Belper ease into semi finals

The Nailers fielded a strong side against the Gingerbreads making just one change from the team that won so impressively at Sheffield a few days earlier, with Simon Mirfin coming in for his first start while James Colliver dropped to the bench.

Gio Carchedi had the first shot of the evening that sped off the wet surface and into the side netting and shortly afterwards Adam Ogden was forced into touching the ball over the cross bar from Alistair Asher’s long range effort.

However the Nailers took the lead in the 10th minute after Adam Ogden launched the ball down field and Gingerbreads ‘keeper Richard Stainsby completely missed it as he ran out leaving Lee Stevenson with a simple tap in.

The Nailers went two up in the 14th minute when Stevenson hit a fierce low angled drive into the far corner of the net, leaving Stainsby helpless.

Dean Oliver was unlucky two minutes later when he ran strongly with the ball and despatched his 25 yard effort just past the far post and, as the Nailers continued to push forward relentlessly, Andy Rushbury put his shot inches wide.

Lee Stevenson could have had his hat trick on 28 minutes when he beat the off side trap and despite the close attentions of two Grantham defenders he managed to get his shot away but it trickled past the far upright.

Grantham came more into the game in the latter stages of the half but the Nailers’ defence looked secure, and in the final minute Stevenson nearly scored after running on to a long pass from Mickey Harcourt but his lob went the wrong side of the post.

The Nailers took a firm grip on the tie in the 51st minute when Ben Walker ran in on the blind side to convert a teasing Andy Rushbury cross and Matt Telling almost scored another two minutes later with a 25 yard effort that bounced awkwardly just in front of the ‘keeper.

Ben Walker ran strongly to create the fourth goal on 58 minutes and he pulled the ball back from the by line for Dean Oliver to crash it high into the net.

Ian Robinson had a rare shot on target for the Gingerbreads, however Adam Ogden was secure in his handling and the Lincolnshire side produced very little in the way of goal scoring opportunities.

Stainsby saved well from a Richard Adams shot in the 73rd minute, but a poor clearance from the ‘keeper saw Ryan Hindley return the ball quickly and Stainsby was grateful to see it miss the target.

Ben Walker curled a good effort into the arms of Stainsby as the Nailers stretched Grantham for the umpteenth time and then Walker headed just wide from an 85th minute Ryan Hindley cross as the Belper went in search of a fifth goal.

But Grantham came very close to a consolation when Gary Sucharewycz met an 88th minute corner kick but Luke Fedorenko was in the right place to kick the ball off the line.

The Gingerbreads were having their best spell in the final moments of this tie and Alistair Asher forced Adam Ogden into a great save with a 25 yard shot at the start of added on time.

But Belper’s passage into the semis never looked in doubt at any stage and in doing so extended their unbeaten home run in all competitions to nine games.

Belper Town: Ogden, Harcourt, Adams, Mirfin, Naylor, Haigh, Telling (Hudson 75), Stevenson (Hindley 65), Walker, Oliver, Rushbury (Fedorenko 65). Unused subs: Colliver, Kearney.

Grantham Town: Stainby, Hanson (Hargreaves 61), Saunders (Potts 74), Gray, Asher, Sucharewycz, Frecklington, Robinson, Carchedi, Norris, Brooks (Saunders 45). Unused subs: Hallcro.

Referee: A McIntyre (Doncaster)

Attendance: 141

Match Sponsor: Alley Barbers

Sponsors Man of the Match: Ben Walker

Match Action http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/GrnthmH0910PC/index.html