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Black pleased with second half revival

Black pleased with second half revival

David Laughlin10 Mar 2019 - 09:48
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https://www.belpertownfc.co.uk

Grant Black was happy with his side’s second half after Belper Town came from behind to beat Stocksbridge Park Steels, writes Danny Bloomer.

We put it on the players to turn things around which I thought they did. The second half was a fantastic performance from us
- Grant Black

Scott Ruthven had given the visitors the lead inside the opening five minutes but a double from Danny South and a goal apiece from Derry Robson (pictured) and George Milner ensured the Nailers picked up a fourth win in five league games.

He said: “First half [it was not] good enough and not the expectations that we set. I thought we were a bit lethargic and a bit flat footed, second to things and conceded a sloppy goal.

“But we nicked a goal on half time which gave us a bit of a boost and we had the chance at half time to have a few choice words to up the standard.

“We put it on the players to turn things around which I thought they did. The second half was a fantastic performance from us.”

The game threatened to boil over throughout as both sides’ felt they were on the wrong side of referee Mark Tinsley’s decisions.

Midway through the second half it eventually did as Stocksbridge left back Rory Coleman picked up a second booking for a fiery altercation with Belper striker George Milner.

Boss Black was pleased with the way his side maintained their discipline for the majority of the encounter:

“We have been asked the question a few times about our discipline and I don’t think we have had a sending off this season that I would say has been deserved.

“I think we are very disciplined, George [Milner] reacted slightly at one point, but he had been kicked for 85 minutes.

“Yes, we don’t want him to react, but I can understand his frustration at that point.

“We said at half time don’t get dragged into a battle. We don’t need to do that, we have good enough footballers to just go out and play and if we do that, we will win the game and we did that.”

Nailers captain South notched his third and fourth goals in three matches, including the equaliser on the stroke of half time.

Black thought that goal was key to a change in his side’s fortunes during the second period:

“We knew we were not at our best and I think a goal on the stroke of half time can have that affect.

“You hope the team that has conceded it go in a bit deflated and it gives us that little boost. You are sort of starting from scratch, it’s like 0-0 at half time where you can go again and not have to chase a goal to get level and leave gaps.

“You treat it as 0-0 and I thought we played the game plan second half to perfection.”
Belper next travel to Farsley Celtic in the semi-final of the Integro League Cup.

The Villagers are currently top of the Evo-Stik Premier League and Black is excited to see his side test themselves against a team of that quality.

He said: “It’s a chance to go and put yourself against a team in the Evo-Stik Premier League that look like they could win it, they are a really good side.

“Let’s go and see where we are at, we can hold our own at this level and we held our own against Matlock in the previous round of one of the other cups [Derbyshire Senior Cup].

“A lot of the lads are chomping at the bit to get to that level so I just said to them there keep yourself in the team and Tuesday will give you a guide of where you are at and if you are ready to step up.”

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