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Belper Town gain first point of season in tight clash
Evo-Stik League Division One South Belper Town 0 Carlton Town 0
Carlton Town 0Belper Town earned their first point of the new season in a very tight encounter against Carlton Town at Christchurch Meadow last Tuesday evening.
It was a fast and furious opening with both teams testing out each other's defences although rarely troubling the 'keepers.
There was an anxious moment for the Nailers early on when Neil Grayson almost got to a loose ball ahead of Ali Barcherini, but the Belper 'keeper managed to get a hand to it at the second attempt.
The Nailers deserved to get something from a good move on minutes after Andy Rushbury penetrated the Carlton defence before releasing the ball wide to Simon Harrison. However, keeper Neil West came to his side's rescue with a good stop with his legs.
The visitor's had a good chance of their own when Ricky Gardener floated a cross over to the far post where Grayson had a free header, but sent it straight at Barcherini.
Belper then couldn't benefit from a good spell of pressure and several corners midway through the half.
The second half commenced in the same pattern as the first with little to choose between the teams and at this stage the game needed a goal to liven things up.
After a very quiet start to the second period Carlton's Ricky Gardener nearly supplied a golden moment when he hit an unexpected looping volley from the corner of the penalty area, and a rapidly back-tracking Barcherini was relieved to see the ball land on the roof of the net.
Ryan Goward then fired a 25 yarder past the far post.
A foul on Simon Harrison just outside the penalty area moments later resulted in a terrific free kick from Jon Froggatt but West's reactions were excellent and he parried the stinging shot to safety.
Belper created some promising situations and just needed the final delivery to be more imaginative, or at least accurate.
Jenkins confirmed his arrival as an 84th minute substitute with a much better effort on 87 minutes and sent West sprawling to his right to stop a fiercely struck ground shot.
Luke Fedorenko was a whisker away with a free kick as the game entered added on time, then he weaved his way deep into the penalty area and saw the Carlton 'keeper deny him with a save at full stretch.
A draw was arguably a fair reflection of the game but Neil West's selection as Carlton's man of the match perhaps told a more accurate story.
Belper Town: Barcherini, Booker, Thompson, Mirfin, Adams, Plant, Harrison, Rushbury, Froggatt, Wood (Fedorenko 60), Peel (Benger 60). Subs not used: Barnard, Pride. Att: 189.
Man of match: Michael Plant.
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Weather for Belper
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet showers
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