Belper Town 2
Matlock Town 3

BELPER Town fell to a narrow home defeat against old adver-saries Matlock Town last Saturday in their penultimate pre-season friendly.

The Nailers were hoping to continue a successful pre-season campaign with their previous game ending in a 2-0 win at Hallam a few days earlier.

The core of the team likely to be first choice in next Saturday's opener against Loughborough were named in the starting 11, but with one notable absentee in joint manager Danny Hudson who was unavailable. However, former Alfreton Town defender Mark Barnard played alongside Jon Hobson in defence.

Among the substitutes was Krystof Kotylo who may have had a change of mind about his availability to play for the Nailers this season, whilst named in the Matlock side were Ashley Foyle and Ross Hannah, both well known to Nailers supporters.

The Nailers started the game strongly and pressed the Gladiators back for the first five minutes and Matlock's first attempt on goal came from Ross Hannah's sixth minute free kick that flew high over the target.

However, the Gladiators went one up in the eighth minute when a slick move on the left culminated with a low near post cross from Hannah, and Dene Cropper finished off from close range.

Matlock's lead didn't last long as the Nailers were back on level terms two minutes later when Lee Stevenson curled a right footed free kick into the far corner of the net much to the surprise of 'keeper Andy Richmond.

Stevenson nearly repeated the feat with another attempt from a more acute angle on 18 minutes but a Gladiator's defender managed to head the ball off the line, then Jon Hobson was adjudged to have fouled Hannah on 22 minutes but Steve Warne's free kick flew harmlessly out for a goal kick.

Cropper thought he was going to score when he ran through strongly three minutes later but Paul Pettinger managed to palm the ball away with an acrobatic save.

Belper looked unlucky not to have won a penalty following a corner kick in the 31st minute when Mark Barnard seemed to be pushed inside the six yard area as he jumped for the ball but the referee, who appeared to have a clear view of the incident, wasn't interested.

Both teams stifled each other's movements in the latter stages of the half and with very little to concern either goalkeeper the referee's whistle brought to an end a very even 45 minutes.

The second half began in a similar vein with the ball spending most of its time in the middle third, but Ben Walker went close in the 52nd minute with a snap-shot into the side netting from the edge of the penalty area.

The Nailers went into the lead soon afterwards when Andy Rushbury was on hand to volley the ball home from 12 yards after a cross from the right rebounded out to him.