Late goal sends Ladies Team out of Plate

Manager Dom Anderson named an unchanged team following a home victory last weekend, as the Nailers looked to make an impression on a ground where they had suffered heavy defeats on each of their previous two visits.

Belper started positively and forced a corner in the 2nd minute, Jazz Buxton's delivery was as always on the money but Mia Carnelley couldn't quite connect.

On 12 minutes Hollie Thompson, who impressed on debut a week ago, cut in from the left and fired a shot which was an early test for Charlotte Fitch, captain and 'keeper for the hosts.

Overall the first half was fairly quiet and it would be the 36th minute before either side created any further chances of note. Tyla-Asha Peters found herself through on goal but a brilliant tackle by Hannah Layton stopped an almost certain goal. For good measure the Belper defender then got up, dusted herself down and blocked the follow-up shot.

A minute later the Nailers were ahead. Substitute Shannon Worrall, who along with Layton would have a great afternoon in the yellow & black, dispossessed a defender before firing off a shot from 25 yards which Fitch couldn't keep out.

Four minutes before the break the lead was nearly doubled when Worrall's through ball was agonisingly close to playing in top scorer Alice Faulding as Belper dominated proceedings.

They went close again in first half injury time when Sammy Bennett ran through but she couldn't quite find the wonder goal she did against Bakewell, with the shot from a tight angle flashing wide.

On the hour mark Sandiacre fired a warning to the visitors when Peters tried her luck from range however Emma Varnam was able to watch it go past her post.

In the 72nd minute Belper forced back to back corners as they looked to put some daylight between the sides, again great delivery from Buxton but the hosts were able to clear eventually.

Within a minute Sandiacre were level. The hosts broke clear and when Caitlin Want had her shot well saved by Varnam, the ball fell kindly to Peters who netted from close range.

The last ten minutes were fairly frantic as both sides tried to avoid the lottery of a penalty shootout under the floodlights on a grey afternoon in Erewash.

Firstly in the 80th minute Thompson once again cut inside and found her shot saved, then mere seconds later at the other end Dion Cowen was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. Emma Hawkins sent the penalty wide and the tie remained in the balance.

On 84 minutes there was a stoppage for treatment to a Sandiacre player and the Nailers defenders did well to maintain their concentration upon the restart and keep the corner from creating any real threat.

Disaster struck for Belper five minutes from time when there was a mix-up between Layton and Varnam, allowing Hawkins to make up for her penalty miss with the easiest goal she will score all season. A real shame for what turned out to be the winning goal, with Layton securing the Player of the Match award and Varnam barely troubled all afternoon.

Belper continued to fight for an equaliser, in the 89th minute Faulding was played through but Fitch came out to make the save and gather the follow-up.

Past the ninety minute mark and there was still time for the visitors to create chances, firstly from Worrall's free kick which Fitch caught.

Then six minutes in to injury time Faulding was once again played in. She laid the ball off unselfishly for Carnelley who saw her shot saved. The ball went out to the right and Sarah Roberts, her cross found the head of Faulding but the crossbar came to Sandiacre's rescue and it is they who take their place in the last 16 of the Cawarden Women's Plate.

Belper Town: Varnam, Pickard (C), Roberts, Layton, Cowen, Powles, Bennett, Buxton, Needham, Faulding, Carnelley, Thompson.
Subs: Roberts, Worrall, Dutton, Macluskey.

Referee: Steve Davis

No further fixtures in 2023 for Belper Town Ladies but the progress being made is clear for everyone to see.

The Reserves also exited at the same stage, with Duffield Dynamo 3-0 winners at Alton Manor. Gina Lowe picked up the Manager's Player of the Match award in that tie, with Player's Player of the Match shared between Nicole Lowe and Amy Taft.