Match Report  |  Belper Town vs Gresley FC

Gresley's new management team didn't get off to the start they would have wished as a dominant second half performance from the hosts saw the Moatmen slip to their first defeat in six games.

Manager Scott Goodwin was put on the back foot as his first choice goalkeeper Rob Peet was rushed to hospital in the early hours meaning that Ryan Swift had to be recalled from Bardon. He also made some small changes to his side and for the first half hour they seemed to have Belper on the back foot- indeed, they could easily have gone in for the break two or three goals to the good but for some wayward finishing, good saves from the keeper and blocks from defenders.

As was expected the home side came out of the blocks quickly forcing three corners which came to nothing but at the other end Gresley had a good chance to take an early lead when Lavell White was put through but his finish, with only the keeper Danny Haystead to beat, was a poor one scuffing the ball well wide of the far post.

However, Gresley didn't have long to wait as they took the lead two minutes later. Jack Langston's pass beat defender Ross Parker and Jordan Ball racing forward slotted the ball coolly past Haysted.

Gresley began to get on top with Langston firing a low shot which Haystead held on to, Martin Smyth's shot was parried by the keeper with Gary Ricketts inches away from connecting with the rebound as he raced in at the far post.

Ricketts then brought out a fine save from Haystead after the Gresley striker had seen the keeper off his line and tried a lob which had Haystead stretching to tip the ball away. Ball netted the rebound but an upraised flag cancelled out the result.

Gresley went even closer when Ball cut inside beat his marker and hammered a shot which beat Haystead but Phil Watt was in the right place to block a certain goal on the line. Belper race to the other end and Rob Stevenson picks his spot from the edge of the area and into the bottom corner.

As the half came to an end Richard Bailey had a chance to give Gresley the lead back but his header from Langston's corner was tipped away by Haystead.

Belper looked a different side in the second half and took the lead when Swifts poor attempted punch was lobbed back over his head by Evan Garnett and into the net despite a attempt by Jake Carlisle to prevent it doing so.

Belper's lead lasted just two minutes as Gresley levelled when Bailey's shot was only pushed into the path of Ball by Haystead who was delighted to ram the ball back into the net.

The home side were in front again five minutes later when Gresley were made to pay for a needless free kick which Jonathan Williams struck superbly into the top corner from just outside the area.

That goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the visitors as they were overrun and Belper extended their advantage when a cross from the right was knocked home at the far post by Phil Watt.

Stevenson grabbed his second goal of the game when he rose highest to head a cross from the left into the net.

Both sides could have added to their tally's late on with Ball having a header clawed out of the air by Haystead and then Guy having to clear off the line at the other end.