The loan midfielder fired home from 25 yards to send the Shaymen through to the second round of the FA Trophy.

See the slide show from the game.

And it could yet be the catalyst for the successful second half to the season manager Chris Wilder is demanding.

That Heslop mustered the energy for his late strike was remarkable enough given that the pitch got heavier throughout the 90 minutes under a combination of rain, hail and snow.

And it is for the conditions rather than the overall entertainment value that this game will be best remembered.

The wind was so strong at one point in the first half that Town keeper Craig Mawson struggled to clear the ball out of his own area.

And players were constantly wiping the water from their eyes as the heavens opened.

But it was an intriguing contest nonetheless as Leamington, buoyed by taking a shock early lead, put up stubborn resistance leaving Town 86 minutes to work out how to get back.

Town were on the front foot from the off, forcing an early corner and winning a free kick on the edge of the Leamington box.

But Wilder's men were rocked in the fourth minute when they failed to deal with a Marcus Jackson free kick and Ben Mackey smacked the ball beyond Mawson's grasp from 12 yards.

Mackey almost got on the end of a Jamie Towers cross soon after and Martin Thompson mis-controlled in the 13th minute as he failed to capitalise on a wind-hampered clearance.

In between the visitors' chances, Jon Shaw looked lively and Town gradually started to look more threatening as an attacking force.

Neither Shaw nor Lewis Killeen were able to turn in the area after Alex Bailey had crossed from the right while Killeen flashed a near post volley wide as he connected with a Shaw cross.

Shaw's first time shot went straight to Richard Morris in the Leamington goal and the keeper also saved from Heslop's left foot effort.

As the snow swept down the pitch, Tom Kearney picked out Adam Quinn with a corner, but the central defender's volley was cleared off the line.

Mawson will have had his heart in his mouth when he brought down Thompson 10 yards outside his area, and he was relieved to see only a yellow card produced from the referee's pocket.

And from being potentially down to 10 men, the Shaymen went in at the break level after Killeen latched onto a Bailey cross, turned and was brought down by Martin Hier.

Shaw kept his cool - and his feet - to send the keeper the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

Town started the second half as they had the first, forcing a couple of early corners, and they went close to edging in front when Killeen crossed for Darryn Stamp.

The striker's initial header was blocked, but he stuck out a foot and directed the rebound goalwards only for the keeper to fall on the ball.

Mawson saved comfortably at the other end from Mackey while a speculative Marcus Jackson effort was deflected wide of the target by Rob Scott, who tested the keeper at the other end.

After that it was all Halifax, although they struggled to move the ball round to their advantage in the conditions.

Scott and Shaw combined well to set up a shooting chance for Killeen on the left, but his shot went over off a defender's leg.

Heslop fired a free kick into the defensive wall before a great pass from Peter Atherton picked out Kearney on the left.

He cut inside before pulling the trigger only for Morris to get down to his right to turn the ball round the post.

Town continued to pepper the Leamington area with corners and free kicks but looked like they would be forced to travel to the Midlands for a replay until the decisive moment two-and-a-half minutes from time.

Killeen fed the ball in from the left for Heslop who took a touch to steady himself before unleashing one of his trademark long range shots that scudded along the ground and beyond the keeper's grasp.

Star Shayman
On a filthy night, Simon Heslop's long range winner was a real high spot for the hardy souls who went to the Shay.
The midfielder is building quite a reputation for spectacular goals and the importance of last night's puts it right up there with the best.
Rob Scott continued his impressive run of form after reverting to right back.
He linked well with the attack and was alert to the dangers posed by a spirited Leamington side who tried their best to play the ball around.
It would be churlish to ignore the contribution made by Peter Atherton who kept a cool head when the visitors tried to get forward.
The 37-year-old, making his first start for Town since 'retiring' after the play-off final at Leicester, never put a foot wrong.
Heslop takes the three points on offer in our season-long competition with Scott two and Atherton one.

We rode the storm - Wilder

Match Facts
Halifax Town: Mawson, Scott, Doughty, Quinn, Atherton, Kearney, Heslop, Killeen, Bailey (Forrest 67), Stamp (Campbell 58), Shaw. Subs (not used): Gray, Belle, Butler.
Booked: Mawson, Heslop.
Sent-off: None
Goals: Shaw 45, Heslop 87

Leamington: Morris, Towers, Parkinson, Cooper, Hier, Herlihy, Dutton, Mackey, Thompson (Husband 75), Dunkley (Blake 61), Jackson. Subs (not used): Titterton, Parisi, Harper
Booked: Cooper
Sent-off: None
Goal: Mackey 4

Attendance: 805
Referee: J Adcock (Nottingham)

Player Points
Jon Shaw 24, Simon Heslop 19, Tom Kearney 19, Andy Campbell 13, Anthony Griffith 12, Lewis Killeen 12, Steve Torpey 12, Steve Bushell 10, Jake Wright 10, Daryl Taylor 8, Rob Scott 7, Cortez Belle 5, Danny Forrest 5, Matt Doughty 4, Craig Mawson 3, Nathan Joynes 2, Adam Quinn 2, Darryn Stamp 2, Ryan Toulson 2, Greg Young 2, Peter Atrheron 1, Adam Legzdins 1.

You Say
Made hard work of it but we're in the next round and Leamington aren't so mission accomplished. - Angry Andy

I hope the January sales find a buyer for stamp and kearney - Jack