Goole prove tough nut to crack

The Nailers opted to leave Dean Oliver on the bench despite having scored five goals in the last three games but the decision was purely tactical as the Belper management thought that playing Anthony Wilson up against Vikings’ new signing Brett Lovell was the better strategy.

Andy Rushbury was absent as he was at his graduation ceremony at Nottingham Trent University and Luke Fedorenko came in for a rare start.

The Goole side included former Belper players Lee Stratford and Gavin Allott.

The Nailers took an early lead in the 3rd minute when Lee Stevenson chased down a hesitant Brett Lovell and when Craig Parry tried to clear, the ball rebounded of Stevenson and into the net.

The Nailers nearly scored again a minute later when Luke Fedorenko streaked past Pierrepont and his cross into the six yard area took a slight deflection and went the wrong side of Ben Walker who was poised to convert.

Lee Stevenson hit a 13th minute volley over the top as Belper continued their lively start to the game, and in the 18th minute the same player went close with a glancing header from a Fedorenko cross.

Gavin Allott sent a looping header just under the bar for the visitors’ first direct effort on target, but moments later Ben Walker was denied a goal by a good near post save from Craig Parry after the Belper striker ran through.

But the Nailers survived a scare in the 28th minute after Adam Ogden saved at full stretch to stop Bill Law’s shot, and then Lee Stratford appeared from nowhere to put the ball over the line.

Fortunately the referee’s assistant noticed that he had come back on to the pitch moments earlier and the effort was disallowed for offside.

However the visitors found an equaliser in the 37th minute when Brett Lovell headed in with an unchallenged header at the near post from a corner kick.

Belper nearly went behind on the stroke of half time when Gavin Allott struck the outside of the post with a shot from the edge of the area, but most noticeable was the obvious discomfort Ogden (pictured) was in as he moved across his goal.

It came as no surprise then when Martin Kearney took his place after the break and the Nailers set about trying to regain the lead.

Belper’s cause wasn’t helped by the unnecessary dismissal of Ben Walker who kicked a Goole player whilst on the floor, presumably an act of retaliation.

A catalogue of disasters led to a Nailers’ goal in the 64th minute with first Craig Parry and then Adam Green making hashes of clearances, and Anthony Wilson made the most of an unexpected opportunity to squeeze the ball home at the near post.

But Belper’s lead was short lived as Goole levelled the scores again after Martin Kearney couldn’t hold a 68th minute free kick and substitute Adam Green slotted in the loose ball.

Lee Stevenson hit a bullet free kick that found its way through a ruck of players and Parry did well to see it late and make the save, but Goole’s Lawrence Hunter should have done better with a shooting opportunity in the 72nd minute but he sent the ball over the top.

Worriyingly, Goole began to make the extra man count and forced the Nailers into errors which saw the ball coming back at them far too frequently.

Despite the pressure Belper were under they nearly snatched a spectacular winner when Richard Adams struck a tremendous 30 yard pass that sent Dean Oliver away, and he hit a venomous effort from just outside the penalty area that hit the top of the cross bar.

Both teams justifiably thought they could win the game but couldn’t create that all important clear cut opportunity, and a point apiece seemed a reasonable outcome.

Belper Town: Ogden (Kearney 45), Harcourt, Haigh, Naylor, Colliver, Adams, Telling, Stevenson, Walker, Wilson (Oliver 72), Fedorenko (Hudson 62). Other subs: Mirfin, Pride.

Goole AFC:( Parry, Pierpoint (Fawcus 68), Stratford, Wilkinson, Winters (Green 60), Lovell, Law, Cotton (Jeffs 90), Allott, Worsfold, Hunter. Other subs: Rose, Ward.

Referee: J Hermuzi (Worksop)

Attendance: 205

Match Sponsor: Andy Carney

Man of the Match: Anthony Wilson