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Belper Town did just enough to take
all the points against Carlton Town although they made hard work of their
fourth league victory of the season.
The Nailers faced Carlton Town for
the first time in their history without regular ‘keeper Adam Ogden who
was unavailable and Danny Tollerfield came in for his first game since
the opening week of the season.
Krystof
Kotylo was also back in the starting line up after missing out in midweek
as was Ross Hannah who returned after a two game absence through
suspension, and a hamstring problem.
The Nailers’
striking options had been reduced after the sudden request from Danny
Toronzcak to be released from his contract for personal reasons.
This is
Carlton Town’s first season in the UniBond League after being promoted as
a result of restructuring during the close season and, after a promising
start to their campaign, their form had dipped recently.
The visitors
took a shock lead after only 4 minutes when Darryl Thomas’s looping
header from Martin Ball’s cross dropped agonizingly over Tollerfield and
into the net.
The Belper
defence was stretched again moments later but Ball could only shoot
weakly at Tollerfield.
The Nailers began
to get into the game after this and Lee Stevenson saw sight of goal from
25 yards but couldn’t control his shot and the ball went over the cross
bar.
The Nailers
were soon back on level terms when the ball broke free in the penalty
area in the 8th minute leaving Andy Rushbury the relatively
simple task of putting it past the exposed Steve Brearley, to score his
first goal of the season.
Brearley came
well out of his area to clear Lowe’s long ball aimed for Ross Hannah in
the 15th minute as the Nailers began to test the Carlton defence with some searching passes.
Hannah nearly put Belper ahead with
a cheeky flick on 27 minutes but Brearley was wise to it, and Krystof
Kotylo should have done better after he found himself in possession just
8 yards out and could only volley the ball over the cross bar.
Rushbury took
the ball on a 40-yard run and delivered a great cross into the box but
Marquin Smith made an important interception to deny Anthony Wilson who
was shaping up to shoot.
Carlton’s
Ball jumped well at the far post in the 44th minute to head a
free kick into the side netting, and the Nailers received a let off
seconds later when the visitors broke quickly and Dean Gent brought a
great save from Tollerfield with Darryl Thomas sending the rebound high
and wide.
The Nailers
went in at half time knowing that they should have been ahead in this
game but also being aware that Carlton were looking dangerous on the
break.
Carlton gave
the Nailers an anxious moment straight after the restart when Phil
Bignall made progress to just outside the six-yard area before shooting
low and hard towards the near post. Fortunately Tollerfield was alert to
it although he must have seen it late and made a good save.
Aidan Brady
gave Belper another scare on 52 minutes when he threaded a shot through
Lowe’s legs and Tollerfield got the slightest touch to deflect the ball
on to the post.
Belper took
the lead under fortuitous circumstances in the 54th minute
when Rushbury’s in swinging corner kick was knocked into his own goal by
Michael Martin.
The Nailers
soon added to their total when Danny Hudson’s neat through pass was
missed by a Carlton defender and Ross Hannah dispatched a fine shot into
the far corner of the net.
Brearley made
a vital interception on 65 minutes when Hudson crossed from the by-line
where Wilson was waiting to finish from 6 yards.
Carlton went
close to reducing the arrears on 73 minutes when Bignall has two efforts
on goal in quick succession, the second of which needed a deflection to
take the ball over the bar to relieve the pressure on the Belper goal.
Steve Chaplin
caused Tollerfield problems when he jumped for a 79th minute
cross and got up ahead of the Belper ‘keeper to head the ball on top of
the netting.
Brearley
denied substitute Mark Smith with a fine save from the edge of the six
yard, but the visitors pulled one back in the 93rd minute when
Phil Bignall nodded a corner kick into the net from close range.
It was
another good win for the Nailers who are beginning to find the winning
habit and although this wasn’t as fluent a performance than of late it
was good enough to beat a spirited Carlton side.
Tim
Harrison’s Photo Gallery
Nigel Oldrini
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