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Belper Town made it through to the next
round of the President’s Cup with a narrow but decisive victory ofver
Gresley Rovers.
The Nailers
unveiled their new signing Scott Lowe and he went straight into the side
allowing Andy Rushbury to play a more forward role.
Joe Appleyard
came in for a rare start in place of Gary Middleton who was named as a
substitute while Danny Toronzcak was also named on the bench as the Nailers
faced the Moatmen for the second time this season.
It was to be
Toronzcak’s final appearance in a Belper shirt as after the game he was
granted his release from his contract for personal reasons, which have
been exacerbated by the distance to Belper from his home in Halifax.
There was
also no Danny Hudson, who continues to be unavailable for midweek
matches, so Peter Smith was back in the Belper starting line-up, despite
having suffered from a locked knee joint in the match at Shepshed only a
week ago.
For Gresley,
leading scorer, David Blenkinsopp was named as a substitute as manager,
Gary Norton also sent out an experimental line-up.
Belper had
drawn 1-1 in the league clash at the Moat Ground and they were hoping to
go one better in the President’s Cup, a competition specifically for
UniBond Division One clubs.
The Nailers
made a lively start and Andy Rushbury met Mark Smith’s cross in the 3rd
minute but his volley attempt went high over the cross bar.
The woodwork
played a leading role in this game with no less than six efforts coming
into contact with either the post or uprights.
Chris Sleath
was the first player to suffer after he broke away in the 7th
minute and nearly put Gresley ahead with a low drive across the six-yard
area the hit the foot of the post.
Craig Hanson
tried to beat Adam Ogden from 22 yards but the Belper ‘keeper saw the
ball safely around the post, then Rushbury attempted to do the same thing
moments later but David Clarke had no difficulty in making the save.
Anthony Wilson
looked set to score in the 18th minute after the Nailers broke
quickly down the left as Mark Smith helped the ball on. Wilson had a
window of opportunity for a couple of seconds when he had only Clarke to
beat but the Gresley ‘keeper got in the way of his first attempt and
deflected the second shot out for a corner kick.
Sleath was a
whisker away from scoring with a powerful shot in the 25th
minute which Adam Ogden managed to get a slight touch, and the ball
skimmed the cross bar.
Rushbury
nudged the ball back to Wilson in the 28th minute but he
couldn’t find direction and pace with his shot from the edge of the
penalty area.
Hanson was
ambitious in trying to beat Ogden from almost 25 yards and although it
was well struck the Belper ‘keeper had it covered all the way.
The Nailers
should have taken the lead on 38 minutes when Mark Smith met a great
cross from James Colliver at the far post but he put his header against
the cross bar.
Even though
the Moatmen had struck the woodwork twice in the first half the Nailers
were disappointed not to have gone in for the break a goal to the
good.
The second
period began slowly with both sides trying to regain the tempo of the
first period and Lee Stevenson warmed Clarke’s fingers with a couple of
shots in the opening five minutes.
But the
Nailers went in front on 54 minutes when Danny Toronzcak ran through onto
Stevenson’s pass to coolly slide the ball into the net.
Tom Groves
almost hit back immediately with another shot that hit the cross bar, but
Belper stunned the Moatmen with a second goal on 59 minutes when Lee
Stevenson hit a 25 yard screamer wide of Clarke into the corner of the
net.
Sleath’s shot
in the 61st minute hit the post again – the third time for the
Gresley player, and every time these two sides moved forward a goal
seemed to be in the offing.
Belper should
have had a third goal when Andy Rushbury outpaced the Gresley defenders
in the 72nd minute but with only Clarke to beat he sent his
shot straight at him.
Gresley
pulled one back courtesy of a rare error from Gary Middleton who let the
ball run under his foot on 80 minutes allowing David Blenkinsopp to run
on to slide it past Ogden and set up an interesting final 10 minutes.
Toronzcak was
unlucky with a great shot that skimmed the cross bar on 88 minutes after
Peter Smith put him through with a perfect pass, but the Nailers sensibly
played out the remaining minutes of the game and recorded a very welcome
President’s Cup win.
Tim
Harrison’s Photo Gallery
Nigel Oldrini
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