Ladies Team progress to semi-finals with hard fought win

Having been defeated by Draycott Victoria in the DGLL Cup, the Nailers took their place in the Plate - a competition in which they were runners-up last season.

Second Division high-flyers Dynamo had the better of the early stages, although Belper didn't help themselves in the 9th minute, giving the ball away to Flo Wakefield who ran through on goal. Only the quick thinking of Emma Varnam prevented a goal, with the Belper 'keeper forcing Wakefield wide of goal and she couldn't find the target from the narrow angle.

Three minutes later a ball in from the left found Amelia Horwood whose shot was blocked. It fell to Sophie Houghton who also saw her effort blocked but when the rebound fell to Horwood she made no mistake second time around to give Dynamo the lead.

Belper were level on the quarter-hour mark when Hollie Thompson picked up the ball on the left hand side. She produced a great cross which was matched by a great first time finish from Anna Macluskey at the near post.

In the 22nd minute the hosts nearly retook the lead when Horwood was played in but the Nailers Player of the Match, Varnam was out quickly to block.

Alice Faulding charged down a clearance on 34 minutes before unselfishly laying the ball off for Alex Holland but her shot was blocked.

A couple of minutes later a free kick from Katy Claxton caused confusion in the Belper penalty area and Varnam was out once again to bravely block a Harwood effort.

The final action of the half, four minutes before the whistle saw Houghton find Katie Potts but she shot just wide as Duffield finished the half as they had started it, enjoying the better of things.

Within 30 seconds of the restart there were shouts for a penalty as Faulding appeared to have her feet taken from under her with little sign of possession being won. The referee waved away the Belper protests, causing much confusion amongst those in the Belper technical area.

On 62 minutes Sammy Bennett shot just wide with her left foot as Belper improved.

The 64th minute saw the Nailers take the lead. Mia Carnelley produced a great cross from the right and although Isabelle Mercer did well to get a hand to it, the ball landed in the path of Faulding who nodded in to an empty net to continue her fantastic season of goal scoring form.

Faulding returned the favour for Carnelley in the 76th minute but the shot from the Belper winger was blocked for a corner.

Nine minutes from time, Nailers captain Emma Pickard produced a great cross-field pass to find Faulding but in a theme of the afternoon at both ends her shot was blocked for another corner.

In to injury time and Varnam was equal to a shot from Horwood in the third minute, then with nearly five minutes of added time played Bennett found Macluskey as Belper looked to seal the win; she controlled the ball well before firing off a volley which produced a great save from Mercer.

An entertaining game against a tough opponent who are two points off top spot in Division Two with a game in hand after Buxton defeated the Nailers Development Team yesterday 5-1.

As Belper look to go one better than last season's performance in this competition, they move in to the semi-finals and wait to find out their semi-final opponent on the 14th of April

Emma Varnam picks up the Player of the Match award for a brave and solid performance in goal.

Duffield Dynamo: Mercer, Chambers, Claxton, Else, Horsman, Horwood, Houghton, Macpherson, Speck, Taylor, Wakefield.
Subs: Dobson, Earl-Webster, Potts.

Belper Town: Varnam, Powles, Pickard (C), Roberts, Frostick, Holland, Bennett, Thompson, Carnelley, Faulding, Macluskey.
Subs: Buxton, Needham, Walker, Jackson.

Referee: Christopher Garner