Belper slump to second defeat in three days

Belper fell to their biggest home defeat of the season against Sheffield FC, goals from former Nailers Jordan Turner and Glyn Cotton did the damage before Temi Raheem’s goal completed the scoring.

Their cause wasn't helped by the absence of four key players. Missing were goalkeeper Danny Haystead (concussion), defender Gerome Palmer, and midfield players Eric Graves (business) and Rob Stevenson (hamstring).

Their absence would prove to be telling as the Nailers failed to take a grip on the match at any point.

Jordan Turner opened the scoring midway through the first-half when he latched onto Temi Raheem through ball and slipped the ball past stand-in ‘keeper Charlie Mansfield.

The Nailers felt aggrieved as minutes before the opening the goal, Tyrell Shannon-Lewis was felled in the box but the referee was not impressed and waved away any appeals.

It took the visitors until the hour mark to double their lead, Brian Cusworth laid the ball back to Glyn Cotton who slotted the ball home from just inside the box.

Temi Raheem made the points safe for the world’s oldest club ten minutes from time, he collected the ball on the right, dribbled across the box and his shot trickled into the goal to sum up a miserable night for the Nailers.

Jordan Turner had a couple of good chances to add to his tally in the first-half, he smashed over one-v-one on the stroke of half-time, then he poked the ball towards goal which was cleared off of the line by Louis Keenan.

The Nailers best and only real chance of the game fell to top scorer Alex Steadman, his half-volley from the edge of the box was beaten away by Sheffield stopper Conor Mitchell.

Belper Town travel to struggling Loughborough Dynamo on Saturday as they look to bounce back from this dip in form.

Belper Town: Mansfield (GK), Allen (Constable 76’), Keenan, Parker, Leggitt, Watt, Shannon-Lewis (Bryant 45’), Armstrong, Watkis (Taggart 80’), Williams (Capt.), Steadman. Unused subs: Palmer, Kabanje.

Sheffield FC: Mitchell, Stevens, B. Turner (Capt.), Ludlam, Hamsat (Roney 49’), Cotton, Thompson, Raheem, Cusworth (Henderson 80’), J. Turner (Igiehon 84’), Gregory. Unused subs: Glavin, Samuels.

Attendance: 124

Referee: Stuart Richardson (Mansfield Woodhouse)