Rampant Nailers crush league leaders

The Nailers smashed their previously unbeaten home league record with such conviction that a double figure score would have been entirely justifiable, and anything is possible for the Nailers now after this extraordinary performance.

With Anthony Wilson’s ankle injury keeping him on the sidelines, Dean Oliver deputised while Adam Ogden took over from Martin Kearney between the posts.

Former Belper custodian Leigh Walker was in goal for the home side and his dejected appearance after the sixth goal went in suggested that he might be having second thoughts about making his return to Sheffield.

Ryan Hindley was back in the fold for Belper and he was selected as a substitute while joint manager Danny Hudson was to record his 250th appearance by coming on to replace Matt Telling late in the game.

The referee performed two pitch inspections before allowing the game to take place and the pitch was very heavy in places, but playable.

Belper’s uncertain and inconsistent form this season gave no indication of the revelations that were about to unfold, but by the time that the Nailers had struck the first goal in the 8th minute, they had already come within a whisker of scoring on two occasions.

Lee Stevenson whipped a 1st minute shot just over the bar as the Sheffield defence showed immediate signs of vulnerability, and Dean Oliver suffered the brilliance of Leigh Walker as he bent a left foot shot destined for inside the far post, but the former Belper ‘keeper miraculously pushed the ball away.

But the Nailers were persistent in the early stages and Mickey Harcourt, on his 101st appearance crossed to the far side where Andy Rushbury forced Leigh Walker into another good save, but Tom Naylor was on hand to side foot the ball home.

The Nailers were two up on 13 minutes after Andy Rushbury (pictured)regained control after slipping and with his marker also losing his footing, despatched an accurate shot just inside the post from the edge of the area.

Shell-shocked Sheffield hadn’t known what had hit them, and they should have gone further behind when Lee Stevenson crashed in another effort that only the brilliance of Leigh Walker denied him.

But Belper made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute when Ben Walker glanced in a pin point Andy Rushbury free kick, and this time Leigh Walker had no answer.

Moments later and Stevenson, looking suspiciously offside burst through and shot wide, and then on 28 minutes Sheffield began their fight back when Brian Cusworth headed home from 8 yards having caught the Nailers cold on the break.

The league leaders looked revitalised and despite Belper’s two goal lead there were one or two anxious looks on Nailers’ supporters’ faces as Greg Wright nearly squeezed in a 43rd minute free kick.

However there was still time for Stevenson to miss a glorious opportunity in the last moments of the first half as he contrived to shoot wide with the goal at his mercy.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were vital for both sides as the Nailers new that Sheffield would come out all guns blazing.

They weren’t disappointed and it was all hands to the pumps as free kicks and corners rained in one after the other.

Brian Cusworth heightened Belper anxiety when he bagged his second of the afternoon with a header from Greg Wright’s 63rd minute free kick, and the next goal was going to be the all-important one.

Belper responded positively to the situation and began to press Sheffield back, and on 65 minutes they opened up the home team’s defence and Ben Walker fired in a low shot that was hit with such speed that Tom Naylor couldn’t divert the rebound into the net.

A huge leap from Cusworth nearly provided the leveller for Sheffield but Adam Ogden saved brilliantly, however the tide was turning in Belper’s favour and Ben Walker contrived to bounce the ball over the cross bar when it looked easier to score.

However it was Walker who provided the cross that gave Lee Stevenson the opportunity to head Belper’s fourth goal and leave the Sheffield players in a confused daze.

Rampant Belper hit the fifth goal in the 76th minute when Lee Stevenson ran through to blast a near post shot under the exposed Leigh Walker.

Then Stevenson turned provider in the 81st minute as the Nailers completed the rout with Andy Rushbury sliding the ball in from the edge of the six yard box.

This was a momentous result for the Nailers and one that will stay in the memory for a long time.

Sheffield FC: Walker L, Cooksey (Davis 32), Wright, Smith, G, Smith P, Leonard, Outram (Eagers 45), Thorpe (Longstaff 45), Cusworth, Jackson J, Woolley. Unused subs: Roney, Jackson K.

Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver, Adams, Naylor, Harcourt, Haigh, Telling (Hudson 84), Stevenson, Walker (Fedorenko 87), Oliver, Rushbury (Hindley 84). Unused subs: Mirfin, Kearney.

Referee: S Richardson (Mansfield)

Attendance: 345

Man of the Match Andy Rushbury

Match Action http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/ShffldFCA0910/index.html