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The new season is rapidly
approaching for the Nailers and their opening fixture against
Loughborough Dynamo takes place on 16 August at Christchurch Meadow.
Belper have enjoyed a
promising pre-season campaign so far with three wins, a draw and a
defeat, and against good quality opposition.
The opener at Shirebrook
should really have been won by a greater margin than the odd goal in
three, while the victory of Hednesford was completed in style by a
similar margin.
The Nailers came from behind
to win comfortably at Dimple Wells by 4 goals to 2, although Ossett
Albion have a chance to redress the balance when they come to
Christchurch Meadow on 12 August for the last pre-season fixture.
Belper performed well against
Worksop but two defensive lapses gave the Tigers a 2-1 win, then Hucknall
Town were the visitors last Tuesday evening having already thrashed
Worksop 5-1 in a friendly a couple of weeks earlier, and quite frankly
the Nailers showed themselves to be the better side for long spells.
A smartly taken goal after
only three minutes put the Nailers on the back foot, but in an exciting
second half Lee Stevenson’s brace put Belper in the driving seat and well
on top, but to Hucknall’s credit they fought back well and it was ‘nip
and tuck’ in the last 20 minutes.
Amongst the new faces that the
management team have brought it, Jimmy Ghaichem has been getting rave
reviews and could be in line for a place in the starting line on 16
August, possibly filling the gap left by Krystof Kotylo who appearances
could be limited this season due to work commitments. .
Adam Nixon, Aaron Pride, Billy
Page, Stephen Murphy and Ben Kistell have all been involved in the
pre-season games so far but it’s hard to see anything other than a back
line of James Colliver, Jon Hobson, Scott Lowe and Richard Haigh taking
the field against Loughborough.
Danny Hudson, Andy Rushbury
and Lee Stevenson look certainties for midfield, together with Ghaichem
possibly, and Ben Kistell, Anthony Wilson, Richard Tracey and Ben Walker
will have to fight it out for the striker’s berths.
Wilson impressive pre-season
games will surely ensure that he is one of the first names on the team
sheet leaving Ben Walker favourite for the other slot.
The Nailers travel to Northern
Counties East Premier Division Hallam FC on Tuesday, 5 August and on Saturday
(9 August) Matlock Town are the visitors to Christchurch
Meadow.
Nigel Oldrini
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