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With
some tough fixtures ahead of Belper in the second half of March, the
Nailers really needed three points against one of the teams in the lower
half of the division.
But
Brigg Town away has never really been an ‘easy’ fixture for the Nailers
and the Zebras have improved greatly from what they were in the first few
months of the season.
A
change of manager at the end of October last year heralded an improvement
in form, and consequently results, and if they had been playing as well
as they did last Saturday then they would surely have been challenging
for a top six place.
However
this wasn’t one of Belper’s better displays as they looked a little jaded
after the energies expended in a tough Derbyshire Senior Cup semi final
in midweek, and in addition some players were not feeling their best
after suffering sickness problems before and during the game.
The
blustery wind didn’t help either side and as Belper’s passing game is key
to their success and for long periods, they just couldn’t keep the ball
on the deck let alone pass it.
Paul
Pettinger was Belper’s best player which summed up the afternoon really
and without his agility the Nailers would almost certainly have lost.
True,
Belper did have their moments but after Richard Tracey’s exquisite volley
to send Belper into an early lead, genuine goal scoring opportunities
were a rarity.
Ross
Hannah had the capability of causing most problems for the Zebras’
rearguard, but on the single occasion he got a clear shot in the ball
landed on the cross bar.
Anthony
Wilson should have sealed the game for Belper in added on time but after
doing the hard work he couldn’t find a way past the Brigg ‘keeper.
Belper
joint manager Danny Hudson was in no doubt that his side were worthy of a
point.
“In
the dressing room afterwards we all agreed that we had deserved a draw”,
he explained, “and we could have snatched maximum points it at the end”.
“Petts
(Pettinger) did really well for us and showed what a great ‘keeper he is,
but we had chances too and in previous games we’ve been taking them”.
“The
pitch was hard and the ball bobbled and of course the strong wind didn’t
help, but we have got in the habit of grinding out results”.
“Brigg
have improved greatly over the last few weeks and they have been taking
points off the top teams so we all things considered we’re not too
disappointed”.
After
snatching victory right at the death in their last two outings it should
have been a hat trick of ‘get out of jail’ cards, but even die hard
Nailers supporters knew that the they wouldn’t really have deserved to
beat Brigg.
It
was certainly an amazing turnaround at Glapwell earlier in the
week. The home team had created most of the chances, but an inspired
Adam Ogden kept them out, and when their goal eventually came in the
second half, most spectators in the ground must have thought that it
would be enough to win the tie.
Perhaps
the Glapwell players also thought that because the Nailers who, to their
credit never game up on the cause, found a way back through Pete Smith’s
quirky equaliser, and the home side panicked.
Within
minutes of taking the field as a substitute Peter Smith rattled in his
second whereupon Glapwell tried to step up the pace only to find that
time ran out on them.
However
you look at it, this was a great win for Belper against a side who had
claimed the scalps of Ilkeston and Matlock and almost invincible on their
own ground.
“It
just shows the spirit we’ve got in the side now”, said Hudson, “ Glapwell
made it difficult for us but after they scored I think they believed
they’d got the game won, but we never give up nowadays and it was a great
win for us”
“We
are looking forward to the final and whether it is Buxton or Alfreton it
should be a great occasion over the two legs for our supporters”.
Belper
await the outcome of the controversy surrounding the other semi final
where Alfreton and Buxton are at loggerheads over the circumstances
surrounding the late postponement of their game.
The
Nailers are away at Stocksbridge park Steels on Tuesday evening and the
at home to Shepshed Dynamo on Saturday before they enter into a tough
sequence of games against Goole, Sheffield, Retford and Colwyn Bay to
round off the March fixtures.
Nigel Oldrini
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