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Belper Town were triumphant at Walshes Meadow last Tuesday
evening as they progressed to the next round of the FA Cup with an
emphatic victory.
The score line doesn’t give any indication as to how hard the
Nailers had to work to achieve their first win of the season, and there
was one point early in the second half where they were hanging on by
their finger nails.
Adam Ogden was unavailable and Anthony Wilson suspended so in
came Andy Carney and Mick Harcourt. Belper were boosted in the
knowledge that bustling striker Wes Joyce, who had caused them so many
problems in the first game, was unavailable due to suspension.
Swifts’ football in the second third of the field was excellent
all evening but without their star forward and a suspect defence, they
weren’t able to make possession count.
After 7 minutes of soaking up pressure Mark Smith received a
throw in totally unmarked on the left and he crossed to Ross Hannah who
swept the ball in unchallenged.
Swifts moved the ball around impressively for most of the first
period but Belper coped reasonably well until Alex Lavery equalised for
the home side with a 22nd minute volley that went in of the
post, giving Carney no chance.
Belper’s presence in the Stourport penalty area was a rarity but
Lee Stevenson’s long range effort on 29 minutes wasn’t too far away and
Danny Toronzcak might have done better after Craig Humphries kicked his
clearance straight at him, however he wasn’t able to get the ball over
the ‘keeper and on target.
Nevertheless Belper shocked the home support on 43 minutes when
Toronzcak fooled two central defenders with a clever pass to Mark Smith
who ran forward to coolly slot the ball past the ‘keeper to send the
Nailers in at half time a goal up.
The Nailers suffered 15 minutes of intensive pressure straight
from the restart and they almost conceded in the 48th minute
when Lavery’s header hit the upright and went to safety.
Swifts seemed to be a yard quicker, and finding their men with
some excellent passing so it came as no surprise when they equalised
after Craig Webb danced past Danny Hudson in the 54th minute,
and steered a perfect shot just inside the far post with Carney at
absolute full stretch.
You wouldn’t have given a great deal for Belper’s chances at
this stage but the game was to change dramatically.
Swifts had always looked vulnerable to the break and with the
pace of Ross Hannah there was always a chance.
Hannah intercepted an awful infield pass on 61 minutes and he
teed up Danny Toronzcak who fired in a tremendous effort from 18 yards to
send the Nailers back in front.
Within two minutes Swifts’ confidence was shattered when Jon
Hobson headed in an Andy Rushbury corner kick, and Hannah nearly got
another with a 30-yard effort that went just wide.
Rampant Belper had completely turned the tables and followed
these goals up with a beautifully created 5th after a slick
move ended with Hannah’s unselfish pass to the unmarked Stevenson who
slotted the ball in from 6 yards.
There was still plenty of defending to do as Swifts, to their
credit never gave up and some of the play was of a very high standard.
But this was a much better defensive display from Belper who
used Toronzcak and Hannah to good effect on the counter attack, and now
they face Causeway United in the next round who defeated Westfield after
a replay.
Nigel Oldrini
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