Nailers keep play-off hopes alive

The Nailers will need other teams to help them if they are to reach their second successive play off finals but for now, they remain in contention for at least another week.

Lee Stevenson was left on the bench as Belper opted for a 4-4-2 formation with Jon Froggatt (pictured) and Dean Oliver providing the main strike threat.

Mickey Harcourt was restored to the right hand side of the back four while Anthony Wilson was to play an important part in his final league outing of the season before his suspension rules him out of the last two league games, and the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final at Pride Park.

Jon Froggatt got the Nailers off to a great start by scoring in the 3rd minute after a Belper break that caught the Millers out of position and Froggatt had time to place Ryan Hindley’s cross past the exposed Alessandro Barcherini.

The Nailers were in the right frame of mind in the early staged although Justin Jenkins went close for Carlton with a dipping volley within moments of the restart.

Froggatt, who worked hard all afternoon managed to retrieve the ball at the bye line in the 14th minute, but the angle was too acute and his shot was put out for a corner kick.

Ryan Hindley’s 17th minute corner kick was completely missed by the Millers ‘keeper, and the ball went out for a goal kick as it zipped harmlessly across the six yard area.

There were signs of recovery from Carlton as the half progressed and only a wonderful flying save from Adam Ogden from an Anthony Griffith free kick kept the Nailers lead intact.

Increasing pressure paid off for Carlton in the 28th minute but their equaliser was somewhat fortunate in that Paul Mitchell’s shot from 15 yards looked to be well covered by Ogden until the ball benefited from the bumpy pitch, and bounced over the prostrate ‘keeper.

To be fair Carlton had deserved an equaliser as they finished the half the stronger of the two teams, and when Paris Simmons’ measured shot crashed against the cross bar in the 34th minute, the Nailers were grateful to be level at the break.

A slow start to the second period ushered the appearance of Lee Stevenson for Andy Rushbury, but the Nailers looked lethargic and allowed Carlton to boss the game.

Jon Froggatt had a sniff of a chance at the near post on 57 minutes but couldn’t turn in Ryan Hindley’s cross, but then Anthony Griffith made the most of the space afforded to him by the Belper defence he despatched a crisply struck volley into the far corner from the edge of the penalty area on the hour.

At least the Nailers woke up to the fact that their season was slipping away but Barcherini denied them an equaliser with a tremendous double save, firstly from Jon Froggatt and a really excellent stop from Lee Stevenson’s follow up.

Then came Belper’s saviour in the unlikely form of Anthony Wilson.

Having taken considerable criticism for his recent disciplinary problems, he emerged from the bench in the 63rd minute to inspire a remarkable fight back.

A poor piece of ball control from Grant Brindley presented Wilson with the ball 15 yards out, and the Carlton defender denied the Belper striker a clear shot on goal with a clumsy challenge, and the penalty decision was undisputed.

Ryan Hindley thumped the ball in from the spot and the Nailers’ confidence visibly surged through each player.

With two minutes the Nailers had regained the lead after a huge kick from Ogden reached his opposite number, but the presence of Jon Froggatt unnerved him and he let the ball fall to the ground and Froggatt blasted it high into the net.

Anthony Wilson hit the fourth goal with a clinically struck left foot shot from just inside the penalty in the 74th minute, and it could have been five minutes later but Barcherini denied Froggatt his hat trick with a good save from his 83rd minute header.

In the end Belper finished as comfortable winners but whether or not it will be sufficient to keep them in contention for a play off spot in two weeks time, remains to be seen.

Carlton Town: Barcherini, May, Fletcher, Brindley, Martin, Mitchell (Norris 85), Griffith, Simmons (Gent 66), Jenkins (Peberday 85), Slack, Whitman.

Belper Town: Ogden, Colliver, Barnard, Naylor, Harcourt, Haigh, Hindley (Adams 85), Telling, Oliver (Wilson 63), Froggatt, Rushbury (Stevenson 56). Unused subs: Warren, Hudson.

Referee: A Barney (Coalville)

Attendance: 81

Man of the Match: Jon FROGGATT

Match Action: http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/CltonTwnA0910/index.html