Nine-man Belper fall to second defeat in four days.

Photo credit: @spaldingunited Captains Nathan Stainfield and Phil Watt before last nights game.

Belper had to play near enough the entire game with midfielder Michael Towey in goal.

Goalkeeper Danny Haystead was sent off just seven minutes into the game after referee Martyn Fryer deemed the Nailer’s stopper had used his hands outside of the penalty area.

Despite going down to ten men Belper took the lead midway through the first half, Tom Liversedge who was making his debut for the Nailers, curled a lovely right-footed effort into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

Spalding’s Josh Moreman scored a fantastic individual goal to make the game all square, picking the ball up on the left wing, beating two Belper defenders and to fire low past stand-in ‘keeper Towey, who could only stand and watch as his clean sheet was diminished.

The Tulips secured the win five minutes from time with a brilliantly well worked goal, Dan Lawlor sprayed a diagonal pass to full back Paul Walker who’s precise first time cross was met by forward Charley Sanders who tapped into an empty net.

Belper finished the game with nine men, with Captain Phil Watt being shown a straight red card for a late challenge in stoppage time at the end of the game, as the Nailers were pushing for an equaliser.

Belper have now had a player sent off in each of their last four games and two in this fixture is not doing anything to rectify the situation.

Tulip’s goalscorer Moreman had a golden opportunity to give his side the lead on the stroke of half-time, when he smashed the ball over the bar after Mitch Griffiths’ effort rebounded off the bar.

The Spalding wideman could have also made the victory comfortable in the final seconds of the game as he raced clear but could only find the side netting whilst under pressure from Paul Lister.

Spalding United: Duggan (GK), Watson (Walker 70’), Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield (Capt.), Murphy, Griffiths, Millson (Waumsley 60’), Sanders, Lawlor, Moreman.

Unused subs: Banister, Nuttell, Hussey.

Belper Town: Haystead (GK); Purcicoe, Lister, Watt (Capt.), Matthews; Fairclough (Wedderburn 87’), Williams, Towey, Johnson; Garnett, Liversedge (Stevenson 67’).

Unused subs: Cooksey, Taylor.

Referee: Martyn Fryer

Assistant referee: Kenwyn Hughes & Samuel Kane

Attendance: 104