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The Nailers fought out their fourth draw
of the season to take their points tally to seven but with a little more
incisiveness in front of goal the maximum should have been well within
their grasp.
Belper Town
were on a high after their FA Cup triumph against Hucknall Town but could
they transfer their cup form to the UniBond League where they had only
won once in seven outings.
Understandably
joint managers Andy Carney and Danny Hudson selected the same side that
achieved victory the previous Saturday, which meant that Danny Toronzcak
had to be content with a place on the bench for the second successive
game.
Grantham
nearly surprised Belper in the second minute after Sean Cann ran 30 yards
leaving two Belper defenders in his wake and then almost squeezed the
ball in at the near post, but Adam Ogden got down well to turn the ball
around the post.
Belper
responded when Mark Smith ran strongly towards goal but Jon Hawley cut
out his cross from the right at the near post.
Belper’s Ross
Hannah made space for a shot in the 10th minute but his shot
was saved easily by Gingerbreads’ ‘keeper Mario Ziccardi.
Hawley sent a
17th minute free kick just around the far post and as the game
ebbed and flowed Belper created the best chance of the evening so far
when Anthony Wilson threaded the ball through to Danny Hudson, but he
flicked it just the wrong side of the post with Ziccardi fast
approaching.
Wilson displayed
excellent control in the 26th minute and ran on to put the
ball just wide, but the Nailers were undone by a goal of the utmost
simplicity on the half hour.
Sam Mullarkey
ran with the ball down the right hand side and his pace took him past the
Belper defenders and Sam Wilkinson turned in his low cross.
Belper
responded with some slick passing and enjoyed the bulk of possession for
the remainder of the half but the only time that Ziccardi’s goal was
threatened was when Wilson had another probing run and shot that shaved
the far post.
The Nailers
had to do something extra special in the second period and they certainly
began the half in spirited fashion.
Andy Rushbury
had two great runs inside two minutes, the first was very awkward cross
to defend and produced a corner kick, and the second a shot that dropped
agonizingly over the cross bar.
Belper’s
pressure paid off in the 64th minute with a great strike from
Ross Hannah after the ball was played up to him he turned and volleyed it
high into the net.
Sam Mullarkey
had a half chance for Grantham in the 70th minute but put Sean
Cann’s cross just wide, but Danny Toronzcak’s introduction on 69 minutes
almost saw Belper take the lead from a goal mouth melee but the ball went
wide.
The Nailers
lost Krystof Kotylo on 79 minutes following a second yellow card for a
late challenge on Brendan McDaid but still managed to cause the
Gingerbreads problems, especially on the break.
Toronzcak hit
the side netting in the final moments but a share of the spoils was just
about right.
Tim
Harrison’s Photo Gallery
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