Nailers frustrated as chances go begging

Andrew Siribour has a quiet day but his late header hit the Dynamo crossbar (Photo; Ken Allsebrook)

The Nailers have shared the points in five of their six league games this season even though they should have taken all three points after Dynamo played the last 18 minutes with only 10 men.

Manager Peter Duffield kept faith with the same starting line up that eventually overcame Leamington in the FA Trophy replay in midweek.

The Nailers were playing Dynamo for the second time in three weeks at the Nanpantan Sports Ground and were looking to claim a second successive victory after winning the FA Trophy tie by the odd goal in seven.

It turned out to be a frustrating and untidy game that only really livened up in the last 15 minutes or so when the Nailers finally woke up to the fact that they could actually win it, but the Dynamo goal led a charmed life with the help of ‘keeper Kahil Mann-Kler who made some very good saves.

Jake Betts had an early chance for the home side but his close range shot in the 6th minute was deflected away for a corner kick.

Ashley Longstaff had to lean back to head a cross from Simon Harrison two minutes later and could only put the ball over the cross bar, then a scrappy period in which very little was created was punctuated when Richard Adams drilled a low cross over the sic yard area and Andrew Siribour was inches away from turning the ball in at the far post.

Belper had the edge on possession during the first half and on occasions put together some flowing moves, and in the 24th minute Colin Marrison was on the end of one such move but his shot was blocked.

Dynamo’s best opportunity of the game came in the 29th minute when a slick move saw their best player, Shawn Richards, strike a hard shot against the upright, but shortly afterwards, Andrew Siribour looked to be in with a shot on goal but the Dynamo ‘keeper managed to knock him off the ball without conceding a penalty kick.

Aaron Pride lit up a dour half with a dazzling run into the Dynamo penalty area on 42 minutes, but he put his shot too close to the ’keeper.

Just before the half time whistle Ashley Longstaff put a simple header over the cross bar after Kahil Mann-kler came and missed the ball, and the Nailers had to settle for 0-0 at the break.

The majority of the second period was frustrating to watch because; for the most part both sides struggled to keep possession for any length of time.

Colin Marrison over hit a cross in the 53rd minute when there were Belper players well placed to accept a better one, and it was the 60th minute when another effort on goal materialised.

Jamie Clarke turned and put a left foot shot well wide of the target and two minutes later Andrew Siribour’s pace took him away from his marker but his cross was too fast for Ashley Longstaff to connect with.

Jamie Clarke’s high tackle on Ryan Mallon in the 72nd minute should have been a turning point in the game after he was sent off, but at least the tide began to turn in Belper’s favour in the remaining period.

The Nailers increased their pressure on the Loughborough goal and in the 83rd minute Andrew Siribour nodded the ball against the cross bar after a long Richard Adams throw was headed on.

Adams struck a fine effort on 88 minutes after a corner kick reached him just inside the box, and although the ‘keeper was well beaten, Karl Noble was perfectly positioned to kick the ball off the line.

Andrew Siribour put over a great cross moments later and Jordan Ball put his header over the bar, and deep into added on time, Karl Colley was denied by a brilliant diving save by the Dynamo ‘keeper after Richard Adams had picked him out with a fine cross.

Loughborough Dynamo: Mann-Kler, Noble, Wykes, Grocott, Sibson, Betts, Richards, Norris (Henton 81), Clarke, Blenkinsopp (Brennan 74), Lester (Langham 83). Unused subs: Young, Gibbons.

Belper Town: Chapman, Pride, Wright, Marrison, Adams, Colley, Harrison (Rushbury 69), Warne, Longstaff (Ward 80), Siribour, Mallon (Ball 76). Unused subs: Simpkins, Leonard.

Referee: P Hobday (Tipton)

Att: 128