Belper unpick the Lockmen to take the points

Andy Carney and Danny Hudson kept faith with the side that beat Witton Albion on Saturday, with the only change to the squad coming on the bench were fit-again James Colliver replaced Ollie Ryan, who has returned to Harrogate Town following his loan spell.

Playing on one of the widest pitches in the league, neither side really made use of the space available, and with the Lockmen’s keeper unable to take goal kicks, the home side found themselves on the back foot for much of the game.

Neither side could really dominate the opening period, but as the game settled, it was the Nailers who began to assert sustained periods of pressure on the Lockmen’s goal, a pattern of play that was to continue throughout.

In 8th minute, Andy Rushbury was unable to hit the target after Tom Naylor had headed down a Ryan Hindley corner, while a few minutes later Anthony Wilson was unable to finish after being put through by Mark Barnard.

With a series of good passing movements, Belper began to assert their dominance on the game and for much of the first half, it was one-way traffic; yet the final ball was lacking.

Matt Telling failed to score after the home defence failed to properly clear a Mickey Harcourt cross, and then it was Telling who turned provider for Rushbury who put his shot wide of the post.

On the half hour mark, a long ball from Richard Haigh let in Dean Oliver, but the home defence was able to out-muscle the striker and concede the corner.

As the half came to a close the pressure continued but the Nailers could not capitalise on a period of uncertainty in the home defence.

A 40 yard shot from Rushbury was not that far from the top corner, and good work between Hindley and Naylor let in Dean Oliver, but Cipolla saved bravely at the feet of the striker.

Indeed, despite carrying an obvious injury that restricting his kicking abilities, it was the home ‘keeper who was to make the best save of the first half.

As the game approached half-time, Dean Oliver pulled the ball back across the six-yard box and Cipolla was able to scramble across his goal to make a point blank save denying Anthony Wilson.

Just after the restart, it was Adam Ogden’s turn to keep his side in the game.
A speculative cross into the box was misjudged by Mickey Harcourt on the edge of the six yard box, allowing Craig Hancox to get off a first time shot that was well saved by Adam Ogden, and the ‘keeper who was able to recover in time to put the follow-up shot from Jamal Pinnock round his post.

After these chances, the game came more to life, but it remained the visiting side that created most of the play.

In 54th minute, Anthony Wilson almost scored when he latched on to a through ball, but ‘keeper Cipolla pulled off a first class save, and from the resulting corner the home defence was again to clear their lines. Tom Naylor did well to direct a low header towards the near post, but Cipolla did well to clear from Rushbury’s feet.

A few minutes later, it was defender Liam Rigby’s turn to keep his side in the game. Wilson and Cipolla challenged for the ball, with Froggatt able to collect the loose ball and shoot past the stranded ‘keeper, only for Rigby to get his positioning correct and clear off the line.

With the game approaching the final 10 minutes it looked as if, despite all their possession, the Nailers would have to leave Noose Lane with a point and this would have been the case, if not for the introduction of the three second half substitutes: Froggatt, Stevenson and Fedorenko, all of whom played a part in Belper’s victory.

Willenhall’s resolve was finally broken in the 81st minute when Lee Stevenson rose unmarked in the box to power home Luke Fedorenko’s cross past the despairing keeper for his 31st goal of the season.

The points were made safe in the 85th minute when Jon Froggatt (pictured) latched onto the through ball and finished powerfully from the edge of the area.

Given their dominance, the Nailers deserved their victory and could have added to their tally, but some fine defending in the final seconds from a Luke Fedorenko cross, denied them their third goal.

Willenhall Town: Cipolla, Humpage, Rigby, Girffiths (c) (Pomroy-Crowe 34), Calder, Whitehouse, Robertson (Nicholls 79), Durgan, Pinnock (Porter 65), Bowen-Smith, Hancox Subs not used: Grizzle, Goodwin

Belper Town: Ogden, Harcourt, Barnard, Naylor (Stevenson 63), Adams, Haigh (c), Hindley (Fedorenko 71), Telling, Oliver (Froggatt 60), Wilson, Rushbury Subs not used: Colliver, Hudson.

Referee: Mark Weaver (Smethwick)

Attendance: 45

Man of the Match: Mark Barnard

Match Action: http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/WllnhllTwnA0910/index.html