Dynamo inflict further pain on Nailers

PHOTO | Dylan Garnett fires the Nailers into the lead (PIc: Tim Harrison)

The previous meeting between the teams mirrored the scoreline of this result, Loughborough winning 2-1 at home after Belper had won the previous four encounters leading up to this season.

Aaran Webster made three changes from last week at Peterborough Sports. Dominic Allen returned to the midfield, as Cameron Steele made his first start alongside Jake Carlisle’s full Belper debut in defence. Leondro Browne dropped to the bench whilst Lee Williamson missed out through suspension.

The sides were almost inseparable during the first 45 minutes, both cancelling out one another as chances were few and far between.

Striker Sam Birks rushed through on goal only to shoot straight at James Martin, his rebound falling kindly into the 'keeper's arms.

Daniel Gordon tried his luck for the visitors with a low drive from range, narrowly missing the bottom corner.

A defensively sound performance was aided by the signing of Carlisle, whose big stature made a big difference in replacing the injured John Guy.

Sam Thorpe was threaded through, only for Jack Livesey to deny him using his feet and protecting the goal behind him.

There was promise going forward from both sides but with little end product to show for it.

With less than a minute on the clock after the restart, Jordan Spearman almost converted a spectacular own goal, with his backwards header needing to be stopped by Martin.

Thorpe was foiled again by Livesey, who rushed out to smother the striker who had ran in behind the back line.

A real goal mouth scramble after a Loughborough corner resulted in Louis Keenan having the ball at his feet, yet could only scoop over from six yards.

Belper’s unquestionable energy and effort paid dividends, as Dylan Garnett latched on to Birks deflected through ball, bringing the ball down smartly with a finish to match on 55 minutes.

Celebrations were short lived however, Paolo Piliero received the ball 25 yards from goal with only one thought on his mind as he smashes his strike past Livesey to equalise on 68 minutes.

New addition Jack Hallahan had everyone fooled inside the Marston stadium after his bullet effort hit the top of the net instead of the back, with home fans expecting the announcement of a second instead seeing a goal kick.

It was Loughborough who walked away the happier camp, substitute Tolani Omotola providing the smiles. After taking the pass in his stride, he held of his opposite defender before slotting the second and ultimately winning goal coolly.

Belper then struggled to create anything worth noting, although a draw seemed a fair result for both sides.

The result effected neither sides position in the league, but will certainly dampen an already bruised dressing room.

Belper Town: Livesey, Hunt, Goddard, Allen (Atkinson 83), Carlisle, Harrison, Steele (Browne 73), Lloyd, Birks (Cole 83), Hallahan, Garnett. Unused subs: Thornberry.

Loughborough Dynamo: Martin, Thorogood, Spearman (Omotola 65), Keenan, Hodgkinson, Piliero, Smithson, Smith, Thorpe, Durkin (Riley 77), Gordon. Unused subs: Oke-William, Saxton, Taylor.

Referee: Tom Fell

Att: 157