Lions are back in action on Tuesday (December 15) when they take on Sporting Khalsa in the Polymac Packaging League Cup.

Sporting Khalsa beat Heanor 2-1 at The Town Ground, on Mayfield Avenue, when the two sides met in the league in November.

“We will still be in the mix for the league, it’s not even Christmas yet, but we have identified the League Cup,” added Clarence.