Belper shake off the cobwebs

The Nailers gave debuts to three new signings with Ollie Ryan, Jon Froggatt and Jordan Hall running out in yellow shirts for the first time, but Danny Hudson, Mickey Harcourt and Anthony Wilson were all unavailable.

Lincoln had only won once since mid November and that was at Belper, so the Nailers started out favourites gain revenge by winning the game.

Alfreton Town loan signing Jordan Hall made an explosive start to his Nailers career by setting up the opening goal in the 3rd minute.

A strong diagonal run culminated in a cross to the near post where Jon Froggatt (pictured)was on hand to fire the ball home after Lincoln failed to clear.

Belper appeared to be denied a perfectly good goal barely 60 seconds later when Lee Stevenson ran through to fire home just inside the post, but the referee’s assistant’s flag incorrectly gave him off side.

Jordan Hall was similarly dealt with in the 13th minute when he escaped to roll the ball into the net, and had video evidence been available it might have shown Hall being level with the last defender, but the effort was disallowed regardless.

Jon Froggatt’s good work in the 16th minute ended with Hall putting the ball over the top, and it was the 22nd minute before Lincoln showed up in the Belper area with Sam Wilkinson hitting a drive just over the cross bar.

Andy Rushbury left the woodwork shaking with a tremendous shot from 25 yards that struck the bar on 29 minutes, but although the Nailers had controlled the first 30 minutes, their grip on the game slowly weakened.

Kallum Smith, a constant thorn in Belper’s side should have done better when he volleyed wide when well placed, but the last significant effort of the first half came from Froggatt who toe poked the ball just wide on 36 minutes.

Lee Stevenson forced Mario Ziccardi into a good save from a 56th minute lob, then Lincoln missed the first of a number of good openings when Smith volleyed over a great chance for the equaliser.

Substitute George Zuerner had a close range effort blocked by Tom Naylor as the Nailers struggled to clear the ball in the 63rd minute, and a dodgy spell for Belper ended with Richard Haigh’s challenge on Zuerner being penalised with a penalty kick, a decision hotly disputed by the Belper defender.

Sean Cann made no mistake from the spot kick in the 70th minute and handed Lincoln a platform to go on and win the game.

However the Nailers came to life and were rewarded with a goal in the 73rd minute when a long throw-in caused confusion at the near post and Lincoln skipper Brendan McDaid was credited with having the final touch as the ball crossed the goal line.

Ollie Ryan nearly made certain of the points with a good effort in the 78th minute, but the final ten minutes belonged to the home team who peppered the Belper penalty area with crosses and corners.
Sam Wilkinson hit the ball over when he should have at least found the target, then Ryan Porter headed wide in added on time when he met a corner kick totally unchallenged.

It was a very important victory for Belper who need to close the gap on the league pacesetters, and taking into consideration the length of time they had been out of action it was a very pleasing result.

LINCOLN UNITED
Ziccardi, Fleming, Porter, McDaid, Wilkins, Machin (Hawley 87), O'Halloran (Zuerner 13), Melton, Wilksinson, Garrick (Cann 68), Smith. Other subs: George, Schofield

BELPER TOWN
Ogden, Colliver, Haigh, Telling, Adams, Naylor, Hall (Hindley 85). Stevenson, Ryan, Froggatt, Rushbury (Murfin 75). Other subs: Fedorenko, Kearney

Goalscorers

LINCOLN UNITED
Sean CANN (70 pen)

BELPER TOWN
Jon FROGGATT(3)
Own Goal (73)

Referee: M Guest (Grimsby)

Attendance: 60

Man of the Match: James Colliver

Match Action
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