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The season is hotting up nicely for Belper
Town after last Saturday’s victory over Warrington Town sees them sitting
just one point away from the play off zone.
The Nailers completed a treble of wins over
the Wires but this encounter at Christchurch Meadow was the toughest of
the three.
In fact, the Cheshire side looked likely
winners with 10 minutes to go and despite having tried everything they
could to get back on level terms, the Nailers looked to be facing a
damaging defeat.
Salvation for Belper came from the ranks of
the visitors when with just 9 minutes left on the clock Wires defender
Steve Everett unluckily headed the ball over his own goal line and gave
the Nailers an unlikely lifeline.
It was one they accepted gratefully and the
industrious and hard working Ross Hannah weighed in with his first goal in
three outings by drilling the ball at pace under the unsuspecting
Warrington ‘keeper in the final minute.
Most of the noteworthy action in the game
occurred in the final 20 minutes of this contest as the Nailers just
couldn’t get their game together for long enough periods.
Nailers joint manager Danny Hudson said, “We
made it tough for ourselves and we had to work really hard to get back
into and we needed a bit of luck.
“When the own goal came I knew we could go on
and win it but it needed a great save from Petts (Paul Pettinger) to
prevent us going behind again”.
Warrington however were a much better outfit
than they were on their last visit to the Meadow with a completely
revamped team created by their new manager Paul Moore but, in the end, credit
is due to Belper who never gave up and got their reward in the end.
“We knew very little about the Warrington
line-up”, said Hudson, “they’ve had about three squads this season so it
took time for us to suss them out”.
“And it soon became obvious that they had
players in their team that could make things happen”.
He added, “I think we were worthy of the
three points on balance but I have to admit it didn’t look like we were
going to get them”.
Paul Pettinger continued his successful run
in between the posts despite Adam Ogden having completed his suspension,
but Ogden wasn’t available for last Saturday’s game and Pettinger gave
another solid performance.
He can’t be blamed for any of the three goals
he has conceded in his four game run although Warrington’s opener didn’t
reflect well on any of the Belper defenders who just couldn’t get the
ball away.
“Oggy (Adam Ogden) is available for
Saturday’s trip to Brigg, but to be honest it’s going to be a difficult
decision who to leave out because Petts has done so well for us”, said
Hudson.
Pettinger's experience is comforting to see
as the last line of defence but he will acknowledge the abilities of
skipper Jon Hobson and more recently Scott Lowe who have proved to be a
formidable central defensive partnership.
Lowe impressed sufficiently last Saturday to
be awarded man of the match by sponsors Lubrizol and with the more mobile
Richard Haigh slotting in comfortably at left back, the Nailers have a
very solid back line.
“To be honest we have been impressed with
Richard”, commented Hudson, “he had a baptism of fire against the
Nantwich winger last week, but he was arguably one of our best performers
against Warrington, he looks as though he’s going to be a good signing
for us”.
Veteran defender Gary Middleton will have to
be patient and wait for injuries or suspensions to give him an
opportunity of getting back in the side but the fact that a player of his
standing isn’t getting in the side at the moment speaks volumes for those
who higher up in the pecking order at present.
“Gary was recovering from a chest infection
last week and didn’t play so we kept things as they were and Gary
understands that”, explained Hudson, “he is the sort of player who won’t complain
about the situation and gets his head down and works hard to get back in
again”.
The next three games offer real opportunities
for the Nailers to establish themselves as play off contenders.
After the midweek Derbyshire Senior cup
semi-final at Glapwell, Brigg Town are next up for Belper and although
they have improved lately the Nailers have to target three points from
this, as they must from the following Saturday’s home clash with Shepshed
Dynamo.
In between times though, Belper travel to old
adversaries Stocksbridge Park Steels (Tuesday 4th March
7.45pm) for the second time this season, the first ending in a draw at
Bracken Moor.
Manager Gary Marrow’s Steels side is
currently lying in twelfth position in the league and although it’s always
a difficult ground for Belper, they will have to stand up and be counted
for this one.
With Goole, Retford, Sheffield and Colwyn Bay
to follow the end of March will be make or break for Andy Carney and
Danny Hudson’s side.
Nigel Oldrini
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