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The Nailers still have it all to do to reach the next round of the
FA Cup after this enthralling cup-tie ended all square at Christchurch
Meadow.
Belper Town extended a warm welcome back to Ross Hannah who has
re-signed from Gainsborough Trinity after leaving Christchurch Meadow last
October. Mark Smith was also making his debut for the Nailers after
making the move from neighbours Matlock Town last week.
Anthony Wilson returned after missing out on the Bank Holiday
defeat against Quorn, while Krystof Kotylo featured for the first time
this season following his return from honeymoon.
Swifts were lying in the bottom half of the BSB Southern League
Division One and with Belper's current league status and position very
similar, this proved to be a very evenly matched tie.
Danny Hudson's intervention in the 3rd minute almost set up Ross
Hannah for an early opportunity but Swifts' keeper Craig Humphries got a
hand to his attempt from 12 yards.
Lee Stevenson wrestled the ball off Mark Wolsey in the 6th
minute and set off towards goal but with other options available to him,
he opted to shoot with the 'keeper saving comfortably.
Disaster struck the Nailers on 7 minutes when a moment of
madness from Adam Ogden saw him red carded for retaliating against Mark
Wolsey's over enthusiastic challenge.
As Ogden trudged off the field the referee also dismissed the
Swifts' skipper as he received treatment on the floor.
Not for the first time, Lee Stevenson had to take the 'keeper's
jersey under bizarre circumstances.
The incident was soon forgotten when Belper took the lead on 15
minutes. Ross Hannah's initial shot came out to Danny Toronzcak and he
put the ball back into the six-yard area where Mark Smith made certain
from close in.
Adam Robinson made space for a shot a minute later but put the
ball just over the cross bar, however more misfortune befell the Nailers
in the 30th minute when Jon Hobson was harshly adjudged to have handled
Craig Marshall's shot and Wes Joyce converted from the penalty spot.
Intelligent play from arguably, Belper's best player on view
Anthony Wilson, sent Danny Hudson away and he in turn fed Toronczak on
the right. Unfortunately the Belper striker put his shot over the cross
bar.
Ross Hannah streaked away in the 42nd minute but couldn't
control Mark Smith's through ball and the opportunity was lost.
The game was developing nicely into an intriguing cup-tie and
Joyce's speculative effort on the stroke of half time epitomised it.
Belper started the second period positively and Toronczak forged
a path into the six-yard area but his effort was deflected wide of the
target, but he was there again two minutes later after Krystof Kotylo put
him in possession on the right but dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Swifts' danger man Wes Joyce had the ball in the back of the net
on 55 minutes but thankfully the referee's assistant flagged for offside,
and the same player wasn't too far away with a 25-yard free kick that
flashed just past the far post.
But it was Belper who regained the lead on 58 minutes when Ross
Hannah hit the ball under Craig Humphries after having his first effort
saved by the Stourport custodian.
Great work from Rushbury nearly led to another goal when he took
the ball to the bye line and pulled it back to Hannah who saw the keeper
get his legs in the way of his firmly struck shot.
However the Nailers were soon on the defensive and in the 65th
minute Swifts were back level when Darren Andrews took the ball past
three defenders and crossed for Wes Joyce to blast the ball home.
Two minutes later and the Nailers were behind in the tie when
substitute Alex Lavery showed good skill on the ball to control, turn and
shoot low under Stevenson into the net.
This topsy-turvy cup-tie still had more to offer and Belper drew
level thanks to a superb goal from Anthony Wilson who saw his chance from
just outside the penalty area and despatched a sweetly struck shot around
Humphries into the net.
Wilson set Hannah away on 87 minutes and he would have been a little
disappointed with his end product when his shot went straight to the
'keeper.
Belper could have easily been dumped out of the competition on
87 minutes when Joyce powered his way through the middle of the Belper
defence, but stand in 'keeper Stevenson came out bravely to deny the
Swifts' striker a winning goal.
Andy Rushbury might also have sneaked a late win for the Nailers
with a tremendous run in added on time, but his shot went over the cross
bar whereupon the referee brought to an end a pulsating and eventful cup
tie.
Tim
Harrison’s Photo Gallery
Nigel Oldrini
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