Ladies team open home campaign with late win

The Nailers started brightly and with less than 2 minutes on the clock, Alice Faulding made a great run through the middle to latch on to Sammy Bennett's through ball. Belper's number 9 made no mistake, finishing coolly to put the home side in front.

Faulding turned provider in the 5th minute, setting up a chance for Jess Burke but her shot was saved by Sophie Redfern in the Ashbourne goal.

3 minutes later Sarah Jackson found herself in ref Steve Davis' notebook following a late challenge, as Belper showed they were well up for the fight.

On 9 minutes the visitors were level, Beck Lee picking the ball up 40 yards from goal and executing a precise lob over Emma Varnam to level the scores.

Faulding continued to cause problems for the Ashbourne defence with several well timed runs down the right.

In the 22nd minute Faulding found herself on the end of a cross from captain Emma Pickard, however off balance her header went over the bar.

Within 3 minutes Ashbourne were ahead, with Belper unable to clear a cross Lee bagged her second goal of the evening with another calm finish.

Belper finished the half strongly, with Faulding again in the thick of things, she struck the upright on 33 minutes and 6 before the break only a great tackle by Charlotte Beech denied her an equalising goal.

Faulding started the second half exactly as she did the first, with an early goal. Played in behind the Ashbourne defence, she produced a calm finish from a tight angle on the right to make it 2-2.

Jess Needham nearly put the Nailers ahead on 53 minutes but she couldn't connect with Faulding's cross.

On 61 minutes Burke played in Needham and only another good save from Redfern kept the scores level.

14 minutes from time indecision at the back nearly cost Belper but Lee couldn't quite find the finish to claim her hattrick.

Further good saves from Redfern came in the 79th minute from Faulding and 86th minute from Burke as Belper turned the screw.

3 minutes from time Sarah Roberts put through Sammy Bennett but once again Redfern came to the rescue.

However, she wasn't to be denied again and when, in the 2nd minute of injury time, Burke's shot was palmed away, Bennett was on hand to show great composure and secure all three points for Dom Anderson's side.

An entertaining game, with Alice Faulding securing the Player of the Match award which was presented by Ladies Team main sponsor Lubrizol.

Belper Town: Varnam, Pickard (C), Jackson, Walker, Cowen, Roberts, Needham, Worral, Faulding, Burke, Bennett.
Subs: Backstrom, Layton, Whysall, Powles.

Ref: Steve Davis