Match Report  |  Belper United vs Gresley Rovers

Rovers’ manager Carl Abbott is starting to see his squad come together after injuries, absences and holidays and the results are beginning to show. With still a couple to return he will soon have the luxury of his whole squad to choose from. There is still a way to go before they gel but playing a regular side will help with that.

Rovers travelled to Eastwood where Belper are playing their home games expecting a tough encounter as they are at present up in the top three in the league and it was soon evident why they were up there as they soon had their visitors under pressure.

However, it was Rovers who struck first. Jude Collins made a good run into United’s area where he was brought down with referee Carl Bainbridge not hesitating to point to the spot. Ste Hart took the kick cooly sending former Rovers’ keeper Joe Fryatt the wrong way to give his side the lead.

The goal gave the visitors more confidence but United still pressed with a shot flying wide and a free kick from 25 yards by Lewis Belgrave, another former Moatman, just clearing the bar. At the other end Fryatt miss kicked his clearance and the ball fell to Kane Lee who tried his luck from around 25 yards, but his effort flew over the empty goal - a let off for United.

Rovers almost added to their tally, but the ball would not go in the net with Hart and Dylan Hunniford having three shots blocked almost on the line by some desperate but effective defending.

At the start of the second half Rovers made their first change with Louis Anthony, returning after his concussion protocol, replacing Jacob Sturgess and it only took a few minutes for the visitors to score their second goal. A corner by Collins from the left was only half cleared to where Hunniford was waiting around the penalty spot to hammer a low shot through a number of defenders and past Fryatt and into the net. It was no more than they deserved as they had started the second half in a determined mood.

Another change for Rovers came on 59 minutes with Nathan Banton replacing Hart followed by the first changes for the home side with Ferdinand Bartley and Lopes Massampo replacing Rueban Nwadike and Surafel Tefera but it was still the visitors who were having the better of the possession.

United made more changes to try and get back into the game with yet another former Moatman Devante Reittie coming on for Jack Thatcher and Elliott Murray for Jacob Ferdinand. Jamie Sleigh went close on 71 minutes making a fine run down the right before hitting a low shot across Frayatt’s goal, but the keeper made a good save pushing the ball away for a corner.

A minute later United were back in the game when a long ball was superbly volleyed by former Moatman Alex Steadman past Rovers’ keeper Jack Sandel who was left helpless. Both sides made more changes with James Carvell replacing Terry Atem for United and Ryan King replacing Collins.

Sandel kept his side in front making a great save diving to his left to keep a shot from distance out, United sensed a chance to level things and continued to pump long high balls into Rovers’ box but a quick break saw Sleigh get the better of his marker and was in on goal with only Fryatt to beat which he did beautifully curling the ball into the far corner of the net.

With time starting to run out Rovers made their final chances with Jake Meakin and Seb Owen coming on for Alby Lansdowne and Sleigh. Things were getting a little tense as United were determined to try their hardest to get something out of the game with substitute Reittie forcing another good save out of Sandel, but the Rovers stopper could do nothing to stop the home side from closing the gap a little more when a looping ball into Rovers’ area was hit into the roof of the net by Steadman at the far post.

The referee ended the game, and it was a precious three points for the visitors.