Nailers go nap at Clipstone

Nailers manager Peter Duffield chose to rotate his squad with only 3 players in the starting line up that had begun the game against Chesterfield 5 nights earlier.

Shaun Tuton and Chris Jones were not risked due to minor injuries.

Belper started the game brightly and were close to taking the lead as early as the 3rd minute when Jamie Jackson’s shot went narrowly wide with Clipstone ‘keeper Dunn struggling.

Clipstone could have easily have taken the lead when Hillier shot straight at David Ratcliffe following a breakaway from a Belper corner.

Belper then had strong claims for a penalty waved away after Austin bundled into Jamie Jackson on the edge of the area.

Despite the Nailers having most of the possession it was Clipstone who went close again with Armstrong shooting wide having dispossessed Glyn Cotton in midfield.

Belper took the lead in the 19th minute when a free kick on the left touchline taken by Sam Duncum was met at the far post by Antony Rowley whose header nestled in the bottom corner.

The Nailers started to create a host of chances with Colin Marrison, Rowley and Shaun Roulston all going close.

It was no surprise when Belper doubled their lead on 31 minutes, when following a through ball from Dan White, Jamie Jackson beat 2 defenders before squaring the ball to Jon Froggatt who calmly finished from 10 yards.

Belper went on to make it 3-0 in the 43rd minute when Froggatt scored his second goal following good work again from Jackson.

Belper almost made it four on the stroke of half time when first Rowley forced Clipstone ‘keeper Dunn into making a good save and then with the final kick of the first half, Rowley saw his right foot strike hit the post.

Belper started the second half as they had finished the first, with Sam Duncum forcing a smart save from the ‘keeper.

The Nailers’ fourth goal soon followed with Rowley scoring with a free header from a Duncum cross in the 52nd minute.

As often happens in pre-season games the pattern of the game altered with Peter Duffield making 8 outfield substitutions in the following 25 minutes, the final one bringing a surprise return to a Belper shirt of former player, Karl Colley.

After 78 minutes Clipstone, who had worked hard and tirelessly, got a deserved consolation goal when Gary Armstrong’s left foot drive from the edge of the area flew into the bottom corner giving Ratcliffe no chance.

Belper were not to be denied a fifth goal and this came courtesy of Jamie Jackson out jumping the home ‘keeper to score with a header from Mark Ward’s corner.

The final few minutes were played out with the crowd keeping an anxious eye on the blackening skies.

Belper will take many positives away from the game, leaving manager Peter Duffield with some tough selections in the forthcoming friendlies.

Clipstone: Dunn, Paling, Shaw, Lloyd, Austin(R), Pride, Hillier, Carty, Austin(M), Armstrong, Colton. Subs: Parker, Tryner, Leggitt, Dyson, Stubley, Bingham.

Belper Town: Ratcliffe, Harrison, Adam, Cotton, Roulston, White, Rowley, Marrison, Froggatt, Jackson, Duncum. Subs: Warne, Ward, Adams, Smyth, Rushbury, Dale-Brown, Longstaff, Colley

Referee: Hristo Karaivanov (Sutton in Ashfield)

Ian Featherby