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Belper
Town’s nine game unbeaten run came to a disappointing end when they lost
in front of their highest league crowd of the season to champions elect
Retford United.
With
Krystof Kotylo, Richard Tracey, Anthony Wilson and Ross Hannah all
missing for one reason or another, the Nailers made matters worse for
themselves when skipper Jon Hobson was sent off following a second
bookable offence.
Retford’s
quality shone through for most of what was really a tedious 90 minutes of
football, particular from a Belper supporters’ perspective.
The
Nailers could only muster two direct shots on target – the first coming
in the 9th minute after Ben Walker knocked back Jon Hobson’s
long clearance from defence and Lee Stevenson struck a beautifully timed
volley straight at Badgers’ ‘keeper Ross Turner.
Hobson
might have done better with a half chance from an Andy Rushbury corner
kick in the 13th minute, but the visitors always looked the
most threatening and their build up play suggested that they could score
at any moment.
Until
Hobson’s red card in the 26th minute Belper had looked
relatively secure, but his absence was almost certainly a contributory
factor that led to Retford’s opener five minutes later.
Ryan
Hindley’s in swinging cross from the left was met by the unmarked Michael
Godber and all he had to do was to nod the ball in at close
range.
The
Nailers had to work very hard to match Retford’s dominance of the
remainder of the half, but the fact that the Nailers had reached half
time without further damage gave them hope that the game could still be
salvaged.
The
tightest of offside decisions denied Ben Walker his first goal since
returning to Christchurch Meadow after he had given Michael Simpkins the
slip on 48 minutes and put the ball in at the near post.
Neil
Harvey broke strongly on 54 minutes before squaring the ball to Ryan Ford
on the edge of the penalty area, and the Badgers’ midfield player saw his
well-struck shot cannon away off a post.
Harvey
connected perfectly with a shot from 18 yards in the 57th
minute but Paul Pettinger was handily placed to make the save, then the
Nailers nearly caught Retford out when Danny Hudson’s header gave Walker
a sniff of an opportunity but the Belper striker’s fiercely struck volley
went straight at the ‘keeper.
Godber
came close to getting a second on 73 minutes when the ball bounced over
Joe Appleyard and he ran on to put the ball wide of the target.
But Godber didn’t have too long to wait
before another opportunity came along when he snapped up a close range
opportunity from a 77th minute corner kick to wrap up all the
points for the league leaders.
Pettinger
prevented Retford going three ahead with an excellent save from Ford on
83 minutes and even though the Nailers had competed well against the
numerical odds, there was no doubt that the best team won.
Tim
Harrison’s Photo Gallery
Nigel Oldrini
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