Match Preview

Ossett United (A) – Saturday, 23rd March 2024

The Opposition - History
Ossett United were formed in 2018 following a merger between Ossett Town (est. 1936) and Ossett Albion (est. 1944).
Both of those clubs had been long standing in the NPL and the new club set up camp at Ingfield, former home of Town.
Recent seasons have seen familiar faces involved with the club.
Ahead of the 22/23 season Jas Colliver and Mark Ward took over as joint managers but this appointment did not work out and Grant Black, Belper manager in the promotion campaign two seasons ago, took over in October 2022. He was sacked just before Christmas 2023.
The fledgling club has picked up a single honour, the West Riding County Cup in 2019.

The Opposition - This Season
The Ramicorns struggled at the start of this season in the League, winning only one of their first five fixtures, this left them one place off bottom.
They then won successive away matches in the north-east, at Newton Aycliffe and Consett which steadied the ship despite a couple of disappointing home results in between.
In to November and plenty of entertainment as they played out a 4-4 draw at home to Hebburn and ending the month by thrashing Barnoldswick Town 4-0 in the West Riding Senior Cup.
The festive period started well with victory over Winterton but they then slipped to six defeats in a row before halting the slide with victory at Brighouse in January.
They come in to this match unbeaten in three matches and off the back of a 0-0 draw at Winterton, a game which they could not afford to lose, and didn't.
Ossett have only won 2 out of 15 matches at Ingfield in the League this season, with five draws and eight defeats putting them bottom of the 'home' league table.
After today they travel to Liversedge for a midweek fixture before heading to Grantham next Saturday.
Mainly because of their struggles at HQ they come in to this fixture in 18th place:
P 29 W 7 D 7 L 15 F 31 A 54 Pts. 28

In the FA Cup, they were drawn at home three times in a row, finally succumbing to Premier Division side Marske United.
In the FA Trophy, a trip to North Ferriby was their undoing in the First Qualifying Round.
They made the quarter-finals of the West Riding Senior Cup, eventually being knocked out by Guiseley on penalties.

Former Nailer Alex Peterson leads the scoring charts with 10.
Other players who have formerly pulled on the yellow & black include Derry Robson, Janni Lipka and Corey Gregory along with manager Dave Brown - who has been in charge since Christmas - and coach Ryan Pugh.

The Nailers
Belper, having topped the form guide until mid-February come in to this match without a win in three, although these matches saw a red card for Kevin Bastos at home to Stocksbridge and a tricky away match against Dunston played at Brighouse. Last weekend saw a depleted squad pick up a late draw at home to Ashington.
After today the Nailers return to Yorkshire next weekend, with Pontefract the destination.
Belper sit 5th in the table with a record of P 30 W 16 D 5 L 9 F 59 A 42 Pts. 53.
Away from home, the Nailers have won 8 out of 14 matches.
Kevin Bastos leads the way with 18 goals. Cam Johnson secured 7 before his move to Sheffield and Phil Watt has 6.

Head to Head
Belper have only met the current Ossett United three times.
In 2018/19, two matches saw 11 goals.
In September at Ingfield, a stunning 60 yard goal from Jack Vann in injury time secured a point for Ossett with the match finishing 3-3.
The Nailers picked up the points back at Belper the following April. 0-2 down after 48 minutes, goals from Robson, Crouz and South saw the game turned on its head with the hosts winning 3-2.
Earlier this season, goals from James Cadman and Zak Goodson saw Belper to a 2-0 victory at the Raygar Stadium.

With regards the previous clubs, Belper had faced Ossett Albion on 31 occasions, winning only 10.
Against Town, 26 matches were played and the Nailers were victorious once again in 10 of them.

Form Guide (League)
Ossett United - (30 Jan) DLLDWD (16 Mar)
Belper Town - (3 Feb) WWWDLD (16 Mar)

Team News
Karl Demidh serves the second of his two match ban.
Kevin Bastos serves the third of four out of his ban.
Rhys Dolan is available to play if selected having rejoined on loan.
New signing Mason Frizelle could make his debut.

Permutations
Belper are four points away from third placed Hebburn so can only climb one place to 4th. This would require us to better Pontefract's result while bearing in mind that anything other than victory means Newton Aycliffe could go above us.
Ossett are one place outside the relegation zone but have a six point cushion as well as a goal difference advantage. They could climb as high as 16th if they win and Bridlington & Brighouse both lose.

Match details
Ossett United vs. Belper Town
Northern Premier League Division One - East Division
Saturday, 23rd March 2024 – 3:00pm kick off
Ingfield
Prospect Road
Ossett
WF5 9HL
Tickets: Adults £9.50, Concessions £6.50, U16s £2.50
Available online: Ossett United vs. Belper Town - tickets

Follow the match
Live commentary is available with Tom on Radio Belper Town - https://radiobelpertown.mixlr.com
Full coverage on X (Twitter). Team news, HT & FT scores on Facebook.
Match reports to follow on the website and in the Non-League Paper.

Elsewhere in Division One East

(11th) Ashington AFC vs. Grimsby Borough (12th)
(16th) Bridlington Town vs. Pontefract Collieries (4th)
(17th) Brighouse Town vs. Hebburn Town (3rd)
(13th) Cleethorpes Town vs. Stockton Town (1st)
(9th) Consett AFC vs. Stocksbridge Park Steels (15th)
(2nd) Dunston vs. Carlton Town (8th)
(20th) Grantham Town vs. Sheffield (10th)
(6th) Newton Aycliffe vs. Winterton Rangers (19th)
(7th) North Ferriby vs. Liversedge (14th)