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Carney pleased with team progress

Carney pleased with team progress

David Laughlin14 Nov 2010 - 09:56
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https://www.belpertownfc.co.uk

Belper Town continued their recent upturn in form by dispatching five goals against a battling and spirited Spalding side.

Yet despite the score line, the game was not a classic by any means but it demonstrated that Belper have developed the ability to “win ugly” and the result is a clear sign that their hard work and good performances are beginning to reap dividends.

Even in the recent games that Belper have lost, most notably against Brigg Town and Harrogate Railway, manager Andy Carney (pictured) remains convinced that the only game the Nailers deserved to lose was the 2-0 away defeat at Quorn.

The first half performance against Spalding was a scrappy affair, which according to Carney, saw his team “sucked in to playing how Spalding played” rather than “playing with the width and the pace that we have got in our side”.

Indeed, Carney admitted that the Nailers were fortunate to go in at the break a goal to the good, due to the perseverance of Darryl Thomas and Russell Peel.

The half time message from Carney was clear: Belper needed to raise their game and perform how they had played in the previous matches. The result was obvious with four second half goals and much of the play in the final 10 minutes concentrated in the Spalding penalty area.

One of Belper’s lowest points last season came in the form of a 1-0 loss at Spalding, which made this victory all the sweeter, given how much the visitors have improved since last term.

Carney added, “In the first half they came out firing on all cylinders and took the game to us. It was obvious that they were much better than their league position would suggest. Certainly, they are much better than they were last season and they gave us a real game today.

“However, we know that if weplay to our strengths we are a match for anybody in this league”.

For the second week in a row a Belper player scored a hat-trick, and while Ruben Wiggins-Thomas’ triple marked him out as the star of the show, Carney was also keen to highlight key contributions made by other players:

“Nicky Darker was absolutely fantastic today; he broke up play, won everything in midfield and set up two of our goals. Mark Barnard was also superb today, and that is not taking anything away from anybody else. The second half was a very good team performance.”

The Belper squad that turned out against Spalding was markedly different from that which represented the club for much of last season but despite the hardships that the Nailers have experienced, Carney can see that the pieces are beginning to fall into place.

“We have had to bring players in order to strike the right balance but we now have cover all round the pitch. We have the right balance, we have pace, strength and most importantly we have players who are prepared to work hard.

“We have recruited a lot of new lads who are now just starting to understand each others’ game and for that reason we can only get better. We will have our highs but we will also have some off days but overall we are not far off being the finished article.”

There is now a vibrant atmosphere in the dressing room and a sense of belief that the team has started to click and this has started to rub-off not only around Christchurch Meadow but in the minds of managers of other clubs in the Division.

Last season, visiting sides knew everything about Belper, particularly as the squad had not really changed for three seasons. But this year, clubs have had to do their homework about the new Belper team, and while the current team doesn’t contain many ‘flair’ players, it is definitely a more balanced side than in recent years.

Despite scoring nine goals in the past two home games, Carney was a little downbeat about some of the negativity that sections of the Belper crowd have shown this season.

“At times, I just wish the fans would get behind us when things are not going right for us, as there is nothing more demoralising for players than when supporters start to get on their backs”.

Carney’s message was clear to the doubters:

Belper have changed significantly from last year not only in terms of players, and despite the fact that they are working on a reduced budget, the team plays every game with the intention of winning and ought to be judged more on results than on the performance or tactics:

“As far as I am concerned, if you win 1-0 or 5-0, it is still a win”, added Carney.

Matt McCullock

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