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Black on Belper’s resilience and marvellous Milner

Black on Belper’s resilience and marvellous Milner

David Laughlin21 Oct 2018 - 09:53
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https://www.belpertownfc.co.uk

Victories will rarely come more sugar coated at the Silver X Stadium than Belper’s 3-2 victory over Pontefract Collieries, writes Nathaniel Kay.

After only their second success at home in the league this campaign, Grant Black and his troops moved up to sixth place in the league table and post-match, the Belper manager was glowing with praise.

He said, “The lads are putting their bodies on the line for us as a management team, for each other and most importantly for the club.

“I’ve just said to them I’m super proud of them. We are up to sixth and confidence is high, but we’ve got to keep doing what we are doing.”

Characteristically, Black’s buoyancy radiated as his side snatched a winner two minutes from time thanks to a magnificent George Milner (pictured) solo effort.

He proudly summarised: “Obviously, the result is the most important thing and it’s happened to us in reverse a few times this year which isn’t good for our health.

“If you’re going to win a football match and you know you’re going to win it last minute, it’s the best way to do it. It was a goal that befits any football match.”

The goal in question was one of poetic beauty, Milner resisted all challenges before finishing with aplomb to settle the contest. What made the strike and his all-round performance even more alarmingly, was his physical state prior to the game.

Black revealed, “He’s been ill since Wednesday, not been able to keep food down so his energy levels have been low, so it was amazing to see that he did not once let up his terrier-like workrate.

Black continued, “He’s such a good player, we said to him can you do 60 minutes? On 60 minutes we were going to change it but as unfit as he felt, he was still causing them problems so we felt it was impossible to change him.”

Milner’s execution across the park was flawless and Black rightly highlighted his undoubted talent.

He said: “I don’t want too many people to look at him, but we are going to find it hard to keep hold of him at some point. Whilst he’s enjoying his football, the kid is unplayable at times.

In terms of the game itself, the initiative was passed backwards and forwards until the final flourish.

Eli Hey opened for the visitors before Derry Robson, assisted by Milner, levelled before half time. Alex Peterson pushed Belper in front as Milner provided once more, before Hey benefited from a long Pontefract throw in which created a lapse in concentration.

No doubting Colls’ quality, Black was aware of the how well his side managed the difficult task put in front of them.

He said: “We knew they were going to be physicalwith lots of long balls. We said that if we could ride out that physicality and match it and be brave, the quality will take care of itself and we’ll get chances.

“Barring the second goal we have done that to a man. It makes it all more the sweeter that it’s a team in the top five, credit to them as they are up there for a reason.”

A lengthy journey awaits Belper to league leaders Morpeth Town, however many miles won’t deter Black and his boys.

He said: “They’ve only been beaten once this season, by us so we’ve got to take a bit of pride. It’s a free hit for us like any team, because nobody expects to beat them.

“On our day we can beat any team and we’ll go up there to win a football match like we would any other game.”

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