Nailers lift President's Cup

The Nailers have been members of the UniBond League since 1997 and in this, the final season of involvement by the sponsors, Belper finally managed to get their hands on some silverware.

The Nailers reached the showpiece final by beating Glapwell and Sheffield after penalty competitions, and then despatched Chasetown and Grantham, before defeating Skelmersdale with a late flourish in the semi final.

Lee Stevenson had to sit out the final with a thigh strain and Jon Froggatt was ineligible, but after an encouraging team display against Carlton a few days earlier, the Nailers went into this final tie with high hopes.

Belper made an explosive start by taking the lead inside the first two minutes when Ryan Hindley (pictured) struck a venomous angled shot under the ‘keeper and inside the far post.

In fact the Nailers made most of the running in the first half and could easily have wrapped up the game by half time.

Andy Rushbury might have done better when he received the ball with his back to goal with only the ‘keeper between him and a second goal on 14 minutes, but he couldn’t bring it under control quickly enough, and Chris Wright made the interception.

Tom Naylor, who was excellent all night threaded the ball through to Dean Oliver two minutes later, but the Belper striker shot two yards over with Wright the only man between him and the goal.

Stamford had been kept under control at this stage but Ricky Miller almost found a way through in the 19th minute but fortunately he bent his shot around the outside the post.

Ryan Hindley set up Belper’s next chance on the half hour by intercepting a clearance from defence and he immediately put Anthony Wilson in possession, but again the opportunity went begging as Wilson miskicked in front of goal.

Belper produced some good football in the latter stages of the half and after one slick passing move, Wilson hit a shot just wide of the post from 15 yards.

Dean Oliver was unlucky not to have doubled the Nailers’ advantage on the stroke of half time after weaving his way to the edge of the six yard box, only for Wright to block his shot.

The big question for supporters at half time centred on whether Belper would regret missing those first half chances and they didn’t have long to wait for the answer as Stamford equalised within 60 seconds of the restart.

Dean Oliver’s infield pass was collected by Dan Cotton and to his credit he just let fly from 20 yards and the ball just flew past Adam Ogden and into the net.

Thereafter Belper had to do plenty of defending but Stamford rarely came close enough to cause Ogden any serious problems, although it was hard to see how a cross from Miller in the 65th minute didn’t end up in the back of the Belper net.

The Nailers weathered the storm and Luke Fedorenko, whose introduction in the 55th minute didn’t cause an immediate impact, fired Belper up with an 80th minute free kick that nearly crept inside the post.

Belper suddenly stepped up the pace and Stamford had no answer to the Nailers swift attacks and Fedorenko broke the deadlock in the 86th minute with an angled shot similar to that of Hindley’s, but from the other side of the goal.

The impetus definitely lay with the Nailers now and when Anthony Wilson was felled by Daniels’ defender Ross Watson, it was fitting that one of the best players on the pitch, Tom Naylor, blasted home the spot kick.

The Nailers have played well in this competiton all the way through and to win the trophy so emphatically is a tremendous achievement for joint managers Andy Carney and Danny Hudson, but the main plaudits go to the players who should be congratulated on their excellent performances that have brought deserved recognition to the club this season.

Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver, Barnard, Naylor, Harcourt, Haigh, Hindley (Fedorenko 55), Telling, Oliver (Warren 73), Wilson, Rushbury. Unused subs: Adams, Hudson. Mirfin

Stamford: Wright, Watson, Jackson (Hook 88), Chamberlain, Malone, Weston, Beeson, Ellison, Battersby (Matson 76), Miller, Cotton. Unused subs: Sedgemore, Burton-Jones, Duggan

Referee: D Gratton (Stone)

Attendance: 286

Man of the Match: Matt Telling

Match Action:
http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/PCF0910/index.html