Nailers Back To Winning Ways And Complete Double Over Winterton

There was an abundance of relief for all connected with Belper after a sequence of three consecutive defeats had understandably knocked some confidence out of Lee Attenborough’s men.

The Nailers management team have been busy strengthening the squad in the meantime with defenders Joshua Ashman and Sidik Atcha being drafted in, the former on loan.

The departure of Cameron Johnson paved the way for Zak Goodson to join the Nailers from Ilkeston Town and with Brodie Litchfield also having joined in recent weeks from Basford, it was a much-changed starting line up.

Daniel Moore has made a surprise return to the club in goal and another new face David Gbehe, a defender has been recruited from Stratford Town.

Danny South was pronounced fit again after his injury lay off and came in for Phil Watt who was starting a two-game suspension.

The Nailers made a good start to the game and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the early stages. Brodie Litchfield opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a great effort after cutting inside and hitting a curling and dipping shot just under the bar at the far post.

Kevin Bastos hit a shot straight at Nathan Popple in the 19th minute and Belper’s top marksman had the ball in the net on 25 minutes, but he was deemed to have been in an offside position.

Rangers, with plenty of experience in their line up began to fight back territorially and Steve Ridley was given time and space from the edge of the area to pick his spot, but he was way off the mark.

Unfortunately, the game became scrappy in the letter stages with the Nailers unable to retain possession and allowing the hosts to boss them in the middle of the park, which led to unwanted pressure on the Nailers back line.

The interval came at a good time for the Nailers who had struggled to make an impact in the latter stages of the half, but there was a distinct improvement in the second half, and they just needed a second goal to be sure of the points.

Lee Ridley’s header on 52 minutes sailed past the far post which was Winterton’s last meaningful effort on the Belper goal, and much of the remaining action was in the hosts’ half.

Litchfield, probably having his most effective game since rejoining the Nailers, sent a tantalising cross into the 6-yard area on 57 minutes where Curtis Burrows and Bastos just failed to make contact.

The referee missed a blatant push on Bastos as he was about to cross the ball into a dangerous area from the bye line on 59 minutes, however the Nailers were rewarded for their industry on 67 minutes when Curtis Burrows fired the ball home at the second time of asking after his first effort came back off the cross bar.

The Nailers were in control for the remainder of the game and might have added to the lead when Danny South’s header was well saved by Popple, and the Rangers’ ‘keeper was there again to prevent Bastos claiming a goal.

This was a much better display albeit perhaps not with the quality of opposition such as Stockton and Hebburn, but nevertheless one that brought the feelgood factor back into the club.

Winterton Rangers: Popple, Dacre, Sutton, Ridley S (Ellender 82), Bryant, Ridley L, Matthews, Ture (Simpson 82), Grimes, Williams, Aynsley. Unused subs: Mitchell, Elliott-Bell, Moore.

Belper Town: Moore, Ashman, Rhodes, Dunn (Cadman 69), South, Atcha, Bastos (James 76), Warren, Goodson, Burrows, Litchfield. Unused subs: Walker, Gregory, Gbehe.

Referee: Steven Taylor

Att: 171