Nailers end Sports unbeaten run

The Nailers had a surprise inclusion for this high profile fixture against their closest rivals when Andy Rushbury returned after a lengthy spell out of the game with a broken arm.

Joint managers Andy Carney and Danny Hudson rang the changes after recent poor performances with Lee Stevenson, Jon Froggatt and Ollie Ryan left on the bench with Dean Oliver and Anthony Wilson coming in instead.

The Mickleover side had no less than six former Belper players in their starting line up with two more on the bench, as Dick Pratley’s men looked to extend their winning run to 17 games.

Tom Naylor volleyed the ball over the top as the Nailers made a promising start to the game, then Ryan Hindley fired over a long range effort after Anthony Wilson nodded it down.

Dean Oliver nearly capitalised on a quickly taken free kick in the 6th minute but David Clarke got down well to make the save.

The game went quiet for 10 minutes or so then Alex Steadman wasted a good shooting opportunity just inside the penalty area in the 19th minute.

Danny Martin nearly caught out Adam Ogden at his near post in the 27th minute as he swung in a free kick from the right, but the Nailers managed to clear the ball away.

The Nailers came closest to opening the scoring in the 31st minute when Anthony Wilson nodded the ball into the path of Andy Rushbury and his close range drive cannoned off the legs of Clarke for a corner kick.

Then there was concern at the other end when Karl Ashton looked set to score after the ball found a way through, but this time it was Adam Ogden (pictured) who came to the rescue by blocking with his legs.

Danny Martin did well to create a shooting opportunity from 20 yards in the 42nd minute, but it was Belper who took the lead in the 43rd minute when Andy Rushbury’s shot struck George Everett - Elliott and Anthony Wilson was quickest to react and ran in to finish from close range

Mickleover began the second half on the offensive but the Nailers weathered the early pressure but they knew there was a lot of hard work to do.

Danny Martin’s 55th minute free kick sailed just over the bar from just outside the area and the game was now being played at a frantic pace.

Dean Oliver reminded Mickleover of their defensive responsibilities with a shot on the run in the 60th minute.

A good spell from Belper almost saw the Nailers extend their lead when Andy Rushbury’s close range shot took a vital deflection over the cross bar in the 63rd minute, and Dean Oliver sent a left foot drive whistling past the upright.

Belper were close to getting the all important second goal when Anthony Wilson slipped the ball through to Dean Oliver and David Clarke got a vital touch to prevent his shot going in.

Clarke was fortunate moments later when he failed to hold on to a cross to the far post, but Wilson couldn’t get a touch before the ‘keeper grabbed the ball on the goal line.

The Nailers stretched Sports again in the 79th minute when Anthony Wilson controlled a through pass beautifully only to fire over the top, and few in the ground could argue that Belper should have been two or three goals in the clear.

The last 15 minutes proved to be very tense for both sets of supporters and after 4 minutes of added on time the referee’s whistle signified the end of a tremendous winning run for the visitors, and breathed life back into Belper’s play-off chances.
　
Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver, Barnard, Naylor, Harcourt, Haigh, Hindley, Telling, Oliver (Stevenson 87), Wilson, Rushbury (Froggatt 76): Unused subs: Ryan, Adams, Fedorenko.

Mickleover Sports: Clarke, Everett-Elliott (Smythe 79), Hoyle (Carter J 70), Walshe, Barrow, Strzyzewski, Graves, Martin, Ashton, O’Connell (Middleditch 66), Steadman. Unused sub: Carter S

Referee: Craig Grundy (Sheffield)

Attendance: 430

Match Sponsors: Repton Training Limited

Man of the Match: Adam Ogden

Match Action:
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