Nailers turn the tide with fine victory

Bruno Holden capped a fine performance converting from close range from Steve Warne's cut back (Photo: Tim Harrison)

This 2-0 victory ensured that Belper also kept their first clean sheet since their only previous victory over Witton Albion.

This was the first time that the two sides had met in the league, with their only previous encounters being in cup competitions.

Manager Jon Froggatt changed his team’s system, opting for a 4-5-1 formation, with Bruno Holden leading the line as lone striker.

Two players made their debuts for the club with Liam Goulding featuring in central defence following his loan move from Accrington Stanley whilst the experienced Ash Burbeary started on the right side of midfield.

Both sides had early half chances, without necessarily troubling the respective goalkeepers.

The first moment of quality came from the Nailers, as excellent one-touch football between Bruno Holden, Chris Jones and Steve Warne resulted in the latter finding space on the right hand side inside the box.

Warne then dinked a cross over the head of the goalkeeper, where Glyn Cotton took a good first touch ten yards out and brought a fine save out of Hakan Burton who palmed the ball over the bar.

Curzon came close to taking the lead after 33 minutes when Jordan Wright had his shot blocked but the ball fell kindly for Ryan Brooke who poked the ball inches wide of the near right post.

A minute later, the Nailers took the lead through the impressive Ian Ross.

Rob Stevenson drove inside from the left and was tripped two yards outside the box to earn his side a free kick. Ian Ross took responsibility and curled a sublime effort over the wall and into the top left corner, leaving Burton routed to the spot.

Curzon then saw three half chances go awry before half time with Samuel Walker orchestrating events for the visitors.

The game continued with its good tempo in the second half, with Belper remaining solid at the back and utilising the willing Bruno Holden well upfront.

Curzon saw a free kick go inches past the post through Ryan Watson, from an almost identical position to the one that led to the Nailers first goal.

Belper secured a second goal through Bruno Holden on the 64th minute.

Steve Warne received possession began driving into the box with the Curzon defence parting alarmingly in front of the Nailers skipper.

From the by-line, Warne pulled a low ball across the box, where Bruno Holden arrived to tap in a well engineered goal and double his side’s advantage.

The visitors refused to give up and continued to push the Nailers back as time ebbed away, but Froggatt's men remained sound at the back, limiting Curzon to just a late half-chance which came to nothing.

Belper Town: James Martin, Chris Jones, Aaron Pride, Ian Ross, Liam Goulding (Matt Varley 90), Richard Adams, Ashley Burbeary (Aaron Cole 71), Steve Warne (Gareth Davies 67), Bruno Holden, Glyn Cotton, Rob Stevenson. Subs: Evan Garnett, Scott Low.

Curzon Ashton: Hakan Burton, Simon Woodford, Simon Lakeland, Jonathan Hunt, Andrew Watson, Chris Rowney (Luke Horrocks 62) Samuel Walker, Niall Cummins (Tom Brooke's 62), Jordan Wright, Ryan Brooke. Subs: Darren Thornton, Andrew Fitzgerald, Matthew Crothers.

Referee: Matthew Smith (Hinckley)

Attendance: 228