Wasted chances haunt Belper again

The Nailers should have come much closer than they did to inflicting Leek’s first league defeat of the season at Harrison Park, but a combination of poor finishing and slack defending meant that the Staffordshire side’s home record remained intact.

Dean Oliver went straight into the starting line up following his return from Glapwell, and there was a new face on the substitute’s bench with the arrival of new signing Alvyn Riley, the former Stocksbridge Park Steels winger.

The Harrison Park pitch soon cut up and hampered both sides from the off although in the early stages in was Leek who troubled the Nailers defence.

Dan Cope almost got to the ball ahead of Adam Ogden in the 4th minute but the Belper ‘keeper came out very quickly to deny him after the Belper defence were caught out.

Lee Stevenson fired an 8th minute shot past the far post after Dean Oliver set up the opportunity, and Oliver headed over the bar from a Jon Froggatt cross minutes afterwards.

But Belper’s efforts to pass their way through the Leek rearguard frequently failed and the home side had a good spell midway through the half in which they scored.

A slip from James Colliver had already given Paul Rutter the chance for a clear shot on goal in the 14th minute, but he sent the ball over the top, then the Nailers conceded a soft goal in the 16th when all Rutter had to do was to tap the ball home after a cross reached him unmarked, inside the six yard area.

The Nailers were lucky not to concede another in the 24th minute when Rutter headed a good chance over the cross bar, but Belper finished the half on the offensive and should really have gone in at half time ahead.

Ollie Ryan sparked off an exciting 15 minute spell with a crisp shot well saved at the near post by Steve Hodgson, and in the 35th minute Matt Telling released Ryan who might have used the ball more thoughtfully, but hit a wild shot beyond the far post.

Jon Froggatt had moved out on the right hand side and immediately created a chance with a cross to Lee Stevenson who put an unchallenged header well wide of the target when it looked easier to score.

Froggatt should have scored himself as he received a cross from Stevenson in the 40th minute, but as he tried to put the ball past Hodgson, the Leek ‘keeper managed to get a leg to it.

Leek were on the rack at this point and on the stroke of half time the Nailers contrived to waste another opportunity as Froggatt crossed instead of shooting, and Dean Oliver couldn’t get a foot to the ball.

Given another five minutes and surely Belper would have got the equaliser, but half time whistle came too early for the Nailers who looked dominant.

Belper had plenty of possession in the second half but couldn’t make the early break through they needed.

In fact Leek prized open the jittery Belper defence sporadically through the second half and missed opportunities.

Dane Cope slipped past Colliver in the 52nd minute and blazed wide with only Ogden to beat, and at the other end opportunities were scarce for the Nailers who just couldn’t make territorial advantage count.

Richard Adams (pictured) put a header over in the 58th minute and it was 17 more frustrating minutes before another Belper effort was forthcoming, when Tom Naylor had a shot blocked in the 75th.

Leek substitute Dean Crowe was left unmarked in the 84th minute and should have scored with a hard driven shot, but thankfully it sped a yard wide of the far post.

Lee Stevenson had another great chance on 88 minutes but his header from Luke Fedorenko’s cross bounced in front of goal and over the cross bar.

Leon Ashman put the Nailers out of the misery by firing home the second goal in the 90th minute, again after the Belper defence had lost track of the striker, and purely as a consolation and far too late in the game, Lee Stevenson reduced the arrears with a deflected free kick.

The disappointment was etched into the players’ faces as they left the field at the end as they ended the week on the same points total that they started with.

Leek Town: Hodgson, Johnson, Taylor P, Taylor A (Bailey), Ruddock, Hawthorne (Crowe 71), Johnson M, Ward, Rutter, Cope (Ashman 63), Cordon. Subs. not used: Macari, Johnson W.

Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver, Adams, Naylor, Harcourt, Haigh, Oliver (Wilson 63), Stevenson, Froggatt, Ryan (Riley 63), Telling (Fedorenko 71).

Referee: C Kavanagh (Ashton-under-Lyme)

Attendance: 315

Match Action:
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