Late fight back secures final spot

Two late goals from Anthony Wilson (pictured), one brilliantly made and taken and the other speculative, clinched an exciting tie, and Wilson might not have been playing at all if Jon Froggatt hadn’t been cup tied.

In fact Wilson’s inclusion was the only change to the team that delivered an improved performance at Shepshed in midweek, and new signing James Naylor was included on the bench.

Skelmersdale had enjoyed a good season and were in third place in the UniBond Division One North, but like the Nailers, weren’t enjoying the best of form in recent weeks.

So both sides legitimately thought that they had every chance to get through to the final and as a result a very enjoyable game ensued.

The first half was full of incident and an always dangerous Skelmersdale strike force never let the Belper defence relax.

John Cass put a good chance wide in the 2nd minute from a cross from the right and the Belper defence never really looked comfortable against the pace of the Skelmersdale forward line in the first half.

The Nailers found that the direct route caused many problems for the home team with the measured ball over the top being the most effective.

Anthony Wilson chased one such ball deep into the penalty area but just missed out when a defender nudge the ball back to his ‘keeper who picked the ball up. Claims for an illegal back pass were waved away.

But the Nailers were undone by sheer pace in the 8th minute when the dangerous Cass broke clear and crossed for Paul Woolcott who fortunately failed to connect properly with the ball.

Belper have had very little luck in front of goal in the past few games and that trend continued when Luke Fedorenko’s free was met by Ollie Ryan, but his header hit the inside of the foot of the post and the ball was cleared.

Lee Stevenson also went close with a header from a Mickey Harcourt cross in the 13th minute and in an action packed opening to this tie, Cass saw his 20th minute free kick tipped over by Adam Ogden.

Belper’s goal in the 23rd minute only served to intensify matters and it came from a Fedorenko throw that was cleared out to Harcourt.

Harcourt lobbed the ball back into the mix where Ollie Ryan’s back header looped over everyone and bounced into the far corner of the net.

Skelmersdale gradually stepped up the pressure and the Belper defence began to creak.

Cass got in behind the Nailers’ open defence and fired into the side netting, and in the 31st minute Richard Haigh’s ‘measured’ clearance struck his own cross bar on its way out of play.

The equaliser came on 32 minutes when more hesitancy allowed Shaun Foster the opportunity to volley the ball high into the net from 10 yards, and just as the Nailers looked to go into the break all square, Aaron Turner squeezed a 20 yard shot just inside the post with Ogden seemingly seeing it late.

Words were obviously said at half time because a revitalised Nailers came out for the second period.

A sense of urgency was injected into their play and an air of determination was also evident.

But they suffered a scare in the 55th minute when Karl Ledsham’s cross eluded team mates running in by half a yard, but the Nailers created a great chance on 57 minutes when Ollie Ryan ran through with only Damien Eastham to beat, and the Skelmersdale ‘keeper managed to claw the ball off his toes at the second attempt.

Anthony Wilson couldn’t thread the ball through after the ‘keeper dropped a cross in the 64th minute and new signing, James Naylor struck a tremendous shot that Eastham flicked over the cross bar ten minutes.

But in between these efforts the Nailers were deeply indebted to Richard Haigh’s vital interception after Ogden had parried Cass’s initial effort and Ledsham was lining himself up to score the goal that would have surely finished Belper off.

Ogden was excellent again in the 80th minute when he saved another Ledsham effort, but just as it seemed that defeat was on the cards, a piece of pure skill changed everything.

The superb Tom Naylor gave Ollie Ryan work to do to catch his pass to the bye line, but Ryan’s cross to the far post was inch perfect for Anthony Wilson to head firmly into the net.

With the bit between their teeth and Skelmersdale looking glum the Nailers won the tie with a piece of opportunism from Wilson.

Lee Stevenson took possession of the ball 10 yards outside the penalty area and immediately sent it back into the danger area where Wilson flicked his back leg and deflected it into goal, completely wrong footing the Skelmersdale defenders and ‘keeper in the process.

Belper had found the conviction and confidence that has been lacking recently and thoroughly deserved their victory with Stamford now waiting for them in the final.

Skelmersdale United: Eastham, Foster, White, Burke, Akrigg, Turner, Ledsham, Armstrong, Almond, Cass, Woolcott. Unused subs: Wade A, Houghton, Wade R, Towey, Birch.

Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver (Adams 58), Barnard (Oliver 74), Naylor T, Harcourt, Haigh, Telling, Stevenson, Wilson, Ryan, Fedorenko (Naylor J 45). Unused subs: Hindley, Hudson.

Referee: A C Newell (Thornton Cleveleys)

Attendance: 174

Man of the Match: Adam Ogden

Match Action: http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/sklmrsdleA0910/index.html

Match Audio Report:
http://audioboo.fm/boos/105108-skelmersdale-2-belper-3